Hundreds of jobs are coming to the Rochester area as a result of the recent push into photonics, which involves the use of light in robotics, medical imaging and other fields.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was among the officials making the announcement today at the Eastman Business Park, telling the crowd that two companies, Photonica and Avogy, will be coming to Canal Ponds and the Eastman Business Park.
“Between the two companies, a $1.6 billion investment, 1,400 new jobs coming to Rochester," Cuomo told the crowd at Building 28 at the Eastman Business Park.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was at the announcement, as was Danny Wegman and Alain Kaloyeros, CEO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany.
Officials revealed last year that Rochester will benefit from an infusion of more than $600 million from federal, state and private sources, in an effort to make this region a photonics hub that could eventually create thousands of jobs.
Cuomo said he believes that with the right infrastructure in place, and cooperation between stakeholders, more companies will follow suit and bring even more jobs to the region.
"The regions that thrive are the unified regions, where people work together. They put aside competition for cooperation."
Cuomo said the companies will do research and development work at Canal Ponds, and progress to advanced manufacturing at Eastman Business Park.
