Some Photonics Money gets NY Approval
“A key state agency Thursday approved $78 million of a $106 million request for the first phase of funding for a $600 million photonics center in Rochester. The approval by the Empire State Development Corp. was an incremental step in the process for the highly promoted project. The money will go to fund equipment for the AIM Photonics center, which was announced a year ago by Vice President Joe Biden and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.”
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Department of Energy Investing Millions in GE Gas Turbine Projects
“The U.S. Department of Energy is investing $30 million toward research in gas turbines, including three projects with General Electric in Schenectady, New York. The money will go toward research to increase efficiency in gas turbines. Six projects will receive $30 million of research funding over the next 3 1/2 years.”
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Shell Fab plans $2.7 million West Seneca expansion
“Shell Fab & Design Inc., the West Seneca manufacturer of kitchen countertop surfaces, has decided to build a new headquarters and production facility less than one mile from its current home base. Working with the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, Shell Fab officials hope to build a 55,040-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing hub on a vacant parcel at 3254 Clinton St.”
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As Premium Food Sales Rise, Manufacturers make Adjustments
“Four out of 10 American adults regularly purchased premium foods and beverages last year and fresh and easy-to-prepare premium items were among the fast-growing categories, according to data from IRI and the Specialty Foods Association published this month in Food Technology.”
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Staub Machine sold, but Ownership Remains Local
“Anthony Staub will sell the Hamburg-based machine shop that he founded in 1975 and has grown to two locations and 35 employees. Staub Machine Co. is in the process of being sold to Joseph Pinker, the owner of another Hamburg company, KH Industries, which manufactures industrial grade temporary lighting and power products.”
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First Collegiate Welding Program in Erie and Niagara Counties to Debut this Fall
“Niagara County Community College is set to debut the region’s first collegiate welding program. The associate’s degree program is expected to enrollment about 15 students in its first year and grow from there. Classes will initially take place at the Orleans Niagara BOCES building that is next door to NCCC’s main campus, specifically in the late afternoon and evening hours when high schoolers aren’t using the equipment.”
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‘Highly Differentiated Solar’ — Buffalo factory a big part of Elon Musk’s Newly Published Master Plan
“Elon Musk once again reiterated the importance of the SolarCity Corp. factory in Buffalo to his overall plans this week in a blog post laying out his vision for a combined Tesla Motors and SolarCity. ‘Now that Tesla is ready to scale Powerwall and SolarCity is ready to provide highly differentiated solar, the time has come to bring them together,’ Musk wrote.”
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