A local high-tech company is expanding and adding jobs.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that IDEX Health & Science will expand its optics and photonics operation in Henrietta, establishing an Optical Center of Excellence.
The company plans to eventually lease close to 100,000 square feet in a newly constructed building on John Street.
Cuomo says the project will create up to 34 full time jobs and help retain 186 other positions. Empire State Development will provide up to $2.4 million in exchange for job creation commitments.
Monroe County is also offering tax incentives for the development of the project.
Officials say that IDEX had considered moving its operations out of New York State, but now will consolidate two Monroe County operations and also relocate operations from California into the new Henrietta facility.
Mike Ransford is Vice President of Operations for the local IDEX unit, and he says they equipment they make has a wide variety of applications.
“DNA sequencing or drug discovery in the life science industry; it could be lithography systems for the semiconductors, it’s a broad range of applications across those markets," he told WXXI News.
Ransford says his company wants to expand here partly because of the talent pool in this area.
“(There is) tremendous value for the optics in particular in the high tech optical workforce, along with the infrastructure for training and talent development, working with the U of R, and RIT and MCC, these programs are strong feeders for us."
The project is expected to break ground this fall.
