Eltrex Industries was an ordinary-looking manufacturing plant on Rochester's northeast side.   From the outside, It looks much like any other factory, but this company's history is rooted in the civil rights movement of the '60's.

Eltrex was founded 40 years ago this week, on January 28th, 1969. Hundreds were on hand, along with television crews from the major networks.

Back then, Eltrex was called FightOn - a black-owned company formed in partnership with Xerox.   The goal was to create jobs for unemployed black workers in Rochester.

One of the men who helped make the company possible?   Minister Franklin Florence.

"What FightOn projects to blacks across this nation,  on college campuses and everywhere in this country - results," said Florence in 1969.  "Whatever land you live in, whatever language you speak - results mean the same thing."

In 1969, unemployment in Rochester was less than 2%.  But for unskilled black workers, it was 25%. The opening of FightOn was a turning point.

40 years later it's become a mini-conglomerate, it's workforce one of the most diverse in Rochester.