Micron Semiconductor Facility Represents an Unprecedented Investment in the CNY Region

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Micron Technology announced that it has selected Central New York for the location of a 7.2 million square-foot semiconductor manufacturing facility. The scope of this project – the largest private investment in state history and one of the biggest in the U.S. – is staggering. According to Micron, over the next 20 years the company will invest $100 billion in this facility, resulting in the creation of 9,000 Micron jobs, and an estimated 40,000 construction and supply chain jobs.

This is the kind of investment that those of us involved with regional economic development have been working to land for years. In addition to identifying an ideal physical location with available transportation and other infrastructure, Micron’s decision to locate in Onondaga County reflects the hard work, perseverance, nimbleness and expertise of a wide array of individuals, from professional organizations to educational institutions to elected officials. We have every reason to expect that this decision will transform our regional economy and quality of life in a myriad of positive ways.

As a Syracuse native who has worked to ensure the success of this region my entire life, I am thrilled about the immense impact this will have. By consistently graduating smart, highly-skilled, well-rounded and confident individuals to join the workforce and play leadership roles throughout the region, Le Moyne has played an integral part in the effort to make Central New York an attractive destination for an investment of this kind. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahan, a 2002 Le Moyne graduate, was instrumental in brokering the deal with Micron. And Le Moyne’s significant involvement with the Regional Economic Development Council, of which I am proud to serve as co-chair, was pivotal in this process. Over the years, the College has worked hard to identify and launch undergraduate and graduate programs, and invest in existing ones, for the technology economy. In addition to our degree-granting programs, our ERIE21 program continues its impressive efforts in building a workforce that will meet the needs of Micron and other high-tech firms.

Congratulations to everyone who played a role in making Central New York a worthy partner in this exciting development. Let’s take a moment to celebrate this unprecedented commitment to our community!

Sincerely,
Linda M. LeMura, Ph.D.
President