There may be gold in the hills between routes 5 and 63 on the east side of the Town of Batavia.

At least that's the impression left from this morning's groundbreaking for an agri-business park being made "shovel ready" under the guidance of the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

The $6 million project could lead to millions in revenue growth for the county, and as much as a $40 million annual payroll for as many as 1,200 workers.

The return on investment, according to GCEDC CEO Steve Hyde could be as much as 30-1 -- $30 gained in the local economy for every $1 spent on the project.

"This is a story of a vision that is really becoming reality," Hyde said.

Construction actually began two weeks ago and while only one Canadian food processor is among the future planned tenants, Hyde said he is confident several more companies will gain interest in the project once the economy turns around.

He said he expects future tenants to invest as much as $230 million in private capital to build their facilities.

He said the agri-business park is the first of its kind in the Northeast and brings together a confluence of factors that should be attractive -- inexpensive, easily accessed water, inexpensive power, a rail line and trucking routes.

The project is the result of GCEDC helping to bring together public and private funding to raise the $6 million to make the 200-acre park shovel ready (grading, building roads, bringing infrastructure), with contributors including the state and Town of Batavia as well as Farm Credit of Western New York.

New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton (pictured, inset) called the project near and dear to his heart.

"It's a prime example of what state agencies and private groups can do when they get together and work for the betterment of agriculture," Norton said.

Funds earmarked for the GCEDC to develop an agri-park off Route 5 in the Town of Batavia has finally been released and construction could resume within weeks, according to Chad Zambito.

Immediately, GCEDC is getting $2 million from Empire State Development and another $1 million is expected to come from the DOT.  The phase 1-funding will be used for building infrastructure for the park -- roads, sewer, water, gas and electricity.

“To some extent it’s old news because it was announced, but it is a huge relief because we didn’t know where we stood with the state under its current situation," said Zambito.

The funds were originally committed to the project by former Governor Elliott Spitzer and in anticipation of securing the money, some construction work has already begun. Zambito said the GCEDC hopes to complete phase 1 by the end of the year.

A Canadian firm is hoping to open a $15 million processing plant, employing 100 people, Zambito, pending securing its own financing.

Last year, CCEDC staff told the Batavia City Council the Agri-Park, when fully built out, could be worth $1.5 billion in economic growth Genesee County. 

Phase 1 development covers about 200 acres, while the park could eventually cover 300 acres.