Micron project in Clay
ONONDAGA COUNTY
Economic future is bright and not just because of Micron By Ken Sturtz
W
ashington Irving’s iconic “Rip Van Winkle” tells the story of a man who falls asleep for 20 years and awakens to find the world he knew dramatically changed. OK, it might not have been 20 years, but if you’ve been asleep for six months, you’ll be surprised to discover that a semiconductor manufacturer by the name of Micron plans to build a massive new chip plant off of state Route 31 in Clay. “The biggest thing for people to keep their eye on is the Micron project,” said Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO. “I think it’s a really exciting opportunity for the area.” The semiconductor manufactur-
er’s announcement last fall that it was committing to spending $100 billion over two decades on constructing a massive new plant — highlighted in a triumphant visit by President Joe Biden — is a game-changer. As exciting as the news has been for economic development officials and politicians who aggressively courted Micron, as well as every day Central New York residents, Micron’s plan, the largest private investment in state history, can seem somewhat far off in the distant future. But Simpson said to look for site work on the Micron project to begin later this year. “Now that Micron has chosen Central New York, we anticipate supply
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chain companies choosing to locate here as well,” Simpson said. The companies supporting Micron will likely have a huge economic impact of their own. As much as Micron is occupying the spotlight, Simpson said the pipeline of other economic development projects right now is as robust as he can remember in his two decades at the helm of CenterState CEO. He declined to discuss specific projects, but pointed to what he called traditional economic development projects, meaning companies that are already located in the region and are looking to grow or expand their operations here.
