A significant development has emerged in Rochester's industrial landscape as more than $44 million in past-due construction bills for the former Li-Cycle Rochester Hub have been paid, initiating the release of a dozen contractor liens on the stalled battery recycling facility located at 205 McLaughlin Road in Greece, New York.
According to filings with the Monroe County Clerk's Office on November 18, 2025, nine creditors have released construction liens that were originally enforced late in 2023 or during 2024. Among the released contractors are LeChase Construction Services of Greece and Frank Lill & Son of Victor—two major regional construction firms that had held liens on the project.
The Li-Cycle Rochester Hub represents one of the region's most complex infrastructure challenges. The lithium-ion battery recycling facility was originally announced in November 2022 with significant fanfare and ambitious hiring projections. When first announced, Li-Cycle expected to hire around 250 workers at the Rochester facility, positioning it as a major economic driver for the region.
However, the project encountered severe financial headwinds. Construction was halted in October 2023 due to escalating building costs and overwhelming financial constraints. Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., the Toronto-based originator of the project, faced a critical funding shortfall when the U.S. Department of Energy withheld issuance of a $375 million loan, which had been crucial to the project's financing structure.
Cost estimates for completion of the Rochester Hub ballooned to nearly $1 billion—more than double the original projection. This dramatic increase left Li-Cycle in an increasingly precarious financial position. The company eventually filed for bankruptcy in May 2025.
Swiss-based mining and commodities giant Glencore, which had already invested heavily in Li-Cycle, acquired the company's assets out of bankruptcy in August 2025 through subsidiary GBR HubCo LLC. This acquisition marked a turning point for the troubled project.
GBR HubCo officials informed the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) in August that the company intended to resume construction and bring recycling activities at the site online. Based on these assurances, the COMIDA board unanimously approved Glencore's assumption of the lease agreement and tax abatements through a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) arrangement.
The subsequent payment of the $44 million in outstanding contractor liens appears to be moving Glencore closer to that objective. "In bringing current the outstanding bills with contractors...Li-Cycle successor Glencore would appear poised to resume construction," reported the Rochester Business Journal.
The released liens represent substantial commitments from multiple contractors and consultants. Key releases include:
These figures underscore the significant investment local and regional construction firms and engineering consultants had made to the project before the financial crisis halted work.
The resolution of these construction liens is critically important for the contractors and consultants involved. Recovery of funds tied up in construction liens is often a lengthy and uncertain process. The clearing of these liens suggests that Glencore is actively addressing the financial liabilities of the project and positioning it for resumption.
For Rochester-area construction firms, this development has dual implications: it represents payment recovery for services already rendered, and it could signal potential opportunities for additional work if Glencore moves forward with the planned construction resumption. The region's construction industry will be watching closely for announcements about the project's timeline and scope under new ownership.
The County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency remains in contact with Glencore officials regarding the project. However, COMIDA has adopted a measured approach. "We are still awaiting updates from them about the specificity and scope of their plans for the Greece site," stated COMIDA Executive Director Ana Liss, according to reports from November 18, 2025.
A Glencore spokesperson declined to provide additional comment when reached for details about the company's plans, saying "we are not commenting."
The Li-Cycle saga has had lasting repercussions across Rochester's construction and manufacturing sectors. The project's troubled history underscores the risks associated with large-scale industrial development, particularly when tied to emerging battery recycling technology and dependent on federal loan guarantees that may not materialize.
The facility, when operational, would represent significant manufacturing activity in Rochester's Greece neighborhood. Battery recycling is positioned as a critical component of the circular economy and clean energy transition. For Rochester and the broader upstate New York region, successful completion of this hub could establish the area as a center for battery material recovery and processing.
The coming months will be pivotal for determining whether Glencore actually moves forward with construction resumption. Key indicators to monitor include:
The construction industry, regional economic development organizations, and Rochester's workforce development community will be watching for concrete evidence that the $44 million payment represents the beginning of project revival rather than a financial settlement that preserves optionality without commitment to construction.
Sources: Rochester Business Journal (November 18, 2025), County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency
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