Long Island-based telecommunications and consumer electronics manufacturer, Orbic Electronics, announced on June 4 the launch of “Project Patriot,” a plan to invest approximately $100 million in Suffolk County, Long Island, to open four factories. The goal of the project is to bring manufacturing jobs back from China and India to New York, creating an estimated 1,000 job opportunities.
Three of the new factories will be located in Hauppauge, Long Island, with the fourth in Bay Shore, all set to start operations early next year. Orbic produces products such as mobile phones, computers, and related components. CEO Mike Narula stated that once the factories are operational, the annual production capacity will exceed 5 million units, surpassing the previous overseas capabilities.
Narula acknowledged that relocating production lines back to the U.S. may impact profits initially. However, the company anticipates that with increased production scale and sales volume, any related costs would eventually be offset and not result in profit loss.
The company specified that new job positions would start at an annual salary of $45,000 and it would collaborate with Suffolk County Community College to establish vocational training programs to cultivate local talent and prioritize the hiring of Long Island residents.
According to the New York Post, when asked whether this move was related to U.S. government tariff policies, Mike Narula clarified that the decision was planned well before the November elections last year and was not a direct response to recent policy changes. The main intention was to secure the supply chain and retain some manufacturing processes locally. Telecommunications provider Verizon, a technical partner of Orbic, also supported its decision to invest in manufacturing.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine expressed gratitude to the company for “pioneering a new path” for regional businesses and Long Island residents, and he hoped that Orbic would bring further employment opportunities and economic development to Long Island in the future.