Press release:
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) announced that project agreements closed in 2021 resulted in $343.5 million in financial investments, including Plug Power’s $232 million clean energy facility to be constructed at the Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP). The projects resulted in 171 new jobs being pledged and the retention of 75 jobs.
“The financial investments, job retention, and creation from these projects in clean energy, manufacturing and housing demonstrate the diversity of our local economy,” said Steve Hyde, president and CEO of the GCEDC. “We anticipate further growth in these sectors moving forward in 2022.”
Plug Power’s $232 million investment into green hydrogen manufacturing facilities in the town of Alabama combines with over $55 million of infrastructure investments to support Plug Power and future projects at STAMP. The 68 pledged jobs in Phase I follow the ongoing construction at the site that commenced in October 2021.
Liberty Pumps announced a $13.7 million financial investment to expand its operations in the Apple Tree Acres business park in the town of Bergen with a pledge to create 30 new jobs.
Other manufacturing projects in 2021 include Land Pro Equipment starting construction on a 50,000-square-foot facility in the town of Batavia that will serve customers’ sales, parts, service and precision farming needs. LandPro, a John Deere dealer, will retain 62 jobs and make a financial investment of $9.2 million to build the facility.
At Gateway II Corporate Park in the town of Batavia, Gateway GS LLC is investing $2.3 million for a building tenant that will create 21 new jobs. Valiant Real Estate USA LLC is investing $4.5 million to build a 20,000-square-foot facility on Saile Drive in the town of Batavia. The project would create 24 new jobs with an average salary ranging from $30,000 to $75,000 annually plus benefits.
Ellicott Station is moving forward with its clean-up and remediation of a brownfield site in the city of Batavia. Savarino Companies is investing approximately $22 million to redevelop the site, which will include the construction of 55 residential units. Another housing project by Batavia Special Needs Apartments will provide a financial investment of $3.75 million to add 20 new units, retain 13 jobs and add 2 additional pledged jobs.
Other projects that contributed to financial investments in the county included land sales in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in the town of Batavia and at Gateway II Corporate Park to support future projects.
Incentives provided by the GCEDC for the projects were approximately $129 million in sales, property, and mortgage tax exemptions. The return on investment of these incentives is estimated to be 5:1 for a financial return of approximately $645 million through projected permanent employment, construction employment, supply chain activity, and revenues to Genesee County’s municipalities and schools.
“The GCEDC Board is pleased to see that our organization has exceeded our economic development goals in 2021,” said GCEC Board Chair Pete Zeliff. “Genesee County remains a favorable place for capital investment by the private sector due to our proactive activities to develop sites, infrastructure, and workforce talent.”
