MONROE - When Emmi Roth USA, a producer of specialty and artisan cheeses and dairy products, looked to expand its Roth Kase operations in Monroe, it chose Platteville, about 50 miles west. The question arises - why not expand in Green County?
The bottom line, apparently, is Green County cows are tapped out, and local dairy farmers don't have the additional milk production to meet the cheese company's expected capacity.
"We were really not in the running," said Anna Schramke, executive director of Green County Development Corporation. "They were looking for a location outside their immediate supply area. There's not enough milk being produced in this area by our dairy herds."
Few dairy farmers in Green County have been expanding their herds, Schramke explained.
"The price of milk hasn't been great, and the whole industry is going through a change, with the cost of doing business going up," she said.
Additional regulations on the industry and the costs of input and machinery going up "lead to limitations on how large farms can get," she added.
Teresa Zimmer, executive director of USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA) in Monroe, agreed. Not only are few Green County farms expanding, but the number of farms is decreasing also.
"As our farmers are aging, there are fewer farms operating, and fewer young people starting or taking over existing farms," she said.
The competition among cheese producers to get what milk is being produced is high, she added.
Because of the numerous cheese producers in Green County, including Roth Kase USA in Monroe, additional milk is being shipped in to meet production demands.
"I don't think there was anything Green County could have done," Schramke said. "Roth Kase likes a 20- to 25-mile radius" for shipping its milk supply.
"They moved within the southwest region, which makes sense," Schramke continued. "Grant County is farm-oriented, and the water and grass needed for milk production is similar to ours."
The City of Monroe "would have tried to do whatever they could, but there were more than one defining factor in Roth Kase's decision to expand in Platteville," said Pam Christopher, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, which serves the city in economic development.
Besides the county's limited supply of raw milk, another key factor was the city's rising sewer rates, she said.
"Sewer rates were cheaper in Platteville, and cheese producers are heavy water users," she said. "We are blessed to have as many cheese producers as we do."
Platteville agreed to give the company a $2 million grant to open the plant in its industrial park. The company is also eligible for an additional $1.6 million from the city.
The $44 million Platteville plant is expected to open in 2013 and to create up to 60 jobs with average wages from $17 to $19 per hour.
The announcement came earlier this week, less than a week after the April 3 primary which saw local candidates stress the importance of economic development in their campaign platforms.
"I understand that the additional milk was a problem, and maybe there was a space issue," said Monroe Alderman Tyler Schultz, Ward 5, himself re-elected to the city council last week. "We would have liked them to expand here.
"I think there is still a lack of communication between economic development and the council. Maybe when the mayor explores his committee appointments, he'll think more about reconnecting with economic development," Schultz added.
Mayor Bill Ross has indicated a desire to start an economic development task force and has already asked Schultz to take part.
"The city is willing to work with any company coming to Monroe, and not pick and choose which ones we want," Schultz said. "I think there are certain ways the council can assist GCDC and the Chamber, and relook at incentives to be competitive with other communities and streamlining our permit process - everything to make Monroe more attractive to keep and start new businesses."
"Now that the election is over, we can focus more on economic development and jobs. After all, isn't that what we all ran on?" he said.
The bottom line, apparently, is Green County cows are tapped out, and local dairy farmers don't have the additional milk production to meet the cheese company's expected capacity.
"We were really not in the running," said Anna Schramke, executive director of Green County Development Corporation. "They were looking for a location outside their immediate supply area. There's not enough milk being produced in this area by our dairy herds."
Few dairy farmers in Green County have been expanding their herds, Schramke explained.
"The price of milk hasn't been great, and the whole industry is going through a change, with the cost of doing business going up," she said.
Additional regulations on the industry and the costs of input and machinery going up "lead to limitations on how large farms can get," she added.
Teresa Zimmer, executive director of USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA) in Monroe, agreed. Not only are few Green County farms expanding, but the number of farms is decreasing also.
"As our farmers are aging, there are fewer farms operating, and fewer young people starting or taking over existing farms," she said.
The competition among cheese producers to get what milk is being produced is high, she added.
Because of the numerous cheese producers in Green County, including Roth Kase USA in Monroe, additional milk is being shipped in to meet production demands.
"I don't think there was anything Green County could have done," Schramke said. "Roth Kase likes a 20- to 25-mile radius" for shipping its milk supply.
"They moved within the southwest region, which makes sense," Schramke continued. "Grant County is farm-oriented, and the water and grass needed for milk production is similar to ours."
The City of Monroe "would have tried to do whatever they could, but there were more than one defining factor in Roth Kase's decision to expand in Platteville," said Pam Christopher, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, which serves the city in economic development.
Besides the county's limited supply of raw milk, another key factor was the city's rising sewer rates, she said.
"Sewer rates were cheaper in Platteville, and cheese producers are heavy water users," she said. "We are blessed to have as many cheese producers as we do."
Platteville agreed to give the company a $2 million grant to open the plant in its industrial park. The company is also eligible for an additional $1.6 million from the city.
The $44 million Platteville plant is expected to open in 2013 and to create up to 60 jobs with average wages from $17 to $19 per hour.
The announcement came earlier this week, less than a week after the April 3 primary which saw local candidates stress the importance of economic development in their campaign platforms.
"I understand that the additional milk was a problem, and maybe there was a space issue," said Monroe Alderman Tyler Schultz, Ward 5, himself re-elected to the city council last week. "We would have liked them to expand here.
"I think there is still a lack of communication between economic development and the council. Maybe when the mayor explores his committee appointments, he'll think more about reconnecting with economic development," Schultz added.
Mayor Bill Ross has indicated a desire to start an economic development task force and has already asked Schultz to take part.
"The city is willing to work with any company coming to Monroe, and not pick and choose which ones we want," Schultz said. "I think there are certain ways the council can assist GCDC and the Chamber, and relook at incentives to be competitive with other communities and streamlining our permit process - everything to make Monroe more attractive to keep and start new businesses."
"Now that the election is over, we can focus more on economic development and jobs. After all, isn't that what we all ran on?" he said.