Micron announces new community investments in Central New York

New funding delivered through Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund total $35.5 Million

SYRACUSE, New York, March 27, 2026 – Micron Technology today announced $35.5 million in new community investments targeted toward addressing housing, transportation, childcare, workforce development, education and other needs across Central New York, building on regional momentum as the company makes progress on its historic megafab project in Clay.  

The wide-ranging series of investments — made through the Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund (CIF), a partnership between Empire State Development and Micron — are intended for areas of significant need as the Central New York community prepares for continued growth of the high-tech and manufacturing industries in the years ahead. Micron’s commitments complement the previously announced $30 million in funding by New York State for the Housing Central New York Fund along with an additional $8.5 million in investments also announced today.

“As we mark Micron’s inaugural Community Week in Central New York, these investments reflect our focus on building lasting opportunity alongside our historic mega-fab semiconductor project that is creating 50,000 jobs,” said April Arnzen, EVP and Chief People Officer at Micron. “Housing, transportation, workforce development, education and childcare are essential to economic growth. Working with Governor Hochul and local partners, Micron is helping to ensure that the growth benefits everyone in the region.”

“Micron's investment in Central New York is a game changer and will bring tremendous growth to the region and the state," Governor Kathy Hochul said. "I created the Green CHIPS program to guarantee that the surrounding communities will benefit from these large-scale advanced manufacturing projects and today's announcement represents concrete evidence that our partnership with Micron and our local stakeholders will ensure that New Yorkers get the greatest benefit from this once in a lifetime, extraordinary opportunity."

"Today’s announcement marks a pivotal step forward as our community moves from preparing for Micron’s historic investment to realizing its impact in real time,” said Robert Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of CenterState CEO.” The opportunity driven by Micron is no longer far off; it is here now, and these investments represent an important initial down payment on the work outlined in the Community Priorities Document. CenterState is proud to have helped lead the engagement effort that shaped that document, which was grounded in listening to residents, organizations and stakeholders to define what matters most for our region’s future. The projects identified through the Community Engagement Committee process, and supported by these investments, will help ensure the benefits of this growth are shared broadly across our community for generations to come. We are grateful to Micron and Empire State Development for their partnership and commitment to delivering lasting, inclusive impact.” 

Investments announced today were identified through a process established jointly by Micron, New York State, and community leaders in partnership with the Central New York Community Engagement Committee. That work is helping guide a total of $500 million in CIF investments, with $250 million supported by Micron, $100 million from New York State, and $150 million from local, other state, and national partners. 

New workforce and community investments announced today include:

• $30,000,000 for the Housing Central New York (HCNY) fund to support housing expansion in the region.
• $2,200,000 for a pilot program with the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) to create a new public bus route from Syracuse to Clay, increasing access to job opportunities and reducing traffic impacts in the area
• $1,100,000 to Onondaga Community College to fund the Pre-College Semiconductor Summer Program for high school students
• $1,000,000 to SUNY Oswego to support STEM educators, providing professional development, accreditation, and STEM resources that are industry-connected and aligned to evolving STEM pathways 
• $750,000 to Jefferson Community College to scale Mechatronics curriculum, providing pathways to Fort Drum veterans and their families to semiconductor careers  
• $300,000 to OCM BOCES to scale its trades and pre-apprenticeship programs that will strengthen the talent pipeline into skilled trade apprenticeships
• $200,000 to PEACE, Inc. to expand the Early Child Care Pathways Program, increasing access, quality programming, and childcare workforce readiness

“As the semiconductor industry reshapes Central New York, we at Onondaga Community College see an incredible opportunity for students to grow with it. This grant will allow OCC to continue a pre-college summer experience where high school students can explore new possibilities and begin their journey toward meaningful and rewarding careers in this fast-growing field. With Micron’s outstanding partnership—which can be seen in the Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab on our campus—we’re excited to continue creating pathways that help students see what’s possible for their future in STEM,” said OCC President Dr. Warren M. Hilton.

“Our veterans have the discipline and work ethic to succeed in any environment, but they also need the opportunity and the pathway to do so,” said President of Jefferson Community College Dr. Daniel Dupee. “This new grant from Micron will help provide exactly that through the JEWEL Program, which bridges the gap between military service and meaningful careers as skilled technicians. Jefferson Community College is honored to receive this support from the Community Investment Fund, and we are committed to ensuring those who served our country have a place in the STEM workforce of the future.” 

“PEACE, Inc. will use this grant to expand our Early Childhood Career Pathways Program, which helps create and increase opportunities for Onondaga County parents,” said Carolyn Brown, Executive Director, PEACE, Inc. “By offering three primary career pathways – entrepreneurship, education, and employment – the program helps develop a homegrown childcare workforce that grows alongside our community. We are grateful Micron has recognized that investing in caregivers is crucial to supporting a local workforce ready to seize opportunities driven by the semiconductor industry.” 

New investments announced today build on funding Micron has made in recent years since first announcing that the company would build the nation’s largest memory manufacturing facility in Central New York. To date, Micron has already made investments totaling more than $15 million in targeted initiatives that include:

• Financial, technical advisory, and in-kind contributions to create the Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab and modernize microelectronics curriculum at Onondaga Community College
• Funded and delivered K-12 STEM programming and activities, reaching over 4,000 students, working with over 25 organizations on programs such as Chip Camp, STEM of Sports and the Corcoran P-Tech program
• Funded a certificate program at Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) to raise awareness of the semiconductor industry fundamentals and industry careers for veterans and their families
• Supported the launch of the STEAM High School to support curriculum development and hands-on learning equipment
• Development of the Advanced Technology Framework, a pilot program to develop advanced manufacturing curriculum with teachers and students from 10 school districts in New York State. Local school districts include Baldwinsville, East-Syracuse Minoa, Liverpool, Cicero North Syracuse, OCM BOCES, Syracuse City, and Watertown school districts
• Established a permanent semiconductor exhibit and programming at the MOST
• Supported the YMCA of Central New York’s childcare and early childhood programming
• Invested in the PEACE, Inc.’s Early Childhood Pathways Program
• Investments to New York universities including Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to launch the UPWARDS for the Future initiative, designed to strengthen the global semiconductor ecosystem through education, research, and workforce development
• Deposits from Micron Treasury at the Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union to support small business lending
• Launched the Northeast University Semiconductor Network in 2023, comprised of 28 universities across the northeast region, including 14 New York universities
• Established the Future-Ready Workforce Innovation Consortium (FRWIC), in partnership with Syracuse University and CenterState CEO, comprised of more than 60 academic and training organizations and 120 members
• Provided sponsorship support to the New York State Fair, United Way of Central New York, Food Bank of Central New York Food, Interfaith Works of Central New York, the Central New York Community Foundation and other organizations

Today’s announcements were made at an event also formally launching Micron’s Community Week, which will run March 30-April 3 and will feature hands-on STEM programming for students and families, info sessions related to construction and trades career pathways, a tech talk spotlighting Micron at the intersection of AI, community volunteering and STEM Fest at the MOST and other community-oriented gatherings. A full schedule events is available at most.org/micron-week.