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ELLICOTT, NY (WNY News Now) – A battery production plant is slated to bring up to 250 jobs to southern Chautauqua County.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Monday Electrovaya, Inc., a producer of lithium-ion batteries for transportation and utility storage, is opening its first U.S. plant as part of an expansion in the Town of Ellicott.

The company will set up operations at 1 Precision Way in an effort to tap into the robust lithium-ion battery demand for e-forklifts, e-trucks and e-buses. This comes as good news to local leaders.

“The electricity and utilities will actually be coming from the BPU,” said Mayor Eddie Sundquist. “Not only will employee residents here in the city, but it be utilizing city utilities.”

Empire State Development is assisting the project with up to four million dollars through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program and $2.5 million dollars in Regional Council Capital Funding to establish the new facility.