Brady:  "We had a need to be in production"

LAKE KATRINE – “We have momentum," said Vincent Cozzolino, president and CEO of The Solar Energy Consortium, in taking part in a major announcement, this morning.   Precision Flow Technologies, based in Saugerties, is creating 190 new jobs at Tech City.

Kevin Brady, head of Precision Flow, said the decision to expand into Tech City made sense.

“We had a need to be in production in literally a few months.  If we were to relocate to a different area, or if we were to build our own building, we would not have been to market as quickly as we are able to accomplish here.”

The hiring is ongoing, with five to seven people coming onboard each week, on average.  Brady says they are mostly high tech jobs, paying $30,000 to $60,000 a year, and they are being hired locally.

Federal funding was obtained through the office of U.S. Rep Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley).  The funding Hinchey secured on behalf of Precision Flow and a key customer, C9, a company based in Malta, New York, is being used to advance energy technologies with the Defense Department that will enhance utilization of solar arrays, hybrid electric vehicles, and other energy efficient applications. 

“With the creation of 190 new jobs at Precision Flow, the Hudson Valley is well on its way to becoming a major leader in growing solar energy sector”, said Hinchey, who participated in the announcement, along with Tech City owner Alan Ginsburg and Ulster County Executive Michael Hein.

Hinchey, at podium.  Listening are Hein, left, and Cozzolino

Hinchey said this is a big step forward. “Precision Flow Technologies expansion at Tech City is the kind of homerun that I’ve been working toward, with TSEC, with Vinny, with Alan, Mike Hein, other partners, in this region.”

Cozzolino noted the rapid growth of jobs and companies at Tech City is happening despite the slow economy.  Companies are now calling him, he said.

“The number one reason I say ‘we have momentum’ is, this is probably the worst economy in my lifetime, and yet, we’ve been able to attract, by the end of this year, hundreds of jobs.  Companies are coming here.  Imagine when things turn.”

Today, over 60 percent of the Tech City facilities are now leased, a figure that is expected to rise to 70 percent by the end of this year.