Niagara, N.Y. (WBEN) - The development foundation being laid by high-tech anchored, start-up NeoFab Robotics could be an enticement for other, fledgling companies to give Niagara County and the entire region a deeper "look-see" when it comes to new projects.
That is one of the side byproducts of NeoFab's decision to build its 28,000-square-foot plant in the Town of Niagara's Vantage International Point commerce park.
"That would be the icing on the cake, if others follow," said Jeremy Geartzm Niagara County Industrial Development Agency director of business development and retention.
Duane Duncan, NeoFab co-founder, credits an incentive put together that turned out to be one of the key factors in deciding where to start-up his operations.
"They made it easier," Duncan said.
The IDA directors are expected to vote on the incentive package on Feb. 11.
"Knowing that they wanted to help matters," Duncan said.
NeoFab makes for a development case study of what it takes to land a high-tech based start-up in the region.
Incentives matter but so does a cooperative economic development ecosystem, Duncan said.
NeoFab will use robotics technology to build its industrial strength skids used by manufacturers.
Its machines will be robotics driven, NeoFab will still be hiring 22 people to start.
"There is a greater sense of checks and balances," Duncan said of NeoFab's system.
NeoFab hopes to start construction this spring and have its new plant open and production-ready by early 2027.