WCDO Radio News

Chobani had their new site plan changes approved by the Rome Planning Board on Tuesday night, as they continue with their expansion plans in New York State. Chobani was leasing over 168 acres on a golf course from Oneida County, but the acreage has been reduced to 93 acres in the new plan, Chobani plans to have the new facility running in 2027, with construction expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Chobani announced that they awarded $400,000 in grants to 40 nonprofit groups through the eighth annual Community Impact Fund. The grants will go to organizations in Central New York, Idaho, Philadelphia and Muskegon Michigan. Locally, the Afton Central Schools will use the funds to build a greenhouse for agricultural education and to supply fresh produce for the FFA Food Pantry. The Food Bank of Central New York will support its Senior Grocery Program, the Norwich City School District will expand its backpack program, the Oneonta Middle School will provide grocery gift cards to families throughout the year, and the Cooperstown Food Pantry will use its grant to offer year-round farmers market vouchers, SNAP matching and CSA shares from regional farms.

SUNY Delhi is receiving a $32 million investment from Empire State Development, and the SUNY Construction Fund to build a new mechatronics facility. SUNY Chancellor John King announced that many mechatronics students at Delhi can secure jobs at major local companies like Chobani and IBM. SUNY Delhi’s North Hall will be the site of the program, which will prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing. The 15,000 square-foot facility is expected to open in 2030.

Chobani announced that at the East Park Bandstand in Norwich last Saturday, following the 30th annual Norwich Parade of Lights, More than 30 Chobani volunteers distributed 3,000 cases of Chobani products, to thank the community. Chobani will also participate in the annual tree-lighting ceremony at Hyde Park in New Berlin on December 6th, employees plan to give out over 200 cases of yogurt to local families.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 11-28-25

The Annual Norwich Chobani Holiday of Lights Parade, will start Saturday at 6:00 PM at the NBT building at 52 South Broad Street and ending on Fair Street in Norwich. Norwich BID Spokesperson Mindy Chawgo explains:

(Mindy Chawgo 11-28-25)

Over 100 businesses, churches, fire departments, and other groups will participate, At the end of the parade, Santa will be led to his igloo and kids will visit, Santa's hours will continue from 1 to 4 pm., on Saturdays, and after the tree lighting ceremony on December 4th.

Chobani announced that the City of Rome Planning Board approved Chobani's plan to build a facility, consisting of 8 buildings. A new design was required as the FAA said parts of the original facility were too close to the runway of the Griffiss Airport, and the 130 foot building is being moved to another part of the campus.

The Norwich Business Improvement District is hosting the 5th annual ‘Norwitch’ Fall Festival from 9 am. to 2 pm., in East and West Park in Norwich, on Saturday, the event will once again be held in conjunction with Saturday in the Park with Chobani.

A Bluegrass favorite is coming back to the Bainbridge Town Hall Theater Saturday night, Jericho Arts Council Spokesman Phil Wade explains:

(Phil Wade 10-24-25)

Reservations can be made by calling 607-288-3882.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 4-22-25

Chobani announced plans to build another plant in New York State, which will be a $1.2 billion facility Rome’s Griffiss Business and Technology Park. The Project would add another 1000 jobs in addition to the 1100 jobs at the South Edmeston & Norwich facilities. Chobani also employs 1,100 people at a yogurt plant in Twin Falls, Idaho, and they recently announced an expansion in Twin Falls that is expected to create a minimum of 160 new jobs.

Utica University has announced its commencement speaker for the undergraduate ceremony in 2025 will be Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder and CEO of Chobani, Ulukaya will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Utica University, he emigrated from his native Turkey in 1994 to the US, he purchased a closed factory in Edmeston in 2007 with a small business loan, Chobani became he biggest seller of Greek Yogurt in the world by 2012. The undergraduate ceremony is set for May 9th at The Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

More concerts & stand up comedy shows are coming to Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta, including 1 big name at the end of the month, according to spokesman Geoff Doyle:

(Geoff Doyle 3-18-25)

Tickets for the Tom Green show & others can be found at foothillspac.org.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 3-18-25

Chobani is gifting $250,000 each to infrastructure projects in Central New York, including for the Unadilla Community Farm's buildout of a solar-powered commercial kitchen and classroom space in West Edmeston, the kitchen will turn fresh harvests into nutritious meals for those in need, will also double as a teaching space for the Unadilla Community Farm's Beginning Farmer Training Program. Food made on-site will be donated to regional food pantries.

The Mobile Food Pantry sponsored by Chobani & the Community Cupboard Food Pantry is being held this afternoon at the corners of State Route 7 & 8, the event runs from 1:00 to 2:00 PM on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of every month.

The Community Cupboard of Edmeston announced a Holiday Drive-Through Distribution at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich today. the Giveaway will run from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, sponsors include Chobani & the United Way of Mid Rural New York, more information is available at 965-0153.

Chobani announced that they are paying the debt for about 1,300 families who owed money for school breakfast and lunch. Chobani has donated $32,000 to eliminate school lunch debt across 11 school districts where their workforce resides, local districts where the school lunch debt was paid off include Cooperstown, Morris, Laurens, Edmeston and Schenevus.

Saturday in the Park with Chobani concludes tomorrow starting at 9:00 AM in West Park in Norwich, which will coincide Halloween themed events around Norwich Saturday, for the annual "Nor-Witch Festival". Norwich BID Spokesperson Mindy Chawgo explains:

(Mindy Chawgo 10-27-23)

More information is available at Saturday in the Park with Chobani on Facebook or by calling 607-226-2211.

Peila farms in Oxford are partnering with the Children's with Special Needs Program Saturday that is open to the public. Families are invited to to go through the corn maze & check out the new Jumbo Jumper Bounce Pillow. The event begins at 11:00 AM. admission is $10, the first 100 individuals who are affiliated with the Early Intervention program will be admitted for free; more information is available at 607-373-1729.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 9-22-23

Saturday in the Park with Chobani returns from 9 am. to 1 pm. every Saturday from September 23 to October 28; located in West Park. Norwich BID Spokesperson Mindy Chawgo explains:

(Mindy Chawgo 9--22-23)

The 6 week festival wraps up on October 28 with the Norwich Festival with hayrides, pumpkin carving, baking competition, trunk or treat and more information is available at Saturday in the Park with Chobani on Facebook or by calling 607-226-2211.

The Community Foundation for South Central New York announced that the Chobani Community Impact Fund Grant Proposal Guidelines are available online. Foundation Executive Director Tina Barber explains:

(Tina Barber 9-8-23)

Those interested can go to Donorswhocare.org & go to the “Grant Seekers” tab for instructions, Letters of inquiry are due by September 27th, those who are invited to apply will have so submit the full application by October 30th & the awards will be announced in Early December.

A.M. NEWS Friday 9-8-23

Delaware County District Attorney's office announced that 32 year old Nicholas Durbin formerly of Deposit, appeared for arraignment on a 4-count indictment in Delaware County Court. Durbin is charged with Sexual Abuse & Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child, for allegedly sexually abusing a 4-year-old child on 4 separate occasions, he pleaded not guilty to the charges, and he was remanded to the Delaware County Correctional Facility on $50,000.00 cash bail.

The Community Foundation for South Central New York announced that the Chobani Community Impact Fund Grant Proposal Guidelines are available online. Those interested can go to Donorswhocare.org & go to the "Grant Seekers" tab for instructions, Letters of inquiry are due by September 27th, The Chobani Community Impact Fund will prioritize programs and organizations working to combat food and nutrition insecurity.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 9-7-23

The Broome County Sheriff's Office arrested 49 year old Patrick Stanton of Deposit after the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force executed search warrant in Deposit. On August 31, 2023, the Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant at 35 Front Street in Deposit, Stanton was arrested on a variety of drug charges, Officers seized Methamphetamine, Scales, and packaging materials used for weighing and packaging narcotics for sale. Stanton was taken to Central Arraignment at the Broome County Sheriff’s Correctional Facility.

CDO Workforce announced a Job fair at their Sidney Office in the Civic Center at 21 Liberty Street tomorrow from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Job Openings are currently available at the US Postal Service, Cullman Child Development Center, Unalam & Chobani among others, more information is available at 607-832-5776.

A.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-13-23

Chobani Yogurt CEO and founder Hamdi Ulukaya, a Turkish immigrant, announced on Twitter that he has pledged $1-million dollars and will match up to $1-million in donations to his Turkish Philanthropy Funds charity to help those affected by the earthquake in Turkey. The charity’s website is tpfund.org.

The Norwich Parade of Lights will be held Saturday night along Broad Street starting at 6:00 PM. Chobani will be giving away some of their products again this year, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be set up in their igloo in East Park after the parade.

The "NorWitch" Fall Festival will be held in Downtown Norwich Saturday, sponsored by The Norwich BID, which will include the final Saturday in the Park with Chobani as well as a variety of Halloween themed events, according to spokesman Tracy Chawgo:

(Tracy Chawgo 10-28-22)

Chawgo said that the will be numerous vendors, a pumpkin painting contest, bounce house, hay rides, plus the annual YMCA Halloween parade set at 11:00 AM.

Chobani has increased pay for their workers in South Edmeston. The company says wages are increasing anywhere between 20% and 30% for their hourly manufacturing employees, that means starting salary will now be $18.50 per hour. The average salary at the business is $23.50.

Saturdays in the Park with Chobani returns to Norwich tomorrow & will run every Saturday through October from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Each Saturday, local merchants and artisans set up shop in West Park, entertainment is also scheduled.

Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya announced this week at the business summit organized by the Tent Partnership for Refugees, committed to hiring 200 refugees at their Chenango County & Idaho Falls Idaho plants over the next 3 years. Ulukaya said that the US is expecting hundreds of thousands of refugees in coming years, including 100,000 people who have fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion. other companies committing to hiring refugees include Amazon, Tyson Foods, Hilton Hotels, Marriott International, Pepsi & Pfizer.

Chobani will host the World Refugee Forum Today online. Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya stated that they have successfully brought many refugees to work in their plants, Speakers will include Ulukaya, Congressmen Michael McCaul of Texas & Jason Crow of Colorado; among others, The virtual event will be held at 1:00 PM, it is free and open to the public. To register go to chobanirefugeeforum.com.

The 7th annual Friends of Rogers Wild Goose Chase 5k Trail Run/Walk will be onsite at Rogers Center this year on Saturday, September 10th. The event is sponsored by Commerce Chenango, NBT Insurance Agency, Chobani and Proforma, Registration is open, at runsignup.com.

Chobani has announced it will host the World Refugee Forum on Wednesday, August 10th. Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya stated that they have successfully brought many refugees to work in their plants, Speakers will include Ulukaya, Congressmen Michael McCaul of Texas & Jason Crow, of Colorado; among others, The virtual event will be held oat 1 pm. eastern standard time and is free and open to the public. To register go to chobanirefugeeforum.com.

Commerce Chenango is hosting a recruitment event today for both Willow Run Foods and Chobani, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The recruiting will be held at the Norwich CDO Workforce office at 1 O'Hara Drive in Norwich.

Willow Run Foods and Chobani will be co-hosting a Recruitment Event this Thursday in Norwich. The event will run from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Norwich CDO Workforce office at 1 O'Hara Drive in Norwich.

Chobani announced an expansion of its Scholars Program, adding a pledge of $1 million for those who wish to pursue agriculture. Through its partnerships with Cornell University and the University of Idaho, the Chobani Scholars Program will offer eight $20,000 scholarships ($5,000 each year) over 5 years to historically underserved students interested in studying agriculture, dairy, food science, and/or food entrepreneurship. Chobani Scholars will have an opportunity to intern with Chobani during their college careers. More information is available at the Chobani website.