Phoenix Tailings Chooses Rochester for Rare Earth Separation Facility
News related to:Phoenix Tailings · 1 min read
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 20, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Phoenix Tailings, a company building the world's most advanced rare earth and critical minerals manufacturing platform, has chosen Eastman Business Park in Rochester, New York, for its Freedom Separation facility. This commercial-scale operation is part of the company’s $1.2 billion-plus Freedom Project, an integrated separation-and-metallization platform designed to close a critical gap in U.S. midstream rare earth processing capacity.
The Freedom Separation facility will convert a diverse range of mixed rare earth feedstocks into separated oxides for domestic rare earth metal production. At full capacity, it is expected to process more than 18,000 tons per year of variable rare earth feedstock and produce more than 4,400 tons per year of separated rare earth oxides. Production is set to ramp up in 2027, with full production slated for 2028.
Phoenix Tailings conducted a nationwide search to select the best location for this facility. Eastman Business Park was chosen for its industrial infrastructure, which meets the company’s process requirements, and its skilled workforce in engineering, advanced manufacturing, chemical processing, and plant operations.
When fully operational, the Rochester separation facility will support more than 200 direct New York jobs, with 90 jobs expected at launch. Overall, the Freedom separation-and-metallization platform is expected to support over 500 jobs across facilities in New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, plus a future location.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her commitment to supporting innovative projects and companies that are ready to invest in New York.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer also welcomed Phoenix Tailings to the Rochester-Finger Lakes region.
The Freedom Project secured a $500 million conditional loan commitment from the Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital under the Trump administration. Support from Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer builds on that federal commitment, bringing bipartisan backing to the expansion of America’s domestic rare earth processing capacity.