E-bikes are coming to Utica after an expansion project by eBliss Global was given the green light to go forward.
According to a statement from Empire State Development, eBliss Global is investing more than $4.1 million to establish a facility at 20 Harbor Point Road in downtown Utica, which will create at least 40 jobs there. ESD is supporting the project and the company’s job creation goals with up to $500,000 in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.
eBliss Global, headquartered in Austin, Texas, produces electric bicycles designed to meet the growing demand for clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation alternatives.
This project involves the planning, design, and reconstruction of the existing structure into a functional production hub through significant building improvements and the installation of manufacturing and warehouse equipment. The Utica facility will support the assembly and distribution of U.S.-made electric bicycles, with an initial goal of producing 15,000 units annually.
“Through strategic public-private partnerships with companies like eBliss, New York State is creating jobs and generating sustainable economic growth in communities all throughout the state,” ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said in a statement. “This project and its new manufacturing jobs will further accelerate the economic momentum in Downtown Utica and the Mohawk Valley as a result of the state’s strategic investments in new industries and community revitalization.”
What to expect
The company has committed to creating at least 40 direct jobs in assembly, quality control, logistics, and technician-level support. As operations mature and demand increases, the facility is expected to generate additional indirect employment through supply chain partnerships and contracted services, reinforcing the community’s role as a hub for manufacturing and sustainability.
“This endeavor has been years in the making,” eBliss Global Founder and CEO Bill Klehm said in a statement. “This factory represents the culmination of a mission to create a product that is 100% made in America. Utica, Oneida County, and Upstate New York have historically been known as a hub of blue-collar industry, and we’re thrilled to be part of its next chapter and to build the green transportation revolution right here in Upstate New York.”
Revitalizing downtown Utica
This is part of a larger initiative to revitalize downtown Utica, along with collaborative efforts between the state and local governments to attract new companies and industries to the region.
ESD has committed more than $12.7 million into the infrastructure and redevelopment of Harbor Point, including nearly $480,000 into the recently opened promenade and $1.25 million into the apartments and commercial space currently under construction. Harbor Point is adjacent to the Nexus Center, which was supported by $22 million in capital grants. ESD also provided $10.5 million to assist with the rehabilitation of the Adirondack Bank Center. Collectively, these projects help to draw more residents, visitors and businesses to Downtown Utica, supporting sustainable, regional economic growth.
“This announcement signals the resurgence of American manufacturing, while adding a new business development flavor to our robust local industrial family,” Utica Mayor Michael Galime said in a statement. “While many strategic locations had potential, including its home state of Texas, eBliss selected Utica based on clear collaborative strength with municipal and state leadership, recognizing our local workforce as an asset ready to tap.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: E-bikes coming to Utica Harbor Point
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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