Imagine Monroe approves incentives for six area projects

Imagine Monroe, the county’s industrial development agency, has approved incentives for six projects that are expected to create nearly 200 local jobs and retain more than 1,000, including the addition of 100 at Bausch & Lomb Inc. and 50 at ITX Corp.

“In one of our most productive months ever, Imagine Monroe today advanced six significant economic development projects that will help to secure over 1,500 more jobs for our residents,” said Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo in a statement Tuesday. “I thank these growing employers—including Bausch & Lomb, ITX Corp. and more—for their commitment to doing business in Monroe County.”

Bausch & Lomb has proposed a 110,000-square-foot building expansion on its North Goodman Street campus that will retain 1,000 jobs and create 100. Last November, Bausch & Lomb’s parent company Bausch Health said it planned to add multiple production lines at a site in Ireland and in Rochester to support manufacturing of its disposable silicone hydrogel (SiHy) daily contact lenses.

The $140 million expansion will include an energy-efficient building and the company will seek LEED Silver certification. Bausch & Lomb was approved for sales and mortgage recording tax exemptions, as well as the Enhanced JobsPlus property tax abatement. The investment in Rochester’s optics center also is being assisted by up to $3 million through Empire State Development’s Excelsior Jobs Program.

The project is expected to be completed in 2022.

ITX Corp., a global software product development company in its 22nd year of business, has proposed expansion and relocation of its corporate headquarters from Pittsford to the city of Rochester. The project includes the renovation of 14,000 square feet in the Metropolitan building to include a conference center in which the company will train its entire U.S. workforce.

ITX employs 105 people in the U.S., including 61 in Monroe County. The project is expected to create 50 full-time positions over the next three years. ITX sought approval of sales tax exemptions on construction materials, furniture, fixtures and equipment related to the project.

Real estate holding company 45 Becker Road LLC has proposed renovating 40,000 square feet at 45 Becker Road for tenant Orolia USA Inc., which develops and manufactures resilient positioning, navigation and timing platforms for global positioning systems. Imagine Monroe approved sales tax exemption on materials, equipment and furnishings on $675,500 in purchases.

The project impacts 90 employees and is expected to create an additional 20 jobs over three years.

FiveTwentyFive East Broad LLC, a real estate holding company owned by the Konar family, has proposed the construction of four buildings in the city’s Neighborhood of Play. The final phase of the redevelopment includes residential and office and retail space.

The city of Rochester has requested an 11-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for the second phase, and the applicant is seeking sales tax and mortgage recording tax exemption. The projected job creation is 3.5 jobs.

Rock Environmental Inc. has proposed the purchase of a commercial-grade, truck-mounted cleaning system and two cargo vans for its environmental and industrial services business. The company employs 26 people and expects to create two jobs over the next year. RE has been approved for the GreatRate program through Monroe County Industrial Development Corp. and is seeking sales tax exemption for purchases of $102,899.

Precision Grinding and Manufacturing Corp. is planning a 12,000-square-foot expansion to accommodate growth. The $1.5 million project will impact 155 full-time employees and is projected to create 12 full-time positions over the next three years.

Imagine Monroe approved sales tax exemptions on construction materials and furniture and fixtures related to the project.

“Projects like these show how we’ve been able to secure over 20,000 more jobs here since 2016 alone and prove that Monroe County is open for business now more than ever before,” Dinolfo said.

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