Our colleague Larry Rulison is at this morning’s Schenectady press conference, where officials have announced that Quirky, a company that collects ideas from the public and brings the best ones to market, is expanding to Schenectady following an investment by General Electric Co. Quirky will bring 180 jobs to the city.

Quirky will take two floors in the Center City building at 433 State St. The company will get nearly $1 million wolrth of public assistance to open locally, $500,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits from Empire State Development and $450,000 from the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority to support the new office.

Quirky, headquartered in New York City, also has an office in Hong Kong. Founded in 2009, it has commercialized more than 150 products, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

“GE and Schenectady gave the world electricity, the first television broadcast, the steam turbine, and dozens of other transformative inventions,” said Quirky Founder and CEO Ben Kaufman. “We can’t wait to set up shop here and be a part of that history. We’re really excited to join this community – which continues to be a world leader in technology and manufacturing – and continue Schenectady’s tradition of innovation.”

GE has already worked with Quirky to develop five so-called “smart” products, including the recently launched wifi-enabled Aros air conditioner that can be operated remotely.

“Quirky’s decision to come to Schenectady will deepen the great partnership GE, and Global Research specifically, have established during the past year. We are excited,” said Mark Little, GE’s chief technology officer and senior vice president. “With the modern electrical grid and the advent of radio and television, GE’s legacy of innovation has been all about connecting people in new ways to make their lives better.

“With the team at Quirky in close proximity to GE’s scientists and engineers, we will help take innovation to the far reaches of crowdsourcing and the Internet to reach more inventive minds and spawn more great ideas to impact and change our world,” Little added.

Quirky will recruit employees for its new office at a career fair Thursday, April 3rd, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Key Hall at Proctors, 436 State St., Schenectady. The office is expected to begin operating in May.

Job seekers may also apply online here.

More details on the company are here.