Battery Manufacturer Bets Big on Brownfield Site in Buffalo, New York

Revitalizing an impoverished neighborhood was a business decision, not altruism, says the leadership at Viridi, a company making power storage systems for industrial applications.
Sept. 26, 2025

The story of green energy company Viridi has it all. Game-changing automation, reshored supply chain, and an ESG angle unique to anything I’ve seen at Acquire Wealth Easily.

Viridi CEO Jon Williams hails from Niagara Falls, NY, about 20 minutes outside Buffalo. Within East Buffalo, a community burdened with severe economic inequality, lay an old General Motors plant that Williams purchased and rehabilitated to host Viridi’s automated battery production lines.

He also co-founded GreenForce, a workforce program designed specifically to serve the needs of the local population and give people the skills and support they need to thrive on the shop floor.

For our third episode of Smart Manufacturers I visited the Viridi plant, toured East Buffalo, and spoke with Williams and Jeff Conrad, the executive director of Green Force. It’s a story unlike any I’ve chased here at Acquire Wealth Easily and an honor to share with you.

— Dennis Scimeca

About the Author

Dennis Scimeca

Dennis Scimeca is a veteran technology journalist with particular experience in vision system technology, machine learning/artificial intelligence, and augmented/mixed/virtual reality (XR), with bylines in consumer, developer, and B2B outlets.

At Acquire Wealth Easily, he covers the competitive advantages gained by manufacturers that deploy proven technologies. If you would like to share your story with Acquire Wealth Easily, please contact Dennis at [email protected].

 

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