Bello, Morelle Announce Expansion of APEX Accelerator to Boost Upstate Business Growth

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle announced Monday that the Monroe County-Finger Lakes APEX Accelerator program will expand into Erie and Niagara counties, broadening its reach across 13 counties and the NY-SMART I-Corridor, which includes Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse.

Attendees of Monday's APEX Accelerator expansion press conference included Monroe County Executive Adam Bello (3rd from left), Congressman Joe Morelle (4th from left), APEX Accelerator Director Anna Vulaj Fitzsimmons (6th from left) and Patrick Ho President of Rochester Optical (next to Anna) - facebook photo

The rebranded Monroe County-Upstate NY APEX Accelerator program assists businesses in contracting with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. The expansion is designed to bolster the region’s growing semiconductor and defense manufacturing ecosystem by creating a seamless support system for suppliers throughout the corridor.

“Our APEX Accelerator has helped hundreds of local companies secure contracts with the Department of Defense, helping to grow their businesses and support our nation’s military,” Bello said. “This expansion helps us bring this highly successful program to a wider geographic area and solidifies our efforts to grow the NY-SMART I-corridor.”

The announcement was made at Rochester Optical Manufacturing, a minority-owned business that supplies eyewear to the U.S. military and has secured more than $50 million in contracts with APEX support.

“By expanding their reach, the Accelerator will now have the resources to support innovation on a broader, more regional scale,” said Morelle. “Thank you to County Executive Bello, Director Anna Vulaj Fitzsimmons, and everyone at the APEX Accelerator for everything they do for our community.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who supported the CHIPS and Science Act, praised the expansion as a way to connect more upstate businesses with federal contract opportunities and fuel job creation.

The APEX Accelerator has helped local companies win approximately 20,000 contracts totaling more than $1.1 billion over the past five years. Last year, every dollar spent on the program returned more than $1,500 in economic impact, officials said.

The program, funded through the Department of Defense and the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA), offers free services such as readiness assessments, registration and certification assistance, and training in federal procurement.

Business leaders applauded the expansion.

“The APEX Accelerator has been an invaluable partner, elevating our region's manufacturing reputation nationwide,” said Jordan Amoia, president of Aurora Machine.

Annette Warren, president of iSecure LLC, added, “We love working with the team for matchmaker events and have received great direction and best practices for doing business in government contracting.”

For more information, visit https://www.mcflapex.org/