Empire State Development public notices

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC) today announced the appointment of three new members: Eric Reich, co-founder and president of Campus Labs; Stephen Tucker, president and CEO of Northland Workforce Training Center; Michael Ulbrich, president of Buffalo Manufacturing Works. "I often marvel at the incredible transformation we have seen in Buffalo and Western New York during my lifetime,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, statewide Chair of the Regional Economic Development Councils. “The work and strategic vision of the Western New York REDC has had a significant impact in this region, leading to incredible economic growth and job creation. I welcome our three new members to the Western New York REDC and thank them for their commitment to public service. Their combined experience and wealth of knowledge will be an asset to our REDC as they continue the work of transforming our economy."​ Eric Reich currently serves as co-founder and president of Campus Labs, which employs more than 150 and has a reputation for being one of Western New York’s most dynamic startups.  As president, Eric manages the strategic direction of Campus Labs, evaluating alliances and acquisitions and growing its roster of more than 1,250-member campuses.  Eric earned both his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo.  He is chairman of the board at 43North and a member of the Investment Committee for Z80 Labs. Stephen Tucker was appointed the first President & CEO of the Northland Workforce Training Center in August 2017.  The new hub, set to open its doors in fall 2018, will focus primarily on training for careers in the advanced manufacturing and energy sectors. It is an industry-driven, public-private partnership involving employers, educational institutions, community and faith-based organizations and state and local government. Born and raised in Ohio, Stephen served four years in the United States Air Force as an electronic technician before returning to Cincinnati and attending college through the GI Bill.  He has worked at Partners for a Competitive Workforce in Cincinnati and was vice president for Workforce Development at the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati.  Stephen earned an A.S. in business administration from University of Cincinnati, a B.S. in criminal justice from Wilberforce University and an M.B.A. from Indiana Wesleyan University.   Michael Ulbrich has been leading the effort to operate a new advanced manufacturing institute and support growth of the area’s manufacturing sector.  Buffalo Manufacturing Works is a state-of-the-art center operated by EWI that works with manufacturers to develop, validate and implement leading-edge technologies.  Currently located on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, it will be moving to the Northland Beltline in 2019.  Michael graduated from Lehigh University with a B.S. in industrial engineering.  “We are pleased to welcome these three community leaders to the WNYREDC team,” said WNYREDC Co-Chair and SolEpoxy CEO Jeff Belt.  “Eric, Stephen, and Michael will contribute to the collaborative process we have in place and continue the regional council’s work to have positive economic impacts felt across all Western New York communities.” “Bringing Eric, Stephen and Michael on board with their unique expertise will help us realize our economic goals,” said WNYREDC Co-Chair and State University of New York at Fredonia President Dr. Virginia Horvath.  “Western New York is more fully realizing our strategies each year as we invest in placemaking and expand access to state funding in all five counties across the region.  We’re heading in the right direction but we have more work to do.” Through seven rounds of the REDC competition, the Western New York REDC has delivered $487.2 million for 663 projects throughout Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara Schoharie counties. Round VIII of the REDC initiative will award more than $750 million in state funding and tax incentives, including up to $150 million in capital grants and up to $75 million in Excelsior Tax Credits for projects and activities identified by the Councils as regional priorities in their communities. Additionally, over $525 million from state agency programs will be awarded through the CFA process. Regional Council priorities in 2018 include: Supporting Downtown Revitalization Plans and identifying downtown projects for DRI Round 3; Identifying workforce development strategies to meet business' needs and improving the regional talent pipeline Identifying projects for the State life sciences cluster; Implementing strategies through the project pipeline; and Measuring the performance and progress of the strategic plan. The competition places an emphasis on Regional Council performance and action to implement strategies. By incentivizing implementation of the strategic plans, REDCs, businesses, educational institutions, local governments, not-for-profit groups and other stakeholders are more motivated to work together to accomplish the regional vision. The 2018 REDC Guidebook and list of available resources is accessible at www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov. The CFA opened to applicants on May 1 and the deadline for applications is Friday, July 27 at 4 p.m. For applicants, the CFA is available at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/. About the Consolidated Funding Application As part of Governor Cuomo's efforts to improve the state's economic development model, the NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. To access the CFA, please visit https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/.   About the Regional Economic Development Councils The Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative is a key component of Governor Cuomo's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, Governor Cuomo established 10 Regional Councils to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. After seven rounds of the REDC process, over $5.4 billion has been awarded to support job creation and community development projects consistent with the 10 regions' strategic plans, projecting to create and retain more than 220,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.     Contact: Pamm Lent (Governor’s Office) | pamm.lent@esd.ny.gov | (716) 846-8309 Laura Magee (ESD) | laura.magee@esd.ny.gov | (716) 846-8239 | (800) 260-7313

The New York State Photonics Board of Officers (NYS Photonics Board) announced today that tool installation has begun on schedule at the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) Test, Assembly and Packaging (TAP) Facility in Rochester. In addition, AIM Photonics forecasts the facility renovation will be completed $3.2 million under budget, a savings of 17%. With the construction of office and conference rooms completed last fall, and with progress of the construction of laboratories and cleanrooms enabling the process of equipping the state-of-the-art facility with the tools needed to assist project partners and members continues on schedule, through the work of a separate contractor. The TAP facility is expected to open to early customers in the 3rd quarter of 2018. Achieving readiness for development of some equipment currently on order will extend into the 4th quarter of 2018. As new customers define projects that may require new tools, additional equipment is expected to be installed in 2019. The TAP facility, located inside ON Semiconductor at Eastman Business Park in Rochester, is the world’s first 300mm open access photonic integrated circuit (PIC) industry Test, Assembly, and Packaging Facility. It will have a brand new strategically designed tool set and analytical lab for advancing next generation PIC technology.  Being centrally located in Rochester will provide partners access to a well established photonics supply chain. Optics, photonics, and imaging is one of the three industry clusters identified as key to enabling Finger Lakes Forward, the region’s successful Upstate Revitalization Initiative plan, a comprehensive strategy to grow the economy. New York State Photonics Board of Officers Chairman John Maggiore said, “The TAP facility is revolutionary and will build upon Rochester and New York State’s leadership in the optics, photonics, and imaging industries. The facility will work to attract industry leaders from across the globe and builds upon Governor Cuomo’s investment in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.” In July of 2015, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Vice President Joe Biden announced that Rochester had been selected as the home for the Department of Defense-led American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics. One of 14 Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, with three of the fourteen institutes headquartered in New York State, AIM Photonics is an industry-driven public-private partnership that focuses the nation’s premiere capabilities and expertise to capture critical global manufacturing leadership in technologies that are both essential to national security and positioned to provide a compelling return-on-investment to the U.S. economy. Thanks to the world-renowned consortium, the Finger Lakes is already a leader in photonics research and development and New York State will leverage this unique asset to bring the businesses and the jobs of tomorrow to the region. Currently, AIM Photonics has 89 signed members, partners, and additional interested collaborators from across the United States. “As the TAP Facility transitions from fit out of the facility to the large-scale undertaking of installing state-of-the-art tools enabling next generation PIC research and development, AIM Photonics looks forward to continuing to build upon our exciting foundation with our growing number of industry-leading partners who will be able to leverage this facility to advance technologies that can lead to the types of applications that are improving our society,” said Dr. Michael Liehr, AIM Photonics CEO. The AIM Photonics initiative is working to reduce energy consumption in data centers by supporting the replacement of copper wires with optical fiber; providing technology for optics in next generation (5G) wireless networks; helping develop the optical equivalent of radar which will facilitate the use of self-driving vehicles; and in partnership with the University of Rochester, the initiative is developing emerging optical sensors for medical and environmental applications. “With the intent of creating a world-class enabling environment for PIC Manufacturing process development, the readiness of AIM Photonics’ high-tech Test, Assembly and Packaging (TAP) facility continues to be on schedule and under budget,” said AIM Photonics Corporate Outreach Executive and Associate Vice President for Test, Assembly, and Packaging Ed White. “We are excited to see the tool installation process underway and thrilled that the availability of industry-leading capability is just a short time away.” In March of 2018, The New Yok State Photonics Board signed off on $60 million in approved funding for AIM Photonics representing the third and fourth tranches of state expenditures approved by the Board for the Institute. To date, the Board has approved recommendations for $247 million of the State’s $250 million commitment to the project. The total budget for AIM Photonics is $612,877,000 with the federal government committing $110 million and the state and other parties, including private sector companies, providing the balance.  New York State’s most recent $60 million investment, which covers the period April 1, 2018, through March 31, 2020, includes $30 million for the Photonics Attraction Fund which was announced by Governor Cuomo in January and aims to attract integrated photonics companies to set up manufacturing operations in the greater Rochester area. The capital budget also includes $9 million for education and workforce development efforts, as well as research and development initiatives conducted in conjunction with the University of Rochester and the Rochester institute of technology. The remaining $21 million has been dedicated to the operation of the TAP Facility, which will work to foster sustainability through industry relationships and other commercial engagements. “Through the Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative, Rochester is building upon its historic strength as the optics, photonics, and imaging capital of the world,” said Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Monroe Community College President Anne Kress, and Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy. “The research done at the Rochester facility will pave the way for vigorous industry growth and produce next-generation technologies.  These, in turn, will result in opportunities for the region’s highly-skilled workforce."  State Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle said, “The Finger Lakes region has transformed before our eyes into a knowledge-based innovation economy that boasts a globally recognized high-tech optics, photonics, and imaging industries. The progress at the AIM Photonics Test, Assembly and Packaging Facility further builds on our community’s economic strengthens and ultimately will support continued job growth across the region.” State Senator Joe Robach said, "I am excited to see the significant progress at the AIM Photonics TAP facility. With this facility calling Rochester home, our community will be on the leading forefront of innovation for photonics and optics, resulting in many positive effects for our region." “The photonics industry is playing a major role in our efforts to create more jobs, safer/more vibrant neighborhoods and better educational opportunities for all of our residents,” said Mayor Lovely A. Warren. “The Greater Rochester region, led by the city of Rochester, is bringing new life to manufacturing business parks and expanding its workforce development efforts to maintain its historic lead in precision machining and optics, photonics and imaging. On behalf of the residents of Rochester, I would like to thank Governor Cuomo, the State Photonics Board and ON Semiconductor for their investments in our city.” For additional information about AIM Photonics, 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 $5.2 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.     Contact: Shari Voorhees-Vincent (ESD) | Shari.Voorhees-Vincent@esd.ny.gov | (585) 399-7055 ESD Press Office | PressOffice@esd.ny.gov | (800) 260-7313