Area Development
NOHMs Technologies Inc. will locate its pilot nanoscale battery materials manufacturing facility at Eastman Business Park in Rochester, New York. The project will convert 8,000-square feet of office and lab space at the Park’s Building 320 into a research, development and advanced manufacturing facility for lithium sulfur battery materials and battery cell prototypes.

The firm will be working to commercialize its light-weight electrode and electrolyte materials, which will supply more than twice the energy at half the cost of battery materials currently used in mobile devices, electric vehicles, military and stationary grid storage products.

According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office, the project will receive $1.5 million from the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Councils initiative. The facility, expected to be completed in February 2014, is expected to create more than 100 new full-time scientific, technical, operations and manufacturing jobs during the next three years.

“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,” Governor Cuomo said. “This project will help establish Rochester as a hub for research, development and advanced manufacturing in the clean energy industry, while creating more than 100 permanent good-paying jobs in the city. As we continue efforts to jumpstart the Upstate economy, this project will help the Finger Lakes grow and attract other high-tech companies to the region.”

As part of the project, NOHMs, which stands for Nanoscale Organic Hybrid Materials, is partnering with the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium and its BEST Test and Commercialization Center, also located at Eastman Business Park.

In July, Governor Cuomo announced a $23 million private-public investment toward the creation of the BEST Test and Commercialization Center. Under a partnership agreement with NY-BEST, DNV KEMA Energy and Sustainability, a Netherlands-based energy consulting company will invest in the Center.

Funding for the $2.6 million product development and manufacturing facility includes $1 million from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for NOHMs’ pilot manufacturing facility and a $500,000 performance-based grant for the NY-BEST prototyping capabilities, intended to be located at RIT, from Empire State Development.

NOHMs Technologies CEO Nathan Ball said, “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.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “NOHMs’ project will accelerate the Finger Lake region’s transformation to a diverse, knowledge-based economy while investing in the clean-tech businesses that are so crucial to our future.”

"There is a depth and breadth of sustainable energy expertise in the Rochester, NY Region to support NOHMs Technologies' battery storage innovations," said Mark S. Peterson, President and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise. "Based on GRE's analysis, NOHMs Technologies' creation of 100 new full-time scientific, technical, operations and manufacturing positions will have a positive regional economic impact of approximately $50 million.”