More than $44 million in past-due construction bills for work on the former Li-Cycle Rochester Hub have been paid, initiating the release of a dozen contractor liens on the lithium-ion battery recycling facility at 205 McLaughlin Road in Greece (Rochester area).
The settlement, documented through filings with the Monroe County Clerk's Office on November 18, 2025, represents a critical turning point for one of Rochester's most significant recent manufacturing investments and signals potential resumption of construction at the long-stalled facility.
Nine creditors have released construction liens that were filed late in 2023 and throughout 2024, according to Monroe County records. Major contractors receiving payment include:
The successful payment of these liens by Glencore (Li-Cycle's successor entity through GBR HubCo LLC) removes a major impediment to project resumption.
The lien release demonstrates that Rochester's construction contracting community has enforceable security interests in major projects and that significant industrial development work continues to generate substantial opportunities—even amid project disruptions.
For contractors bidding on similar large-scale manufacturing facilities, this case study offers important lessons in:
The willingness of major contractors like LeChase (Greece-based heavy construction firm) and Frank Lill & Son (Victor-based construction company) to pursue lien enforcement demonstrates the Rochester-area contractor's commitment to protecting their interests.
The Li-Cycle Rochester Hub represents an ambitious attempt to develop battery recycling capacity in western New York. Originally announced in November 2022, the facility was expected to process lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Timeline of events:
A critical factor in Li-Cycle's financial deterioration was the U.S. Department of Energy's withholding of a $375 million loan that was initially expected to support the project. When the federal government delayed loan issuance, the company lacked sufficient working capital to manage rapidly escalating construction costs.
This illustrates a key challenge for manufacturing and industrial projects: dependence on federal financing commitments and the impact when anticipated funding faces delays or conditions.
Swiss-based Glencore, a global mining and commodities corporation with existing substantial investments in Li-Cycle, made the strategic decision to acquire the company's assets out of bankruptcy. Glencore's interest reflects the growing importance of battery recycling capacity in the global transition to electric vehicles.
In August 2025, Glencore officials assured Monroe County Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) that the company intended to:
Based on these assurances, the COMIDA board unanimously approved Glencore's assumption of the lease agreement and tax abatement (PILOT arrangement).
The project's trajectory—from ambitious announcement through construction challenges, bankruptcy, and recovery under new ownership—reflects several realities of industrial manufacturing development:
With liens released and Glencore in control, the project faces clearer conditions for resumption. However, the COMIDA Executive Director Ana Liss noted in November 2025 that the agency remains "in contact with Glencore officials" but is "still awaiting updates from them about the specificity and scope of their plans for the Greece site."
This suggests that while the financial obstacles have been cleared, the company has not yet publicly committed to specific construction timelines or operational schedules.
When originally announced, the Li-Cycle Rochester Hub was expected to create approximately 250 skilled manufacturing jobs. Beyond direct employment, the facility would have supported:
Successful resumption of construction would reinvigorate these economic benefits and signal Rochester's continued importance as a manufacturing and technology hub.
The Li-Cycle case offers instructive lessons for construction professionals:
Rochester Business Journal reporting by Kevin Oklobzija (November 18, 2025); Monroe County Clerk's Office filings (November 18, 2025); Monroe County Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) records and statements; Glencore corporate announcements (August 2025).
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