RPO Invests $11M in Expansion

Rochester Precision Optics (RPO) will invest $10.7 million to expand its Henrietta, N.Y., facility and create 151 new jobs, Empire State Development and Monroe County announced last week.

Empire State Development (ESD), New York's chief economic development agency, has committed a $750,000 capital grant to the project. The County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) will provide a property tax abatement through its JobsPlus program.

RPO was formed in 2005 from the former Kodak Optical Imaging Systems unit of Eastman Kodak. It makes optical components and assemblies for commercial, military and industrial systems and currently has 144 employees. RPO also has facilities in New Hampshire and in Shanghai, China, and said it did consider those locations for its expansion.

"New York State is a leader in optics and imaging, and we are committed to maintaining and expanding businesses in this industry," said EDS President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams. "Companies like Rochester Precision Optics see the value in our highly skilled workforce, manufacturing base and existing infrastructure."

RPO has completely filled its building in West Henrietta and is branching out into other related businesses, ESD said. It now makes molded plastic components and assemblies for its line of lenses and does assembly work in-house. Based on the company’s substantial growth, it has decided to expand its 64,500-sq-ft facility by adding an additional 43,000 sq ft, including cleanroom space.

For more information, visit: www.rpoptics.com or www.esd.ny.gov