California firm to move into Lansing facility, create more than 100 jobs

LANSING, N.Y. — Menlo Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in California with operations in Albany, plans to invest $50 million in Lansing facility and create more than 100 jobs.

That’s according to separate announcements from Menlo Micro, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.), and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Both Schumer and Hochul say the announcement follows “their long advocacy to make New York a global microelectronics manufacturing hub and Schumer’s personal call to Menlo Micro CEO Russ Garcia last year.”

Irvine, California–based Menlo Microsystems will invest over $50 million to build their first domestic microelectronics fabrication (fab) facility in Tompkins County, creating over 100 new “good-paying” jobs.

“Today’s announcement represents the first step toward significantly increasing the domestic production capacity of our Ideal Switch to help secure critical infrastructure and further strengthen America’s technology stronghold,” Garcia said in the announcement. “We want to thank Senate Majority Leader Schumer for his leadership on the CHIPS and Science Act, which is directly supportive of and aligned with our plan to onshore our manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to continuing to work with Sen. Schumer, Gov. Hochul, Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Molinaro and the entire New York delegation as we begin ushering in the next generation of electrification, delivering unprecedented cost and energy savings to essential U.S. industries. We believe this fab modernization project is in 100% alignment with the presidential directive on bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States.”

To support the construction of Menlo Micro’s new fab, Empire State Development will provide $6.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs tax credits in exchange for 122 new jobs at its Ithaca–area facility. As with all Excelsior Jobs projects, Menlo Micro will receive the credits after demonstrating that they have met their job and investment commitments, per the announcement.

Schumer and Hochul said that the retrofitting of Menlo Micro’s new Ideal Fab has already begun in the village of Lansing.

Menlo Micro has pioneered next generation switch technology, which are “hyper-efficient” switches that have broad base application, including aerospace, energy, communications, critical infrastructure, and more.