A New York City-based chemical company is locating manufacturing operations at the Eastman Business Park.
SiGNa Chemistry, which makes what are described as more environmentally-friendly products for use in in industries such as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and food and agriculture, will be creating 37 jobs in Rochester. That will happen over a three-year period and officials expect the spin-off effect to create another 75 jobs.
Michael Lefenfeld is the President & CEO of the company, and he says even though the oil and gas industry has contracted lately as prices have fallen, that opens up new opportunities for his company because their products helps get more oil out of old wells.
“As oil and gas prices have lowered…that provides access to more chemicals into the market because people aren’t drilling new wells, so those older wells need to produce more oil to keep production at a suitable level for the demand, and our chemical provides that avenue.”
Lefenfeld says one reason that SiGNa decided to locate in Rochester is because of the kinds of amenities the Eastman Business Park offers.
“The business park has been fantastic, it has a fully integrated manufacturing platform for us, it has rail access, it (provides) nitrogen, it’s got in and out of everything that we would ever need and the availability to partner easily.”
Signa Chemistry is getting $750,000 in tax credits from the state as part of their locating at what was Building 218 at the former Kodak Park.
