10/23/2026
It's amazing to see even more jobs and opportunities coming to upstate New York, and we'll be there to support in any way we can!
Another pretty big advanced manufacturing announcement for Upstate New York. Please React, Follow the page, and Share!
Phoenix Tailings plans to invest $375 million in a new rare earth mineral separation facility at Eastman Business Park in Monroe County.
The company will use about 500,000 square feet and has committed to at least 90 new jobs to start, with more than 200 direct New York jobs expected over time.
Some operations are expected to begin in 2027, with full production planned for 2028. Once fully up and running, the facility is expected to separate about 18,000 tons of rare earth material each year, enough to produce roughly 3,000 tons of rare earth metals at the company’s downstream facilities.
These materials end up in a lot of things we use and talk about regularly, including electronics, electric vehicles, communications equipment, medical technology, advanced manufacturing and defense systems.
One of the reasons this matters is where most of this processing happens today. According to the state, China currently processes about 90% of the world’s rare earth minerals.
Governor Kathy Hochul said the project could play a “critical role in bolstering our national security” by reducing reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals.
Phoenix Tailings CEO Nick Myers put it pretty directly, saying, “America and its allies cannot build the next generation of advanced manufacturing on a rare earth supply chain they do not control.”
Senator Senator Chuck Schumer also pointed to the bigger Upstate manufacturing picture, calling the region a “prime destination for new manufacturing investments.”
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said the company’s technology is “transforming industrial waste into critical materials” used in everything from electric vehicles to advanced manufacturing.
There is public funding involved as well. New York is offering up to $3 million in performance-based tax credits. Phoenix Tailings has also received a $66 million federal Department of Energy grant, and there is a separate $500 million federal loan commitment that is still subject to final review.
Just to be clear, this is not a Micron project, and there has been no announced connection between Phoenix Tailings and Micron.
I still think it is worth following here because it is another large investment in the advanced manufacturing and critical-materials industry taking shape across Upstate New York.
