CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. -- Beech-Nut is offering an olive branch to the village it's called home for more than a century.
Four days after village officials named the baby food manufacturer in lawsuit challenging the review process for the new plant, Beech-Nut says its local stake holders committee is paying $100,000 to study options for the future of the Canajoharie facility.
"As far as what Beech-Nut is doing, to find a purpose for a 100 year old plant feels good to us, we would like to see something happen," Canajoharie Mayor Leigh Fuller said.
More news about Beech-Nut. This time it's about money going toward the redevelopment of the old Canajoharie site. Our Mark Repasky has the latest.
A Beech-Nut spokesman says this announcement has nothing to do with the village's lawsuit and the committee was put into place long before the village was even considering a lawsuit. He also says these are just more signs of Beech-Nut's commitment to get another company into this facility.
"I do think they do care about what's going to happen to Canajoharie, whether there's anything they can do about it or not, I don't know. I hope so," Fuller said.
Fuller's hopes and worries are for the taxpayer. He says even this gesture of good faith isn't enough for the village to stop the lawsuit.
Beech-Nut brings in close to $1.7 million for the village and Fuller says without that money, they could be forced to lay off workers and raise property taxes.
"It's not a pretty picture down the road," said Fuller.
A bleak picture for Beech-Nut's home of 117 years, unless someone finds a plan to save it.