Investment Complements "Southern Tier Soaring" - The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced $1.75 million for SungEel MCC Americas (SMCC), a partnership between South Korean recycling company SungEel HiTech and White Plains-based e-recycler and broker Metallica Commodities Corp., to create a new lithium-ion battery recycling facility in the former IBM complex in Endicott, Broome County. The initial project aims to recycle 3,000 tons of spent lithium-ion batteries annually and will create at least 86 new hi-tech manufacturing jobs with average salaries of over $50,000. The new facility will complement the Imperium3 New York, Inc. giga-factory on the Broome Campus in Endicott, which will make lithium-ion batteries. The partnership builds on the success of the regionally-designed Southern Tier Soaring Upstate Revitalization Initiative, which is working to revitalize communities and grow the local economy.
ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “Throughout the Southern Tier, companies are finding innovative new uses for existing facilities. This international partnership recycling lithium-ion batteries will foster the supply of a product in high demand and expand the thriving energy storage industry in the region.”
SungEel HiTech will provide the recycling technology and Metallica Commodities Corp. will broker incoming batteries and the products of the new business. ESD will provide a $750,000 Capital Grant toward M&E, and a $1 million Excelsior Tax Credit. In total, the company will invest $22 million on specialized M&E and $1.3 million on construction and renovation. The essential recycling and recovery of lithium-ion batteries will help ensure continued access to precious and limited supplies of materials used to make the batteries.
The investment adds to the revitalization happening at the former IBM campus, which is now home to new and innovative companies which are being supported through the Southern Tier Soaring plan.
Danish Mir, COO of Metallica Commodities Corp. said, “We are excited to be at the forefront of lithium-ion battery recycling in the United States and to create quality, hi-tech, green jobs in our home state of New York. The State’s energy storage initiative makes the Southern Tier an obvious choice. We look forward to leveraging the region’s educational institutions, technological resources, and manufacturing tradition to add to the incredible progress New York State has made in energy storage technology.”
The state has invested heavily in the clean energy industry in the Southern Tier. This week, the state announced the winners of the 76West Clean Energy Competition, one of the largest competitions in the country that focuses on supporting and growing clean-energy businesses and economic development. Rochester-based EkoStinger, which manufactures under-trailer aerodynamic devices for tractor trailers that reduce emissions and save fuel, was named the $1 million grand prize winner and will expand its operations to the Southern Tier. A total of $2.5 million was awarded to six innovative companies. In October 2017, the state announced that Imperium3 New York, Inc., a consortium of businesses spearheaded by three Southern Tier companies, will establish research and development and production operations at the Huron Campus in Endicott, Broome County. The consortium will invest more than $130 million and create at least 230 new jobs over the next five years.
The clean energy industry and ancillary industries in the Southern Tier, which have a long history there, have benefited both from organic growth based off regional expertise and incentives from the state. Stan Whittingham, inventor of the modern-day lithium-ion battery, began teaching as a professor at Binghamton University in 1988.
Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said, “Any day you find out more jobs are coming to your county is a great day. This announcement is another major win for Endicott and Broome County! Thanks to the continued, hard work of Empire State Development and Governor Cuomo, this community is being revitalizing and our local economy is being transformed. We are attracting innovative companies are who recognizing the great benefits of doing business in the Southern Tier and with that, bringing much-needed jobs to our community.”
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo said, “This new recycling facility will complement the work being done by Imperium3 New York in Endicott, as well as ongoing research on lithium-ion batteries by Binghamton University. High-tech manufacturing was a cornerstone of the region’s economy for many years and this announcement marks another step towards its rebirth in Broome County.”
Mayor John Bertoni said, “The Village of Endicott looks forward to another key step in the revitalization of the business climate of Endicott. I would like to thank Empire State Development and Huron Campus for their continued efforts to bring back jobs to our community and grow our local economy. This new facility will be a great complement to the already announced Imperium3NY factory that will also be located on the Huron campus. I look forward to the bright future of The Village of Endicott.”
Dr. William Acker, Executive Director of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST) said, “Battery recycling is a critical component of the supply chain for the energy storage industry. NY-BEST is excited to join Empire State Development in welcoming SungEel MCC Americas as an important new addition to New York’s rapidly expanding battery and energy storage ‘ecosystem.’”
Accelerating Southern Tier Soaring
Today's announcement complements “Southern Tier Soaring” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $4.6 billion in the region since 2012 to lay for groundwork for the plan – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. 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 Binghamton, Johnson City and Corning as destinations in which to grow and invest. Now, the region is accelerating Southern Tier Soaring 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 10,200 new jobs. More information is available here.
Contact:
Shari Voorhees-Vincent | [email protected] | (585) 399-7055
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313