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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Quirky Invention Company Opens Offices In Downtown Schenectady, New York’s City Center

03/27/2014
Quirky, an invention company headquartered in New York City, will open an office in downtown Schenectady, New York. Quirky will occupy 22,000 square feet on the fourth and fifth floors at the Center City building, located at 433 State Street, with plans to create 180 jobs within the next three years.

The space, which is being retrofitted by building owner, The Galesi Group, will feature Quirky’s open floor plan. Quirky plans to begin operations in Schenectady in May.

“GE and Schenectady gave the world electricity, the first television broadcast, the steam turbine, and dozens of other transformative inventions,” said Quirky Founder/CEO Ben Kaufman. “We can’t wait to set up shop here and be a part of that history. We’re really excited to join this community – which continues to be a world leader in technology and manufacturing – and continue Schenectady’s tradition of innovation.”

In 2013, Quirky teamed up with General Electric to develop a co-branded line of app-enabled products dreamed up by the global Quirky community. Together, Quirky and GE have created five smart products – including the newly launched Wi-Fi-enabled Aros air conditioner – and will continue to introduce revolutionary products to the connected home marketplace.

Mark Little, Senior Vice President/Chief Technology Officer of GE, said, “Quirky’s decision to come to Schenectady will deepen the great partnership GE, and Global Research specifically, have established during the past year. We are excited. With the modern electrical grid and the advent of radio and television, GE’s legacy of innovation has been all about connecting people in new ways to make their lives better. With the team at Quirky in close proximity to GE’s scientists and engineers, we will help take innovation to the far reaches of crowdsourcing and the Internet to reach more inventive minds and spawn more great ideas to impact and change our world.”

“We are continuing to see companies build and expand operations across our state which means more jobs and economic growth in Upstate New York,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “Quirky’s decision to build a new office in Schenectady means hundreds of jobs for the area and increased business activity in the region. I am pleased to join with our local partners in helping this New York City based company expand to other parts of our state.”

Ray Gillen, Chair of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority said, “With Quirky occupying the top two floors, Center City has leased up over 200,000 square feet of space in the heart of downtown. We welcome Quirky, an exciting leader in innovation to Schenectady County and we thank the Governor, Empire State Development, and the Galesi Group for their strong efforts to partner with us to land this dynamic company.”

David M. Buicko, COO of the Galesi Group said, “From the first time we learned of Quirky’s need for additional space, our goal was to bring them to Center City in the heart of downtown Schenectady. Today’s announcement is the latest example of how the Galesi Group continues to partner with Governor Cuomo, Metroplex, and local leaders to make Schenectady a great success story.”

Empire State Development is providing Quirky with $500,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits tied directly to investment and job creation commitments. In addition, Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority is also providing a grant of $450,000 to support establishment of the new Quirky Schenectady office.

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