BUFFALO — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Nov. 21 announced New York will build an anchor hub facility for high-tech and green-energy businesses in the city of Buffalo.

The effort is part of Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion initiative to attract companies and jobs to the region.

Soraa and Silevo, two California–based clean-energy companies, will invest a total of $1.5 billion into the project and relocate “major” parts of their operations to the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend.

The project will create 850 permanent jobs and at least 500 construction jobs and attract additional manufacturing companies to the site, Cuomo’s office said.

The project at RiverBend, formerly Republic Steel, is a 90-acre site that is ready for development, the governor’s office said.

Soraa is a manufacturer of green light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. The company will relocate its corporate research and development and manufacturing operations to RiverBend, investing $750 million and creating 375 jobs.

Silevo is a firm that develops and manufactures silicon solar cells and modules, with an already established manufacturing plant in China, according to the governor’s office.

The first phase of Silevo’s project involves a $750 million investment, which will create at least 475 jobs and involves a 200 megawatt production facility.

It’ll establish its sole North American manufacturing operations at RiverBend, Cuomo’s office said.

New York will invest $225 million in Empire State Development capital to establish infrastructure at the site including water, sewer, utility and roads, the governor’s office said.

It’ll also construct 275,000 square feet of facilities for Soraa and Silevo, as well as purchase and own equipment.

Neither company is receiving direct funding from the state’s $225 million investment, Cuomo’s office said.

New York will also build additional facilities over time to accommodate new manufacturing companies operating in the field of biotech, high tech, and green energy.

The State University of New York (SUNY) Research Foundation will own the facilities and equipment, according to the governor’s office.

SUNY’s University at Buffalo will also benefit from the partnership and contribute to the project’s future growth, according to Cuomo’s office.

The Cuomo administration’s effort to turn Buffalo into a hub for nanotechnology follows the state’s efforts in both Albany and in Utica.

The SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Albany is backing the Buffalo project and is also partnering with Mohawk Valley EDGE to attract a chip maker to a nanocenter site it’s developing in Marcy on the campus of SUNY Institute of Technology.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com