ThisIsRochester.com: Business and Industry

Wegmans announces new hub in Virginia

Dec. 12, 2019 -- Wegmans Food Markets plans to construct a new regional distribution center in Ashland, Virginia, at a cost of $175 million.

The project will expand the Gates-based company's East Coast distribution network as Wegmans continues its expansion through Atlantic and Southern states.

The 1.1 million-square-foot facility is slated to begin operations in 2022 and become fully operational by the end of the year. Wegmans already operates distribution centers in Rochester and Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

"This site has the right combination of everything we were looking for in terms of proximity to our stores and workforce and is located in a commonwealth that we have partnered with for many years," Wegmans President and CEO Colleen Wegman said in a statement. "Once it's up and running, this facility will allow us to deliver products to our southernmost stores with increased speed and freshness and will help support our growth well into the future."

In September, a 104,000-square-foot Wegmans opened in Raleigh, N.C., marking the grocer's entry into North Carolina, its southernmost store and its 100th location overall. The company plans another five stores for the Raleigh-Durham area, including a location in West Cary slated to open next year. Other new stores already announced that could be serviced by the new distribution center include locations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Webster residents opposed to proposed lettuce farm

Dec. 3, 2019 -- A proposal to develop a lettuce farm in Webster is being met with objections from residents of the area, more than 200 of whom showed up for a public hearing conducted by the town planning board.

CEA Farm Fresh is seeking to convert 150 acres of vacant land into a factory farm with seven greenhouses equipped to grow, package and ship the produce. Company officials say the facility would create up to 400 jobs by its fifth year.

A proposed tomato farm in the same area faced similar protests over the proximity to residential neighborhoods several years ago and the project never moved forward.

The planning board has approved a preliminary plan for the lettuce farm, which CEA Farm Fresh officials say could be functional by the end of next year. The projected completion date for the complex would be by 2025.

Ill-fated home of AIM Photonics sold

Nov. 14, 2019 -- Donohoe Management has purchased the Greece building that was supposed to become the home of AIM Photonics, once heralded as the linch pin of an industry that was projected to bolster the Rochester economy.

Vice President Joe Biden toured the building at 115 Canal Landing Boulevard in Greece four years ago. The building has sat unoccipied for the majority of time since.

Fuller Road Management, the real estate arm of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, agreed to sell the property for $1.5 million. The assessed value of the property is $2.5 million.

Delphi will shut down Henrietta facility next year

Oct. 31, 2019 -- Delphi announced it will close it technical center located in Henrietta by the end of next year.

The center employs about 300 workers.

Delphi said in a statement the closure is part of its response to changes in the automotive industry.

"While difficult, the decision to close the Rochester, New York Technical Center was made following a comprehensive global analysis of the company’s engineering footprint and broader cost structure," a company spokesperson said in the statement. "Over the next three years, the company plans to take a range of actions to reshape and realign its footprint and significantly reduce its overall cost structure to enable it to quickly respond to the rapidly changing market dynamics."

[ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]

Business and Industry This is Rochester
Gov't \| Politics \| Crime \| Schools \| Higher Ed \| Business \| Sports \| Health care \| Media \| People \| Weather \| Food/drink \| Arts \| Misc.
	A summary of news about Greater Rochester business and industry
	Most recent developments Wegmans announces new hub in Virginia Dec. 12, 2019 -- Wegmans Food Markets plans to construct a new regional distribution center in Ashland, Virginia, at a cost of $175 million. The project will expand the Gates-based company's East Coast distribution network as Wegmans continues its expansion through Atlantic and Southern states. The 1.1 million-square-foot facility is slated to begin operations in 2022 and become fully operational by the end of the year. Wegmans already operates distribution centers in Rochester and Pottsville, Pennsylvania. "This site has the right combination of everything we were looking for in terms of proximity to our stores and workforce and is located in a commonwealth that we have partnered with for many years," Wegmans President and CEO Colleen Wegman said in a statement. "Once it's up and running, this facility will allow us to deliver products to our southernmost stores with increased speed and freshness and will help support our growth well into the future." In September, a 104,000-square-foot Wegmans opened in Raleigh, N.C., marking the grocer's entry into North Carolina, its southernmost store and its 100th location overall. The company plans another five stores for the Raleigh-Durham area, including a location in West Cary slated to open next year. Other new stores already announced that could be serviced by the new distribution center include locations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Webster residents opposed to proposed lettuce farm Dec. 3, 2019 -- A proposal to develop a lettuce farm in Webster is being met with objections from residents of the area, more than 200 of whom showed up for a public hearing conducted by the town planning board. CEA Farm Fresh is seeking to convert 150 acres of vacant land into a factory farm with seven greenhouses equipped to grow, package and ship the produce. Company officials say the facility would create up to 400 jobs by its fifth year. A proposed tomato farm in the same area faced similar protests over the proximity to residential neighborhoods several years ago and the project never moved forward. The planning board has approved a preliminary plan for the lettuce farm, which CEA Farm Fresh officials say could be functional by the end of next year. The projected completion date for the complex would be by 2025. Ill-fated home of AIM Photonics sold Nov. 14, 2019 -- Donohoe Management has purchased the Greece building that was supposed to become the home of AIM Photonics, once heralded as the linch pin of an industry that was projected to bolster the Rochester economy. Vice President Joe Biden toured the building at 115 Canal Landing Boulevard in Greece four years ago. The building has sat unoccipied for the majority of time since. Fuller Road Management, the real estate arm of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, agreed to sell the property for $1.5 million. The assessed value of the property is $2.5 million. Delphi will shut down Henrietta facility next year Oct. 31, 2019 -- Delphi announced it will close it technical center located in Henrietta by the end of next year. The center employs about 300 workers. Delphi said in a statement the closure is part of its response to changes in the automotive industry. "While difficult, the decision to close the Rochester, New York Technical Center was made following a comprehensive global analysis of the company’s engineering footprint and broader cost structure," a company spokesperson said in the statement. "Over the next three years, the company plans to take a range of actions to reshape and realign its footprint and significantly reduce its overall cost structure to enable it to quickly respond to the rapidly changing market dynamics." [ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]