Economic Development Month in Review: June 2017
For the Top Economic Development News of the Month, CEG selects news articles about projects or developments that promise to improve and/or transform the Capital Region’s economy, particularly those that related to manufacturing and initiatives outlined in Capital 20.20, a five-year, multi-pronged plan for bringing economic prosperity to the entire region.
To learn about more the Capital Region’s economic development news from the past month, see CEG’s Economic Development Week in Review posts:
Capital Region among the best for clean energy patents
“The Capital Region is among the best places in the nation for clean energy companies, according to a Brookings Institution report released this week.
The area produced the second-highest number of wind energy patents between 2011 and 2016, and the 14th most solar patents, according to the study. Only the Greenville, S.C., metropolitan area had more in wind patents.”
Science, technology, engineering and math enrollment up at Albany area colleges and universities
“Albany area colleges and universities are enrolling graduate and postdoctoral students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at a faster rate than the state as a whole.
This region is graduating more science and engineering students, according to a Center for Economic Growth analysis. During the 2015-16 school year, local schools awarded 5,328 bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in various STEM fields.”
Packaging firm positioning itself for payroll to swell to 200
“SKS Bottle and Packaging’s proposed $15.9 million headquarters and distribution center in Saratoga Springs, New York, is designed to allow the company to double its payroll.
The 30-year-old Watervliet company supplies packaging to food, beverage, beauty supply and pharmaceutical product manufacturers. The second-generation owners are seeking permits from the city of Saratoga Springs to build a 118,000-square-foot building just east of the W.J. Grande Industrial Park off Geyser Road.”
Huge breakthrough at SUNY Poly with 5 nanometer chips
“Industry scientists working at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany achieved a major breakthrough in computer chip manufacturing by successfully making transistors for 5 nanometer chips. Five nanometers is the equivalent of the diameter of two spiral DNA strands.
The advance was announced Monday by a chip research alliance that includes GlobalFoundries, Samsung and IBM.”
Incubator for Fab 8 supply chain, chip tech in works
“The head of research at GlobalFoundries has been tapped to lead a newly-created advisory council that will help oversee the launch of a new incubator for semiconductor suppliers doing work at GlobalFoundries’ Fab 8 computer chip factory in Saratoga County or with other high-tech firms in the region.
The facility, which will be called the Next Wave Center, is a creation of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, the county’s economic development arm.”
GlobalFoundries ready to make 7 nanometer chips in 2018
“GlobalFoundries announced Tuesday it would start making 7 nanometer chips for customers in 2018 and could start working immediately on customer designs for the new chips.
GlobalFoundries first announced in the fall of 2016 its intention to move from making 14 nanometer chips to 7 nanometer chips, a leap that brings with it a 40 percent jump in performance.”
Adirondack Beverages to expand, add jobs in Glenville
“Adirondack Beverages will expand its plant — and its payroll — in the Glenville Business and Technology Park, company, state and local officials said Wednesday.
The company will spend $2.9 million to build and install a new blow molding line to support its bottling operations, creating an additional 24 jobs. The company employs about 260 now at the 750,000-square-foot complex.”
Arnoff finishes one expansion, readies another in Malta
“A moving and logistics company took a break Thursday from its rapid expansion to mark completion of a 100,000-square-foot Malta facility — but only a short break.
Next week, Arnoff Moving & Storage will present the town with conceptual plans for a 60,000-square-foot Phase II, and if the reception is favorable, company officials hope to have another ribbon-cutting by the end of this year.”
Manufacturer building $60 million industrial gas plant in Albany County
“Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (NYSE: APD) will partner with Linde North America on a $60 million investment to build a new plant in Glenmont, New York.
The joint venture will be named East Coast Nitrogen and will produce 1,100 tons a day of liquid nitrogen, oxygen and argon at a new plant at Air Products’ existing site in Albany County.”
Adirondack Studios lands $2.9M contract
“The new National Comedy Center is under construction in Jamestown in the Southern Tier, but $2.9 million of the work for making and installing custom cabinetry, fixtures and exhibits will be done by Adirondack Studios.
The company, which is located in Argyle, in Washington County, after initially moving to Warren County in the mid-1970s, has a 125,000-square-foot facility with separate areas for design, carpentry, metal, paint, electrics and project management.”
Uber, Lyft start rolling in upstate New York
“A new option for getting from point A to point B became legal in upstate New York at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, as one of the few areas left in America without ride sharing opened to the popular practice.
State officials on Wednesday announced that two of the biggest ride-sharing networks, Uber and Lyft, had completed their approval procedures and would be able to operate upstate starting today.”
Stay up-to-date on business and economic development happenings in the Capital Region with the CEG Economic Development Week in Review. Don’t miss out on the developments that are transforming the region by signing up for our e-news following us on:
