JOHNSON CITY (WBNG) – Southern Tier Hemp announced plans back in February to purchase, and move to the building formerly known as the Gannett Central New York Production Facility.
But since then, issues with the property deeds have prohibited the company from making it’s move to Broome County.
“There appears to be some sort of deed restriction that came to light at the 11th hour,” said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo. “We’ve really gotten people excited about industrial hemp as something that could help us with our manufacturing, and then something to do with a deed restriction about it staying a printing press has held up the entire matter.”
Exact details of the deed issues are not known at this time.
Executive Director of the Broome County Industrial Development Agency, Stacey Duncan, said that while there is a hold-up, there is a good reason to stay patient.
“We’re looking at the potential over time to create an industry cluster with hemp, but we need a lot of these projects to come online and get in that process as soon as possible because I think that sets us up for long-term growth in this industry,” Duncan said. “Southern Tier Hemp is looking to make a $12 million investment into that facility.”
Southern Tier Hemp received a $650,000 state grant earlier this year, and Duncan said the company could create well over 100 jobs around the community.
While Southern Tier Hemp will have to wait until deed restrictions are all figured out, Castettler Sustainability Group Hemp (CSG) has been been creating a buzz with their own product.
“This is our second year of growing with 16 farms throughout the state, with 250,000 plants that will come to this facility to be dried and packaged and ready to be extracted,” said CEO Kaelan Castetter. “We’re local, so having a great relationship with the municipality whether that is town of Union, Johnson City, city of Binghamton which has been a great partner, or [Broome] County is really important.”
Stay with 12 News as we continue to follow this story.
