CANAJOHARIE (AP) -- Gov. David Paterson and other top state officials will be in the Mohawk Valley today for a party being thrown by a candy-maker.

Richardson Brands is hosting the celebration at its plant in downtown Canajoharie. The village has benefitted from state assistance which enabled Richardson to expand after Beech-Nut, a major employer, announced it was moving to a new state-of-the-art facility in rural Montgomery County.

Richardson Brands makes various hard candies, as well as GravyMaster. Today's celebration is called "Canajo Rocks!"

The company has recovered from a massive flood that heavily damaged its plant in 2006. Then, last year, it had to buy a new boiler to replace the one it had shared with the neighboring Beech-Nut baby food plant.

It received assistance from numerous sources, including $1.7 million from Empire State Development and $1.5 million in other state aid.

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