TECHNOLOGY: Canon to break ground on Melville headquarters

One of the most important groundbreakings in the modern era on Long Island will take place next month, when Canon Inc., the imaging company, puts shovels in the earth at what will be the location of its new North American headquarters, in Melville. The company is now in Lake Success.

The importance of the event is based on the worry beads Long Island and state officials wore for years in their concern that Canon would leave the Island, taking about 1,000 jobs with it.

Canon had scouted for space elsewhere in the metropolitan area. But state, federal and Huntington Town officials secured funding for road reconstruction that would allow easy ingress and egress around Long Island Expressway Exit 49, where Canon will be located.

The company will move into a 668,296- square-foot building at the southwest corner of the LIE South Service Road and Walt Whitman Road. It is expected to eventually employ 2,000 people.

Gov. David A. Paterson may appear at the ceremony. He may, because, after all, he is governor, and he pushed for this project. Or, he may not, because he has announced Canon's move to Melville four times already.