Democrat & Chronicle

What's new in Greece

Some of the projects, businesses and housing coming to the Monroe County's largest town.

Bennett J. Loudon | Sept. 26, 2014

Story Highlights

• Solar energy facility is linchpin of projected growth, with about 20 other projects in various stages of development.
• Buffalo Wild Wings, McGregor's, Panera Bread and Taste of Texas Bar-B-Q among new restaurants coming to town.
• The Mall at Greece Ridge Center is working on a new adventure area for children in the former Circuit City space.
• While nothing like the boom in construction during the 1980s, the town of Greece is hoping that the solar energy industry can bring a trickle-down effect to economic development.

About 100 jobs are expected to come to the town with a new photovoltaic manufacturing facility located in a former Eastman Kodak Co. building at Canal Ponds Business Park. The average annual salary for those jobs is expected to be about $91,500. On top of that, state and local officials say the facility could generate 400 additional jobs as other companies look to take advantage of the facility's resources.

"If that develops as anticipated I think we'll see a housing boom because people need a roof over their head," said Bill Reilich, Greece supervisor.

The building will be renovated into a research and commercialization facility, and another 3,000 square feet will be added. The facility, operated by the State University of New York's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, is part of federally-funded efforts to develop solar energy-related projects.

But solar energy hasn't been the only thing on the town's agenda with about two dozen other sites where new business or construction is in various stages of development.

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