The governor said he had trouble following along with all the new technology on display at Cooper Crouse-Hinds in Syracuse, but he was certainly impressed.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was given a close-up look at a new laboratory paid for with state aid at the 115 year old lighting manufacturer Friday.
Crouse-Hinds, which got its start making simpler devices like traffic lights, now makes lighting and electrical equipment suitable for harsh and hazardous environments.
In December, it won a $300,000 Excelsior tax credit from the Empire State Development Corp to renovate part of its site and put in the new lab.
After getting his private tour, Gov. Cuomo touted his government's role in helping Crouse-Hinds expand.
"Why can’t you have a government that is thinking ‘how do I help business grow?’ Because that really is the combination that works for a state," he said.
The governor calls it "entrepreneurial government."
Cooper Crouse-Hinds has added 50 new jobs this year at its site on the northern edge of Syracuse, according to company president Grant Gawronski. That brings its total employment to an even 500.
Ohio-based competitor Eaton Corp. acquired Cooper earlier this year. The governor said he had no reason to believe that meant a dark future for the Syracuse plant.
"Syracuse remains our division headquarters, and we expect to be here for a very long time," said Gawronski.
