Empire State Development (ESD) announced that photonics manufacturer IDEX Health & Science, LLC today officially opened its new Optical Center of Excellence in Henrietta. The new center, located at 1180 John Street, will support the company's life science, semi-conductor, and defense businesses. IDEX Health & Science had considered moving its operations out of New York State. As a result of the State’s investment the company retained 186 jobs and committed to creating at least 34 new full-time jobs which the company is close to achieving. Investing in successful companies supports the strategy of the Finger Lakes Forward initiative which is working to revitalize communities by supporting the regional economy.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "IDEX Health & Science’s expansion once again confirms the Finger Lakes as a growing hub for optics and photonics, adding to the region’s highly skilled workforce and to industry innovation.”
“This new center continues the region’s growth in the optics and photonics industry, and will create new job opportunities in the area,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who attended today’s event. “The expansion of IDEX Health & Science with a new Optical Center in Henrietta will continue to advance the life sciences and semiconductor markets, growing the local economy and moving the Finger Lakes Forward.”
As part of the expansion project, IDEX Health & Science installed high-tech machinery, equipment and clean room space at the new 100,000 square foot site. The global company specializes in optics and fluidics serving the life sciences, semiconductor, and defense markets. Product offerings include: filters, lenses, shutters, laser sources, light engines and integrated optical assemblies as well as connections, valves, pumps, degassers, column hardware, manifolds, microfluidics, consumables, and integrated fluidic assemblies. The new facility will be exclusively focused on the optics and photonics product lines.
Joe Rytell, President, IDEX Health & Science said, “We have focused on the growth of highly engineered optofluidic sub-systems and components across our target markets. This focus, coupled with our deep technical expertise, has driven accelerated growth in our optics business. The new investment in facility, equipment, and people will enable IDEX Health & Science to better serve our customers and execute on our exciting long term growth plans.”
To encourage IDEX Health & Science to expand its operations in New York State, Empire State Development will provide up to $2.4 million through the Excelsior Jobs Program in exchange for job creation commitments. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is also supporting this expansion project with a 850 kilowatt power allocation from the Governor's ReCharge NY program, which provides qualifying businesses and non-profit organizations with discounted NYPA power in exchange for commitments to retain or create jobs in New York State.
“The Governor’s ReCharge NY program has been a great success throughout New York State, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “It’s great news to see IDEX creating jobs and investing in the Finger Lakes region and NYPA is proud to support the firm with a low-cost power allocation.”
State Senator Patrick Gallivan said, “IDEX Health & Science has made a commitment to Henrietta, the Finger Lakes Region and New York State, resulting in significant job retention and creation. Their decision to stay and expand in Monroe County is a testament to the success of the burgeoning optics, photonics and imaging industry locally. This expansion project will provide new opportunities for workers throughout the region and will support continued growth in this high tech field.”
Assemblymember Harry Bronson said, “I applaud Joe Rytell and the team at IDEX Health & Science for their commitment to our region. Today’s announcement by the company and Governor Cuomo shows that the Rochester area has a strong, diverse, and skilled workforce and is in an economic position to create jobs for the future. Additionally, this is another step in the creation of a cluster of industries based on photonics technology and, I look forward to IDEX Health and Science’s growth and the addition of new jobs at their new Henrietta campus.”
Town Supervisor Steve Schultz said, “Keeping high tech businesses in town, able to feed off the phenomenal resources coming out of our local colleges, especially RIT, is an important goal for building an economy that will drive our Town forward for years to come. And the jobs created not only help those employed at IDEX, and those served by IDEX, but also all of the restaurants, gas stations, and other retail and service companies in the community. We are proud to be home to great companies like IDEX Health and Science.”
For more information about IDEX Health & Science click here.
Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward
Today’s announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $6.1 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan – investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Rochester, Batavia and Canandaigua as a destination to grow and invest in.
Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs. More information is available here.