Imagine Monroe approves eight projects involving 367 jobs

Imagine Monroe, Monroe County’s industrial development agency, has approved incentives for eight projects expected to create or retain more than 365 full-time jobs.

“This was a banner month for Imagine Monroe—our most powerful local economic development tool is now investing in several exciting projects that will help to secure over 365 jobs right here in Monroe County,” Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said in a statement.

September’s approved projects include 45 Becker Road LLC, a real estate holding company that plans to complete more than 8,000 square feet of a 60,000-square-foot facility for tenant Pharmacy Alternatives in West Henrietta. The $609,483 project will retain six jobs and create 28 full-time jobs.

Applicant 550 East Main LLC, a real estate holding company, plans to purchase and renovate 550 E. Main St. in Rochester for Envative, a custom software developer. Envative has outgrown its HUB Zone space on University Avenue and intends to apply for HUB Zone certification, which requires that 35 percent of its workforce be hired from within the zone.

After 20 years off the tax rolls, the University Avenue facility will return to taxable property status. The $970,000 project will retain 19 jobs and create 14 full-time jobs.

Bio-Optronics Inc., a healthcare IT software developer, has outgrown its leased space at 1890 S. Winton Road and intends to lease an additional 11,000 square feet of space at the existing location. The $200,000 project will retain 67 full-time jobs and create two new jobs.

Buckingham Properties LLC is proposing to renovate the Evelyn Brandon Health Center on Lake Avenue, a distressed census tract. Buckingham will modernize the 66,000-square-foot building, which provides intensive psychiatric rehabilitation treatment. The $2.9 million project will retain 123 full-time jobs and create five new jobs.

Highland Grove LLC has proposed to construct a 100-unit residential building at 625 S. Goodman St. The applicant purchased the property from the state Department of Transportation and has been accepted into the New York State Brownfield program.

Twenty percent of the project’s units will be set aside for affordable housing and the structure will include rooftop solar panels capable of producing 340 kWhs annually. The $17.5 million project will create four full-time jobs.

Lumber East LLC is a real estate holding company that will redevelop a former lumber yard on Rockwood Street into a fitness club to be leased by Fitness International and operated under the LA Fitness brand. The $11.5 million project will create 15 full-time jobs.

Innovative Data Processing Solutions Ltd. is planning to relocate from Winton Place to the Riverwood Tech Campus in Henrietta in order to accommodate demand and growth. The $786,000 project will retain 49 existing full-time jobs and create five full-time jobs.

WBS Capital Inc., a real estate investment company, proposes to purchase and redevelop the Kodak Hawkeye facility on St. Paul Street. The 785,000-square-foot site has been vacant since 2011. The first of three phases will rehab building 5 at a cost of $22.5 million.

New Star FTZ Group will lease roughly one-quarter of the building and apply for the federal designation as a Foreign Trade Zone. Later phases will include a training center, office building and affordable housing.

The project is expected to create 30 full-time jobs.

“I thank all of these companies for their commitment to doing business in Monroe County and for supporting our efforts to grow more jobs, build better budgets and support stronger families across our community,” Dinolfo said.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer