GE Aerospace plans to invest more than $225 million in its Niskayuna research center and add at least 75 jobs, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. The project would modernize facilities and equipment at the Schenectady County campus, where more than 800 people already work.
The planned positions span research, engineering and skilled trades. The company says the expanded center will support work on jet engine technology for commercial and defense customers.
The announcement marks one of the larger recent private investments in the Capital Region's aerospace research base. It does not assign the full $225 million to a single building or give a breakdown between construction, machinery and equipment.
Empire State Development is offering up to $8.42 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits tied to the investment and hiring commitments. The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority is also supporting the project with a sales tax exemption on construction materials.
The governor's announcement did not specify a construction schedule, the expected average wage of the new jobs or the value of the sales tax exemption. The tax credits are contingent on meeting program requirements, rather than an upfront payment of $8.42 million.
Research center upgrades
The company described the Niskayuna site as a main hub for scientific research and advanced technology development. Its planned spending would address capacity limits and aging infrastructure through building improvements and purchases of machinery, equipment and other fixtures.
The center's work spans the long development cycle of aviation technology. Research at the site supports both commercial and military applications, the company and state officials said, although the release did not identify a particular new engine program or customer contract tied to the expansion.
GE Aerospace Research general manager Joe Vinciquerra said the investment would support long-term aviation research. The company works with airlines, aircraft manufacturers and government agencies on engines and related technology, and has nearly 250 locations in 40 countries, according to the announcement.
The project strengthens an existing Capital Region operation rather than establishing a new facility. The 75 positions are a minimum hiring commitment; the release did not say when those positions would be filled or whether any existing operations would be relocated.
State and local support
Hochul framed the project as part of New York's effort to retain advanced research and manufacturing work. Empire State Development President Hope Knight said the expansion would add to the region's technology workforce.
Schenectady County Legislature Chair Gary Hughes said county economic development officials worked with the state for more than a year to secure the commitment. Niskayuna Town Supervisor Erin Cassady-Dorion pointed to the center's existing workforce and the prospect of additional technical positions.
Separately, the GE Aerospace Foundation's Next Engineers program is expanding its Capital Region reach to about 4,000 students across local school districts. That education program is distinct from the research center's employment commitment.
The governor's office cited other regional research projects in announcing the investment, including state and industry support for a semiconductor research center and existing biotechnology and university facilities. Those projects were not described as part of GE Aerospace's $225 million plan.
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