By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON – United Helper’s CEO Stephen Knight says plans for a food hub and meat processing facility in Canton remain on track with a groundbreaking possibly in 2016.

The United Helpers for-profit management company SPARX will operate the facility.

The total project is expected to top $2 million, but Knight says he is exploring different options for financing the business. While the hub has existed as an idea since 2009, it seems it could be coming to fruition in the near future.

In 2013, United Helpers and North Country Pastured were awarded a $350,000 Empire State Development grant through the North Country Regional Economic Development Council to create the food hub. North Country Pastured is no longer involved in the plan, but the project is still eligible for funding. So far, no grant money has been received, but Knight says it is his understanding that the money will be available for up to five years.

Knight said he has moved slowly with the project because he wants to ensure its success. He said the pro forma is still being fine tuned as he and other stakeholders continue to meet with experts and industry specialists to identify the efficiencies, practices and products that will best suit the company.

“We are really fleshing in out. By working with people who have the same philosophy as us we are able to learn from them and use their knowledge and experience,” he said.

Meanwhile, efforts were announced recently to establish a $20 million processing plant in Jefferson County known as the New York Meat Company that would be capable of processing 100,000 animals annually.

But Knight says he believes there is plenty of room for both the food hub and the New York Meat Company.

“I think our business plan is different. It includes other things than just the processing, but I also think there is a huge untapped capacity here and there is plenty of room for both entities to exist,” he said. “Our goal is to go deep, not wide. We have got the hub, with processing plant as phase I, but there is a lot of potential here beyond that.”

Knight said the goal is to create a humane facility that processes locally sourced and organic meat. Knight estimates the company will be capable of processing 16 animals a day and initially employ 8 to 15 people. He said exact details would not be hammered out for a month or so.

Initially the hub will target culled dairy cows, but Knight added that the room for expansion is astronomical. Knight says since the supply already exists in St. Lawrence County it will ensure a safe revenue stream to help the food hub get up and running with low risk.

Knight said St. Lawrence County has a mass of agricultural knowledge that could allow the facility to branch off in many directions. He noted the large number of local producers and trades workers and is hopeful interested entrepreneurs will bring their unique talents to the food hub.

Knight also sees the hub as a place that will producers move their products from the garden to retailers.

Knight said at a 2009 meeting at United Helpers meeting he learned that 20 percent of North Country children grow up below the federally established poverty line.

He said rural areas like St. Lawrence County are finding it tougher to hang on to jobs as large employers continue to locate in metropolitan areas and the economic disadvantages negatively impact community health and even mortality rates.

Knight say the food hub has the potential to breathe new life into the county, because it takes advantage of the area’s rural nature and offers farmers, growers and entrepreneurs to build on it.

In the planning phase, United Helpers has partnered with others businesses and organizations including Renzi Foods, Watertown, Cornell Cooperative Extension and SUNY Canton to make it all work.

Knight says United Helpers has the business experience and ability to manage operations, run a pay roll and balance a budget, but the hub requires much more.

Cornell Cooperative Extension has extensive knowledge in agriculture and has been a valuable resource for people hoping to grow or raise products that can be sold to the food hub.

SUNY Canton and other area colleges will also play a role. He is hopeful that the schools can provide training for the sort of jobs that will grow from and be created by the food hub.

And Renzi, a food distributor that serves more than 7,000 customers, has helped by sharing their industry knowledge.