WALTON – On Thursday, Assemblyman Clifford W. Crouch (R-Bainbridge) joined Gov. Cuomo and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer to announce that a deal has been reached with H. J. Heinz Company and Kraft Foods, Inc. to keep the Kraft plant in Walton open.

Crouch noted that the $20 million deal will aim to modernize the upstate operations and keep all three Kraft plants in New York State open for at least five years.

“I want to thank Kraft-Heinz for its consideration of this very serious matter, but I also want to commend Gov. Cuomo and Sen. Schumer for their leadership and cooperation on this deal,” said Crouch, who recently advocated for the plant to remain open. “This was all about keeping the 141 local manufacturing jobs in Walton and the economic development of the area. With the Village of Walton’s plans to seek other cost-saving measures, it only makes sense that this plant must stay open.”