Alstom, a major rail transportation manufacturer, has completed a $75 million expansion of its Hornell facilities, revitalizing the region’s industrial sector. Governor Kathy Hochul, highlighting the completion, emphasized the project's impact on local job creation and industrial revitalization. The expansion includes a new car body shell manufacturing unit, strategically reshored from Brazil to the United States, and is poised to boost production for Chicago's Metra commuter rail and Philadelphia's light rail vehicles.
The investment not only promises to directly create 258 union-backed jobs but also aims to steadfastly retain another 390 positions. According to Governor Hochul's office, up to $7 million has been designated through the Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program to support this job commitment. Despite the competition from overseas, Alstom has managed to rebuild "Upstate" and prove New York as a burgeoning hub for quality manufacturing.
An earlier expansion at the Hornell site benefited from a $30 million investment under the Southern Tier Soaring Upstate Revitalization Initiative, facilitating the retention of over a thousand jobs in Hornell and other New York operations. The state backing was also a decisive factor in Alstom securing Amtrak's contract for the Acela high-speed trainsets, as reported by the Governor's office. The production of modern rail vehicles with enhanced capacity and amenities is set to replace the nearly 25-year-old Acela fleet.
Rekindling the American dream in transportation, Alstom's investments in U.S. facilities have been both significant and strategic. "Americans deserve high-quality transportation options and good jobs," said Alstom Americas Region President and CEO Michael Keroullé in a statement obtained by the Governor's office. The Hornell site's expansion is set to reassert not just the community's legacy in rail manufacturing, but also to affirm the company's existence as the largest passenger rail manufacturing facility in North America.
With this investment, the Hornell plant stands as a central figure in the area's economy, having churned out more than 8,000 rail vehicles for North American customers, including 1,000 subway cars for New York City Transit. Empire State Development's President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight recognized Alstom's commitment to reshoring production jobs as pivotal for both regional economic growth and national manufacturing leadership.
The project has garnered bipartisan support, with Senator Charles Schumer securing $3.4 million in federal funding to accelerate Alstom's expansion, while Senator Kirstin Gillibrand lauded the initiative's potential for economic growth and job creation. Reflecting this sentiment, Hornell Mayor John Buckley acknowledged Alstom's vital role in the community's prosperity and its significance in maintaining Hornell's prominence in the transportation sector.
