Made in Drum Country: Spotlight on Local Manufacturers Making National Impact

Within New York’s North Country, the Drum Country region (Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties) continues to prove that manufacturing hasn’t moved completely off-shore; it just relocated.

Join us as we explore how this region has leveraged its unique assets to host major national-to-global manufacturing operations, with legacy employers and entrepreneurs alike growing their roots and driving economic impact.

 

Why Drum Country Matters for Manufacturers

A strong manufacturing base

Manufacturing in Drum Country makes up 6.6% of the regional economy, putting it above the New York State average of 5.7%. In addition, 6 of Drum Country’s top 10 employers are in manufacturing! As you can see, several major manufacturers have recognized and taken advantage of Drum Country’s strategic advantages, from strong infrastructure to a well-trained workforce.

 

Cost-competitive workforce and operations

Here in Drum Country, businesses also enjoy access to a skilled labor force at a competitive cost. In fact, partially due to our affordable cost of living, this region’s average hourly wages are 17% below the national average across all occupations, and up to 31% lower within the local manufacturing industry.

Plus, both utilities and infrastructure are well-positioned for this industry. For example, Drum Country supports food processing businesses by offering competitive water, telecommunications, electricity and natural gas costs and capacity, culminating in an attractive incentive to relocate or expand operations in the area. Additionally, our region has invested heavily into upgrading our power/utility capacity for industrial purposes alongside our fiber-optic network, now stretching over 2000 miles.

 

Logistics & transportation advantages

With its location adjacent to major market areas such as Syracuse and Quebec, Drum Country is perfectly located to serve the greater North American market. In fact, within a 500-mile radius, local businesses can reach 75 million consumers and 75% of Canada’s manufacturing capacity! This is in large part due to our numerous avenues of distribution available to local businesses, which include waterways such as the St. Lawrence Seaway, rail, highways and more.

 

Legacy manufacturers anchored here

Of course, while Drum Country is a great place for startups and entrepreneurs to grow, it’s also home to a number of larger, more established corporations. Manufacturing companies with significant operations in Drum Country include Alcoa (aluminum manufacturing), Car‑Freshner Corporation (air fresheners), Kraft Heinz (food processing), and many more.

 

 

Spotlight on Major Local Manufacturers

01. Kraft Heinz Company (Lowville, NY)

Within Lewis County’s Lowville, you’ll find a key hub for the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world: Kraft Heinz. There, they produce vast amounts of cream cheese to distribute nation-wide.

That means national supply chain relevance: this plant processes for a global brand while rooted in rural New York. Given a competitive edge through the region’s advantages (including low cost of utilities, access to raw materials such as dairy and proximity to markets), this business underscores Drum Country’s ability to serve national food-processing operations.

And, just down the street from the K-H facility is another major manufacturer: the largest bowling pin factory in the world, operated by QubicaAMF!

 

02. HP Hood LLC (La Fargeville, NY)

Similarly, the HP Hood plant in Jefferson County reflects how the region supports dairy processing operations of national scale. The plant in La Fargeville taps local dairy farms for their milk, enjoying access to the resources they need due to the North Country’s strong agribusiness ties. Just like Kraft Heinz, HP Hood benefits from our region’s strong utility and infrastructure, designed to support major operations such as these.

A recent news story noted that at the La Fargeville plant, cottage cheese production is “skyrocketing” due to growing demand, highlighting the plant’s role in national markets.

 

03. Car‑Freshner Corporation (Watertown, NY)

Based in Jefferson County, Little Trees / the Car-Freshner Corporation remains one of the region’s top manufacturing employers. Their presence here shows that not only large food-processors but also specialty manufacturing (i.e. consumer goods) find a strong home in Drum Country, which ultimately supports regional diversification.

With logistics infrastructure supportive of shipping finished goods nationally and to Canada, Car-Freshner’s location in Watertown underscores how this region’s manufacturing strengths extend far beyond food.

 

04. Alcoa (Massena, NY)

Another of Drum Country’s top employers, Alcoa leverages our abundant hydro-electric power and utilities in the region to produce its products, which is key for energy-intensive manufacturing such as aluminum. Plus, our clean energy infrastructure ties into their ‘sustainable manufacturing’ initiative, highlighting that heavy manufacturing with global supply-chain relevance can thrive in a rural, cost-competitive region when the correct infrastructure is in place.

Want to learn more about Alcoa’s operations here in Drum Country? View our video about local manufacturing, which also features insights from Grand Slam Safety and The Lawman Group.

 

 

The Bigger Picture: Why National Impact Happens Here

Labor and cost structure: Drum Country’s ability to offer manufacturing operations at a cost below national average gives companies a competitive edge while still enjoying easy access to Northeast / Midwest markets.

Connectivity: With access to multimodal transportation (water, rail, highways) and major markets within a day’s drive, companies located here can efficiently serve both U.S. and Canadian customers.

Infrastructure readiness: From utilities (water, wastewater, power) to telecom fiber networks, the region has made deliberate investments to support manufacturing. 

Anchor operations build ecosystem: Firms such as Kraft Heinz, Hood, Car-Freshner and Alcoa draw suppliers, workforce training, and local support services, which deepen the manufacturing ecosystem.

Legacy + modern growth: Many of these operations are longstanding, providing stability; some are expanding, demonstrating the area’s growth potential.

Competitive incentives: The Drum Country region offers real property tax incentives, investment credits, workforce-training programs and energy/utility discount programs.

 

Why This Matters for Drum Country’s Future

Of course, these manufacturing anchors are more than just major employers; they’re role models for regional growth.

All together, these businesses:

• Reinforce that rural or less-populated regions can host global supply-chain nodes.
• Attract talent, training and investment that spill over into other sectors.
• Provide stability and high-quality jobs for residents.
• Help establish the region as a manufacturing hub, which in turn helps attract new investment and talent.

For site-selectors, growing manufacturers and investors: if you’re looking for a region that offers skilled labor, cost-competitive operations, full infrastructure and market proximity, New York’s Drum Country is that place. And for community stakeholders: celebrating these legacy manufacturers helps strengthen regional identity, workforce pride and economic diversification.