Washington D.C. – At the urging of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the U.S. Economic Development Agency (EDA) today announced a federal grant worth $700,000 to support the City of Rochester’s proposal to redevelop the Photech Manufacturing site into an industrial park. Investment from the EDA opens the door for private businesses to use the park and create an estimated 200 to 250 jobs for the Rochester area.
In a May letter to the EDA, Senator Gillibrand called for federal investment into this potential economic engine for Rochester. The grant for the Photech Manufacturing site is part of a $1.4 million investment the EDA is making in projects across New York State.
“This is great news and a key investment that has the ability to revitalize the local economy and support new jobs right here in Rochester,” Senator Gillibrand said. “The Photech redevelopment project would make smart use of existing space by turning it into a working industrial park. This is exactly the kind of investment that the federal government should be supporting to attract more businesses in growing fields, and support more jobs.”
“I want to thank Senator Gillibrand for her hard work in making this a reality. She recognizes the importance of supporting tangible efforts that will sustain future economic growth and job creation,” said Mayor Thomas S. Richards. “We are grateful to the Economic Development Administration for assisting with this project. This new industrial development has the potential to yield private investment of up to $20 million and eventually be home to 200-250 manufacturing jobs. Rochester, New York is indeed open for business and we are eager to attract and assist new and emerging companies to our area.”
“These $1.4 million in EDA investments in New York are examples of the Obama administration’s commitment to supporting economic growth in local communities,” said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. “The grants announced today will bring new businesses to Rochester, accelerate bringing ideas to market in Buffalo, and provide a facility for training workers in fields that support high-quality, good-paying jobs.”
The industrial park site is 12.5 acres owned by Rochester, which was previously the location of Photech Manufacturing. This year, the site was turned from a brownfield to a greenfield area, making the site safe for final development. Currently, Rochester has invested $3.4 million into the environmental cleanup of the site and has pledged additional matching funds to move the redevelopment project forward this summer, should the city receive federal EDA funding.
In her May letter to Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and Administrator of the EDA Matt S. Erskine, Senator Gillibrand urged support of the project, explaining that Rochester, “is successfully revitalizing the City through targeted infrastructure investments and public-private partnerships for economic development. Currently, the City is in the process of the Photech Site Infrastructure Development Project, which will repurpose the abandoned Photech paper manufacturing facility to be used as a multi-purpose industrial park.”
Senator Gillibrand’s complete letter to the EDA:
Dear Assistant Secretary Erskine,
I write in support of the City of Rochester’s application for funding from the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program Opportunity through the Economic Development Administration. This funding will be used to support public infrastructure for the redevelopment of the Photech manufacturing facility in the City of Rochester.
Rochester, which is the third largest city and one of the most prominent local economies in New York State, is successfully revitalizing the City through targeted infrastructure investments and public-private partnerships for economic development. Currently, the City is in the process of the Photech Site Infrastructure Development Project, which will repurpose the abandoned Photech paper manufacturing facility to be used as a multi-purpose industrial park.
The requested funding will be used to continue the Photech Site Infrastructure Development Project. This site was a former photographic film and photographic paper manufacturing facility that ceased operation in the early 1990’s leaving significant environmental remediation. Since that time, the City has invested millions of dollars to turn the site from a brownfield to a greenfield. This funding will help support public infrastructure development of that is critical to advancing the project. It is estimated that redevelopment of the Photech site will result in the creation of 200 to 250 new manufacturing jobs, indicating the importance of this project to the regional economy.
I ask that you please give this application your full consideration. If you have any questions, or desire further information, please do not hesitate to contact my staff member Andrew Usyk at (202) 224- 4451.