President Biden visits Syracuse to announce federal grant to Micron Technology

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — President Joe Biden visited Syracuse on Thursday for the second time in two years to announce a $6 billion federal grant to Micron Technology.

“This is one of the most significant science and technology investments in our history,” said Biden.

Micron will use the grants to help build two chip manufacturing plants in the United States, one of which will be in the town of Clay in Onondaga County. The company is also building a chip factory in Boise, Idaho.

Semiconductor chips are used to power everything, from smartphones to electric vehicles and military systems.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that this investment will help make America a leader in global chip manufacturing.

”America’s future will be built in Syracuse not in Shanghai,” said Schumer. “We are rebuilding upstate New York’s economy one microchip at a time.”

According to Micron, the two plants in New York state will create over 50,000 new jobs over the next 20 years.

As new workers move to the greater Syracuse area, Oswego Mayor Rob Corradino said he hopes that new workers will choose to call the city of Oswego their home, which he predicts will boost the local economy.

“I think the city will benefit not only from a population increase, but also from a business standpoint. Again, the city of Oswego is not just a good place to live, it’s a good place to do business,” said Corradino.

To meet the increasing demand of the future job market Biden said he declares Syracuse as a workforce hub where people can learn hands-on skills.

“It isn’t just about investing in America, it’s about investing in the American people,” said Biden.

Syracuse will be one of eight workforce hubs in the entire country.

The funding for the grants stems from the CHIPS Act, which is a bipartisan bill lawmakers passed in 2022 to establish the United States as a leader in the production of semiconductors.

A total of $29 billion in grants have already been awarded to companies like Samsung, Intel, and Microchip Technology Inc.