HIGHLAND >> Zumtobel Lighting Inc. will invest $6.4 million in its Route 9W manufacturing site and maintain a minimum of 202 full-time jobs at the site through at least 2022, according to New York’s Empire State Development Corp.
Empire State will provide the company with up to $1.19 million in performance-based grants and tax incentives, including a $900,000 Regional Council Capital Grant and $290,000 in tax credits from the Excelsior Jobs program. The state incentives are conditioned on Zumtobel’s promised investment and employment level.
The company plans, among other things, to boost research and development of the next-generation of lighting fixtures and connected lighting solutions and invest in employee training and factory upgrades.
The business must use women-owned and minority businesses to perform at least 30 percent of the upgrades, according to the state development corporation.
“Our investment in the development of the North American and South American market further demonstrates Zumtobel’s commitment to enhance customer satisfaction, expand its product lines along with manufacturing, assembly and distribution capabilities,” company CEO Kevin Maddy said in a press release.
Howard Zemsky, the president, CEO and commissioner of Empire State Development, said Zumtobel’s planned investment means the company “will continue to be a major employer in the Mid-Hudson Region.
“The Mid-Hudson’s well-developed transportation infrastructure and educated workforce make it an ideal location for high-tech manufacturing,” Zemsky said.
One upgrade Zumtobel has begun to implement includes a state-of-the-art laser cutter to provide more accurate and faster cutting capabilities, which will result in faster production of luminaires with better performance and enhanced lighting quality, Empire State said.
Zumtobel Lighting is a subsidiary of Zumtobel Group AG, which has operations in both the United States and Austria.
The Empire State Development Corp. is New York’s chief economic development agency. Its stated mission of is “to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the state and its municipalities and achieve stable and diversified local economies.” It does so through loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance.