Edwards Vacuum plans to build a $319 million facility in Genesee County.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Charles Schumer this week jointly announced the British firm’s plan to build a 240,000-square-foot campus at Genesee County’s 1,250-acre Western New York Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park. The Edwards Vacuum facility will employ some 600, the officials say. Phase I of the project is planned to include construction of manufacturing, warehouse and offices.
Edwards Vacuum makes dry pumps, devices used in settings like semiconductor manufacturing plants to whisk away water and solvent vapors. The Genesee County announcement came on the heels of a visit to Syracuse by President Joe Biden touting plans to site Micron Technology’s $100 million semiconductor facility there.
A flurry of such announcements across the state comes as a result of this year’s passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, legislation intended to boost high-tech manufacturing aided by a $280 billion infusion of federal government funding over the next 10 years. New York has also begun a similar initiative, the $100 billion Green CHIPS program.
To staff the Genesee County facility, Edwards Vacuum says it expects to recruit both entry-level and experienced workers and will provide internal training and education. It plans to seek hires from disadvantaged communities and will partner with community-based recruitment and training programs in the effort.
To lure the Edwards Vacuum facility to the Genesee County industrial park, the state has offered up to $21 million in a combination of performance-based Excelsior jobs and investment tax credits and an additional $1 million to support workforce development and training. The New York Power Authority board of trustees plans to review the firm’s application for low-cost Niagara hydropower.
“This major investment from Edwards Vacuum builds on our momentum to secure New York as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing,” Hochul said in a statement. “I am thrilled to welcome Edwards Vacuum to Genesee County and look forward to working with them … as they make New York their home.”
Will Astor is Rochester Beacon senior writer. The Beacon welcomes comments from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name.
In addition to the obvious government funding of “wealthy corporations” (as Bernie Sanders would say) , the timing is interesting this close to the election . Albany is certainly spreading money around….