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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Monolith Solar To Establish Headquarters And Manufacturing Campus In Bethlehem, New York

10/15/2014
Monolith Solar, a company that engineers, designs and installs solar energy modules, will build its new research and development, headquarters and manufacturing facility in the Vista Technology Campus in Slingerlands, a hamlet in Bethlehem, New York. This high-growth project will retain 49 existing jobs and create 76 new jobs in the Capital Region.

Monolith will construct and outfit a 16,000 square foot building in the tech park that will house its headquarters and back office operations, as well as a connected 10,000 square foot research and development and manufacturing facility. The $4.9 million expansion will include the purchase of machinery and equipment and employee training, and allow Monolith to meet increased customer demand.

“Monolith Solar was born in New York, has thrived in New York and now, we're expanding in New York,” said Mark Fobare, Co-Founder/CEO of Monolith Solar. “Our business has grown from an operation in the garage of Steven Erby, my fellow Co-Founder, to a multi-regional leader in the high-tech sector, and this new, built-to-suit headquarters will allow us to continue to grow. This wouldn't have been possible without Governor Cuomo's commitment to economic development and growing renewable energy in New York. State initiatives make keeping our business and the dozens of high-tech jobs in New York an easy decision."

As part of the expansion, Monolith will also incorporate a 10 acre solar farm featuring approximately 6,700 solar panels, which will produce approximately two megawatts of power. The farm is in addition to the solar wall that will be located on the headquarters building. Solar features on Monolith's facility will generate approximately 400 kilowatts of power.

In addition, Monolith will install a solar farm adjacent to its new facility, producing enough electricity to power the majority of the tech park. “Monolith’s decision to expand in the Capital Region is another example of how our focus on the upstate economy is translating into jobs and new opportunities in the region,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “Upstate New York is a prime location for high-tech companies like Monolith that want to grow and thrive, and with this expansion project the region is continuing to move forward as a hub for clean energy technologies. I am proud that our team was able to play a role in making this expansion project a reality, and I look forward to seeing it drive the local economy well into the future.”

To support the expansion project, Empire State Development is providing the company with a $400,000 grant and $400,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program performance based tax credits, which are tied directly to job creation and investment commitments. In addition, Monolith has met with the Town IDA staff and intends to submit an application for IDA benefits.

Columbia Development is the developer of Vista, a 440-acre mixed-use site positioned in the heart of Tech Valley, with proximity to I-90, I-787, the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and GE Global Research. Located in the Town of Bethlehem, Vista offers a wide range of first-class office and retail space and a location that makes it easy to work more efficiently and for companies to grow.

Empire State Development President/CEO/Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “The Capital Region is a well-known hub for the high-tech industry and Monolith will add to this growth. ESD’s support will result in the creation of 76 new, good-paying jobs in the community and spur future investment in the tech park.”

Joseph R. Nicolla, President of Columbia Development, said, “We are proud to welcome Monolith Solar to the Vista Technology Campus. We had companies like Monolith in mind when we first began planning Vista, and I know Governor Cuomo’s economic development initiatives were crafted with the intent of supporting and retaining these high-tech, alternative energy enterprises.”

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