FREDONIA – The Fredonia Technology Incubator recently welcomed a new business to Dunkirk.

ProQuip, International (www.pqi.ca), a Canadian-based business, is staging its presence in the U.S. market at the incubator. The Brantford, Ontario-based company is an energy sector leader that creates green energy products and services, such as LED lighting, solar LED lighting and solar PV solutions.

Sam Tavernese, ProQuip president and chief executive officer, said he is thrilled to be operating ProQuip America in Dunkirk.

“It is a great opportunity to be in Dunkirk at the Fredonia Technology Incubator,” Tavernese said. “This is a wonderful community and a very engaged university. I believe joining the incubator and the Dunkirk community is a great opportunity for ProQuip.”

ProQuip’s engineering and design team customizes LED, Solar LED Lighting or Solar PV solutions. They provide quality LED lighting products for commercial, institutional and industrial applications. The company delivers cost-effective, efficient solutions, making sustainability and savings a reality.

ProQuip recently lit up the Dunkirk Boardwalk through a demonstration project that replaced two, 250-watt quartz halogen bulbs with two of its 110-watt LED lights, saving the city of Dunkirk $500 annually in replacement and maintenance fees. In addition, ProQuip also donated a solar panel to the boardwalk to illustrate brighter, safer and energy-efficient lighting solutions.

Kevin Kearns, SUNY Fredonia vice president of engagement and economic development, said he is thrilled to add ProQuip to the facility and the area.

“The incubator is designed to support entrepreneurs that will create jobs and greater economic vitality in the region,” Kearns said. “The addition of ProQuip adds significant value to our local economy and existing incubator businesses. This is an experienced entrepreneur who has a community focus and a drive to succeed in business while reducing our world’s energy usage through his products.”

The Fredonia Technology Incubator promotes economic growth in Western New York by supporting entrepreneurship and the development of new, innovative companies into successful business ventures. The incubator creates jobs in the community, develops real-world internships and training opportunities for students, attracts and retains graduates for the area, provides a first-class facility for community activities, and provides support services to community organizations and leaders.

The State University of New York at Fredonia established its Engagement and Economic Development division in 2013 to facilitate and support university-community collaborations that enhance the intellectual, cultural, artistic and economic vibrancy of the region. Such collaborations include active community engagement and partnerships with local and regional organizations, governments, businesses and universities. In addition to the incubator, the division also oversees the university’s StartUp New York economic development program.