A local high tech company is getting help from New York State's pension fund.
The company is called OyaGen, a bio-pharmaceutical company which is coming up with drug treatments for people with HIV and AIDS. The state pension fund has given OyaGen money before, and the latest grant is for $150,000.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says this is a good investment by the pension fund, since this company has been developing a worldwide reputation. And he says the pension fund still has money to give out to qualified companies.
"We still have $393 million available to invest in New York-based companies. Expanding this program has been a priority for me since I became comptroller back in 2007."
The founder and CEO of OyaGen is University of Rochester professor Harold Smith, who says there have been suggestions his company move to China or Europe, but he says he likes doing business right here in the Rochester area.
"We have the ability to tap into a state school system and a private school system that is almost unparalleled in terms of the science and math training."
Smith says the latest grant will help his company add four people to the current six member staff.
