Schumer Announces, Following Harris-Exelis Merger, Company Has Heeded His Call To Expand In Rochester; Will Start By Moving Exelis Military Radio Work To Rochester, Creating Up To 150 New Local Jobs In Rochester -- Schumer Urged CEO To Develop Operations Hub In Rochester And Bring Jobs To Region; Combined Company Will Continue To Be One Of Area's Largest Employers

Press Release

Today, U.S. Charles E. Schumer announced that, following the new merger of Harris-Exelis Corporation, the company has agreed to bring 100 new, good-paying jobs to Rochester over the next twelve months with the potential to later add an additional 50 jobs, for a total of up to 150 new jobs. The announcement comes after Schumer urged CEO Bill Brown to grow and expand the company's operations in Rochester after Harris Corporation announced its planned purchase of Exelis in February of this year. The 150 new jobs will support the production of a new Single Channel Ground-to-Air (SINGAR) military radio production line that Harris will consolidate from out-of-state to Rochester. Additionally, Harris is designating Rochester as the headquarters of one of the new company's four business segments; Schumer, in a call, had earlier urged of Harris's CEO to make Rochester a hub for the new combined company's future growth. Specifically Rochester will be the headquarters of Harris's Communications Systems segment that will oversee all of Harris's work on tactical and airborne radios, night vision technology, and defense and public safety networks.

"This is a win-win for Harris-Exelis and Rochester. With 150 new jobs coming to Rochester over the next year the newly merged Harris-Exelis radio company is broadcasting loud and clear that Rochester is open for business. We have fought long and hard to ensure this company would be able to grow and expand in Rochester -- and today its top-notch workforce, with more than 3,600 employees, will be able to do just that," said Schumer. "Harris has had great success in Rochester producing life-saving radio units for our troops and this merger will ensure the joint company will continue that success with even more resources to stay on the cutting-edge of technology. What's more, the combined R&D and production resources of the new company will be a huge boon to the Rochester manufacturing industry and regional economy."

Prior to their merger, Harris employed 2,060 workers in Rochester and Exelis employed 1,438 employees in their Geospatial System division in Rochester. With the additional 150 jobs, the new combined Harris-Exelis will employ up to 3,648 total workers in Rochester, making it one of Rochester's largest employers. Schumer said the combined research and development and manufacturing capabilities will ensure the new combined Harris remains a leader in their industry while providing good-paying jobs to Rochester residents. Schumer pushed for the company to keep these good-paying jobs in Rochester post-merger, and look to Rochester as a place where the company can grow and expand following its merger.

Schumer explained for the past 55 years Rochester has served as the home of Harris RF Communications, and now by adding the additional military tactical radio production that was being done at an Exelis facility out of state, Harris has created a fully integrated division specializing in tactical and airborne radios and defense and public safety networks in Rochester. Schumer said this news is a win for the company and the top-notch Rochester workforce. Following Harris Corporation's announcement in February 2015 that it would be acquiring Exelis, Schumer wrote and called CEO Bill Brown to urge him not move any work out of Rochester and instead challenged him to continue his company's investment in Rochester by adding jobs and making Rochester a hub where the new combined company could add new work. At the time, Schumer said Brown did not anticipate any workforce reductions and would consider Schumer's challenge to invest in Rochester. Therefore in May Schumer organized a meeting in his Rochester Senate office to bring Harris officials together with the New York State's economic development agency for the first time in order for New York to compete against other states and regions to win this new production line and the new 150 jobs.

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