[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 106 (Monday, June 24, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN APPRECIATION OF CHOBANI PAYING SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT IN TWIN FALLS, 
                                 IDAHO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 24, 2019

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the generous 
donation by Chobani who paid the school lunch debt for the entire Twin 
Falls School District for the 2018-2019 school year. This act of 
kindness is just another example of Chobani's commitment to being a 
good neighbor in the Magic Valley.
  The State of Idaho is fortunate that Chobani chose to build North 
America's largest yogurt plant in Twin Falls in 2012. Since arriving, 
Chobani has benefited the local economy including the dairy farmers in 
Idaho who supply milk to the plant. It is estimated that Chobani's 
direct and indirect employment is roughly 7,000 jobs in Idaho including 
roughly 300 refugees from the local center at the College of Southern 
Idaho. Due to Chobani's economic success, additional food producing 
businesses have located facilities in Twin Falls, which has resulted in 
the local unemployment rate dropping as low as 2.2 percent.
  I believe any organization or business starts with the tone set by 
their leader. Chobani exemplifies that through their founder, chairman, 
and CEO, Hamdi Ulukaya. I consider Hamdi a friend to me and to the 
State of Idaho. Hamdi grew up on a dairy farm in Turkey and immigrated 
to the United States in 1994. He took over a yogurt factory in 2005 
with a loan from the Small Business Administration. Today, he is the 
CEO of the number one strained yogurt brand in the United States. He 
has shared his generosity with local communities like Twin Falls and 
also announced he would hand over ten percent of the shares of the 
company to its employees.
  To quote the Twin Falls Mayor, ``Chobani is the gift that keeps on 
giving.'' I thank Hamdi and Chobani and I look forward to their future 
growth and partnership with the State of Idaho.

                          ____________________