Rochester battery plant to open in early 2014

ALBANY, NY - October 3, 2013 -- A manufacturing facility for nanoscale battery materials in Rochester expects to finish construction in February and employ more than 100 full-time workers over the next three years.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement Thursday after NOHMs Technologies Inc., which is based in Ithaca, last year received $1.5 million to locate at the Eastman Business Park in Rochester.

Cuomo said the $2.6 million project includes converting 8,000 square feet of office and lab space formerly used by Eastman Kodak Co. into a research and manufacturing facility for lithium sulfur battery materials and battery-cell prototypes.

In December, the state announced that the company would receive aid through the governor's Regional Economic Development Councils.

"Today's announcement that NOHMs Technologies Inc. will locate and build a cutting edge manufacturing facility at Eastman Business Park is proof that the Regional Economic Development Councils are delivering results for our communities," Cuomo said in a statement obtained by Gannett's Albany Bureau.

The company is part of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium, which has businesses across the state in the sector. The company is also tied to the Test and Commercialization Center, which the state earlier this year announced would be located at the Eastman Business Park.

NOHMs will be seeking to commercialize its lightweight electrode and electrolyte materials. The goal is to produce twice the energy at half the cost of batteries used in mobile phone and electric vehicles, according to the state.

The company has seven employees at the Rochester site and also has an office in Lexington, Ky.

The project is also receiving $1 million from the state Energy Research and Development Authority and a $500,000 performance-based grant if it meets the job targets.

"Rochester is a natural fit for a materials company transitioning to manufacturing development because of the 100-plus year history of advanced materials innovation and manufacturing," NOHMs Technologies CEO Nathan Ball said in a statement from the governor's office.

Contact: JSPECTOR@Gannett.com