Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that additive manufacturing systems company Evolve Additive Solutions will expand operations in the Town of Brighton, Monroe County.

The expansion at Evolve’s Metro Park location will allow the company to create close to 60 new jobs in the region over the next five years. Evolve, which is headquartered in Minnesota, operates its materials technology center in Brighton. The 15-person office is headed up by Kodak veteran Rich Allen, who outlined the benefits of growing the company’s high-tech operation locally, including the highly skilled talent pool that is readily available in the Finger Lakes region.

"The Finger Lakes region is home to some of the most talent-rich tech companies in the industry," said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky."Supporting businesses like Evolve Additive Solutions will further support our efforts to grow the 21st century economy while creating good-paying jobs and generating new opportunities in the region.”

Evolve is focusing on its additive manufacturing technology known as Selective Thermoplastic Electrophotographic Process (STEP) on products in the automotive, aerospace, medical and industrial markets. Initially, the company plans to expand the manufacturing space at the Brighton facility by 7,000 square-feet with plans to add on another 13,000 square-feet over in the coming years. Supporting the growth of high-tech industries is an integral part of the regionally designed Finger Lakes Forward economic development plan.

Founded in 2017, Evolve Additive Solutions’ recently raised $19 million in equity funding with the LEGO Brand Group and Stanley Black & Decker as the lead investors, with the dollars raised earmarked to commercialize STEP, hire new talent and expand facilities such as the office in Brighton. STEP will sit alongside traditional manufacturing processes on the production floor such as injection molding and CNC and will provide organizations with another asset to get products to market faster, leverage for bridge manufacturing and low volume production runs for manufactured end-use parts.

Steve Chillscyzn, CEO of Evolve Additive Solutions, said "Our Brighton facility is key to our success and having a first-class facility to attract the best talent possible for materials and process development is essential. We are extremely pleased that Empire State Development recognizes the opportunity our technology can offer to our future customers but also to are current and future employee base in the area."

To facilitate Evolve Additive Solutions growth in the Finger Lakes region, Empire State Development has offered tax credits of up to $1 million through the Excelsior Tax Credit Program in exchange for job creation commitments. The company plans to invest $1.2 million to grow its local operation. Monroe County and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also assisting with the project.

Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs, Monroe Community College President Anne Kress and Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy said, “The Finger Lakes is home to some of the most talented tech companies in the industry, boosting the region's economy and attracting new businesses to the area. The council is committed to supporting innovative companies like Evolve Additive Solutions which are working to create new, good-paying jobs and continuing to move the Finger Lakes Forward."

State Senator Joe Robach said, “As the State Senator representing the Brighton community, I welcome the expansion of Evolve Additive Solutions and the 60 jobs that it will create for our area. I am proud to support the growth of high-tech companies like Evolve Additive Solutions and thank them for their investment into our region.”

State Assembly Member Jamie Romeo said, “I am pleased that Evolve Additive Solutions is expanding in Brighton with the addition of 60 new, good-paying jobs. Increasingly companies are coming to the realization that the Finger Lakes region is ideally situated for high-tech industries that want to expand, not only because of our willingness to invest in growth industries, but because of our highly skilled workforce.”

Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said, "It is no secret that Monroe County is home to tremendous history and talent when it comes to innovation. As County Executive, I have worked hard to grow more jobs that put our tremendous local talent to good use. We are excited to welcome Evolve Additive Solutions as they join a community of other local tech businesses that bring one of a kind opportunities to families right here in Monroe County."

Brighton Town Supervisor Bill Moehle said, “We are excited to see the growth of Evolve Additive Solutions in Brighton. Brighton is a natural home for technology driven businesses like Evolve, because Evolve will be able to draw upon talent from the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology and Monroe Community College, all in close proximity. Brighton was ranked the No.1 place to live in New York in 2018, and we also expect that many of these new Evolve employees will choose Brighton has a place that they and their families can call home.”

Matt Hurlbutt, president and CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise said, “Evolve Additive Solutions will expand its R&D operations in the Greater Rochester, NY region to leverage the highly skilled imaging and materials technology expertise available in our community.”