CORTLAND, N.Y. (WHCU) – A manufacturing company has chosen to open a location in Cortland, and it’s bringing hundreds of jobs with it.

The Cortland County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) has announced that herb and spice company iSpice will take over the former Voyant Beauty manufacturing facility in the city by early 2024. Voyant first announced it would close its doors in August last year. An ownership group led by local businessman Bill Clearly began working with iSpice in December and recently came to terms based on job creation. Other suitors were reportedly interested in the location.

“This has been an intense, multi-faceted negotiation that has required the cooperation and good work of many, many partners, including an ownership group that could have gone in different directions but was committed to doing what was best for Cortland,” said CCIDA executive director Garry VanGorder. “There is much more to come and much more to say but this is no doubt a fabulous development for our community.”

The Quebec-based iSpice, a leader in importing, processing, and supplying herbs and spices from around the globe, anticipates it will create at least 350 jobs over the next five years.