TE Connectivity plans to turn a vacant former Sam’s Club in Henrietta into an advanced manufacturing and research facility, creating more than 860 jobs through a project expected to cost more than $62 million.
The company expects to open the 135,000-square-foot building at 1600 Marketplace Drive in spring 2027 and expand manufacturing through 2031, according to a news release announcing the project Thursday from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
State tax credits tied to job creation
Empire State Development is offering up to $22 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits in exchange for the creation of more than 860 jobs. Monroe County and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also assisting with the project.
The facility will make next-generation fiber array units and related optical connectivity products. It will combine manufacturing with research and development at the repurposed commercial property.
TE Connectivity, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, designs and manufactures connectors, sensors and electronic components for transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy and data centers. The company has more than 100,000 employees, including 10,000 engineers, and serves customers in about 130 countries.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello described the proposal as creating up to 866 jobs. He said the facility would draw on the local workforce and the region’s optics and photonics industry.
Greater Rochester Enterprise President and CEO Matt Hurlbutt said skilled workers and the available property helped attract the company. His organization connected TE Connectivity with state and county government and utility partners and expects to continue supporting its growth plans.
Former retail property gets a manufacturing plan
Henrietta Town Supervisor Stephen Shultz said the town encourages developers to reuse existing buildings rather than develop open land, including through incentives for building reuse. He identified the project site as the former Sam’s Club.
Shultz said the location offers interstate access and sits on a major bus route. He also pointed to houses and apartments being built in Henrietta as potential housing for employees who want to live near work.
The town will work with the state, Monroe County and Greater Rochester Enterprise to support the company’s move, he said.
Project builds on regional optics workforce
The Finger Lakes region has more than 150 optics, photonics and imaging companies employing 19,000 workers, according to the governor’s office. Its training and research institutions include the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics and Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester Institute of Technology and Monroe Community College.
Monroe Community College was the first U.S. community college to offer an associate degree in optical systems technology. The state also supports Luminate NY, an accelerator for startups in optics, photonics and imaging.
The announcement comes as New York develops its $200 million One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships program, known as ON-RAMP. In February 2025, the Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley and Capital regions were selected to advance to its planning stage, joining Central New York, where Syracuse is the flagship location.
The planned network of workforce development centers is intended to connect workers with training, internships, apprenticeships and permanent advanced manufacturing jobs. The Henrietta project also aligns with Finger Lakes Forward, the regional economic development strategy focused on photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing.
TE Connectivity’s planned spring 2027 opening would begin a manufacturing expansion expected to continue through 2031.
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