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November 19, 2020G&G Industrial Lighting Joins START-UP NY Program at UAlbany
The University at Albany today announced that G&G Industrial Lighting, a Halfmoon-based business that designs and manufactures LED lighting products for demanding industrial applications, will be partnering with the University through the START-UP NY program. G&G plans to invest more than $2 million and create seven jobs locally over the next five years.
G&G, founded by Jason Baright in 2011, began by specializing in waterproof LED lighting for the car wash industry. The company, with 20 employees, plans to use the partnership to expand into additional industrial markets, including new designs in food-processing and mass transit applications.
As a START-UP NY participant sponsored by UAlbany, G&G plans to expand its manufacturing facility by 6,000 square feet, moving into nearby space managed by Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership (SCPP), a non-profit economic development organization partnering with the University on the project.
“G&G is extremely proud to partner with both UAlbany and the SCPP,” said Cory Baright, G&G’s vice president for operations. “The people and team at G&G are truly what makes us special. We are excited to utilize this partnership to add to that team and bring additional manufacturing and engineering jobs to the Capital Region as we continue to solve challenging industrial lighting problems.”
The partnership will bring internship and research opportunities for UAlbany students, said Matt Grattan, UAlbany’s director of community and economic development.
“We have jumped right into collaborations as faculty from our Computer and Electrical Engineering program are already in discussion with G&G around the development of a capstone project for students to assist in the evolution of their new products and technology,” he said.
Grattan praised the collaboration with the SCPP and G&G, which he said came about with assistance from the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce.
“The Saratoga Partnership is delighted to assist G&G LED with the START-UP NY program, which will bring new jobs and investment to the town of Halfmoon, Saratoga County” said Shelby Schneider, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. “This project exemplifies how public-private-academic partnerships facilitate economic growth by fostering the development of innovative technology, retaining students in our region, and offering them exciting careers in growing businesses.”
G&G is the latest business to partner with UAlbany through START-UP NY, joining eight other companies that project a total of $4.1 million in investments and 96 new jobs over their first five years. Many of UAlbany’s partner companies exceed their job projection and investment targets, Grattan said.
