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Two tech companies coming to Rochester
- FILE PHOTO
- This is an example of what a semiconductor wafer looks like, though it's not exactly what will be produced in the SUNY Polytechnic facility in Greece.
Photonica and Avogy will use a state-owned clean room facility at Canal Ponds Business Park for research and development work and will establish manufacturing operations at Eastman Business Park, Governor Andrew Cuomo said this morning. Cuomo and other state and local officials announced the deal at Eastman Business Park.
Photonica develops display technologies, while Avogy develops semi-conductors, components, and systems for power electronics. Cuomo said that the companies, which he billed as leading photonics firms, will invest $1.6 billion between them and support 1,400 jobs. The state released more details in a press release sent out after the event.
Initially, the companies will set up their advanced development, prototyping, and early manufacturing operations at Canal Ponds, according to the state's press release. They'll set up manufacturing operations at Eastman Business Park later.
The state expects Photonica to invest $700 million, though it's kicking in $35 million of that amount for equipment and upgrades at Canal Ponds and Eastman Business Park. The company should create or support 400 jobs, some of which will be positions with the company while others will be with outside suppliers, says the press release.
Avogy is moving to Rochester from Silicon Valley, and the state expects that the company will invest $950 million, though the state is kicking in $40 million of that amount, again for equipment and upgrades at Canal Ponds and Eastman Business Park. Avogy should directly employ 400 workers at an average salary of $80,000 over the next five years, says the press release. It should also support an additional 600 jobs through its local suppliers and partners.
The projects are tied to the region's $500 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative award from the state, and also to the federal AIM Photonics effort. As part of the AIM Photonics program, the state is putting up $250 million to advance New York's photonics industry.
