Senator Robach Secures Grant To Help Keep Gleason Works In Rochester

Senator Robach announced today that he has secured a $1 million grant for The Gleason Works, a gear manufacturer located in the City of Rochester, as part of a private and public investment package that will keep the company in the community. Gleason Works is one of Rochester’s oldest manufacturing companies.

Senator Robach joined Lt. Governor Mary Donohue, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, Mayor Bob Duffy and Gleason President and CEO John Perrotti to announce that the company will invest $18.7 million to upgrade its University Avenue facility and retain 625 local manufacturing jobs.

Senator Robach said, "I was proud to secure $1 million in State funding to help keep Gleason Works, and the local jobs they provide, here in Rochester. I will continue to focus on creating and retaining jobs for the residents of our community and on bringing this type of capital funding support back to our area to ensure that major local businesses like Gleason Works can continue to operate and grow. I applaud all those whose combined efforts have kept this icon company here in Rochester."

"We very much appreciate the assistance we are receiving so that we can retain a significant presence in Rochester and invest as required to compete effectively on a global basis," said Gleason President and CEO John Perrotti. "We were impressed with the professionalism and collaboration of all those involved in putting together an attractive package of incentives for our company. Gleason’s investment, along with the assistance of our State, County and City governments and RG&E, will assure that Gleason Works and its dedicated and talented workforce can continue to serve our global customer base with new and innovative products and services on a cost-effective basis."

The company considered several strategic options including relocating some or all of its Rochester operations to other facilities in other countries. The $18.7 million investment planned for its Rochester plant represents one of the largest single investments Gleason has ever made at any of its facilities.

The company’s $18.7 million investment reflects a State, County, City and private-sector partnership that includes a $2.5 million capital grant from Empire State Development; $1 million in funding secured by Senator Joe Robach; a $1 million grant from RG&E; a incentive package from Monroe County totaling over $530,000; a $500,000 loan from the City of Rochester; and more than $13 million in company investments. The funds will be used for building renovations and the purchase of new machinery and equipment.