April 2, 2024

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND DELIVER $3 MILLION FOR SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY’S SOUTH SIDE INNOVATION CENTER AND CENTERSTATE CEO TO HELP MAXIMIZE IMPACTS OF MICRON COMING TO CENTRAL NY, ATTRACTING SUPPLY CHAIN COMPANIES & CONNECTING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES

With Micron Coming To CNY, Thanks To Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law, Senators Secure Funding To Make Critical Upgrades To The South Side Innovation Center For Their Training & Business Programs, And To Help Prepare Local Businesses And Attract New Supply Chain Companies To The Area To Support Micron’s Massive Planned $100 Billion Investment

Schumer, Gillibrand: Fed $$$ Will Boost Central NY To Ensure Every Corner Of The Community Benefits From Micron’s Historic Investment

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced they secured $3,000,000 for the Syracuse University and CenterState CEO in the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills to upgrade facilities at the Syracuse University’s South Side Innovation Center and prepare local small business to succeed in the semiconductor industry through CenterState CEO. The senators said these critical investments will expand access to opportunities from Micron’s planned $100 billion investment, help attract new companies to the area, and ensure Central NY is best prepared to ensure the establishment of Micron is successful for the community.

“I am proud to deliver this $3 million federal investment for Syracuse University’s Southside Innovation Center and CenterState CEO to supercharge Central New York’s efforts to make sure Micron benefits every corner of the community. One of the reasons I fought tooth and nail to bring Micron to Central New York because I knew it would have a positive domino effect for the region – attracting new supply chain companies, bringing in new revenue for existing businesses, and generating new economic opportunity – and this funding will help maximize the benefits of this once-in-a-generation investment,” said Senator Schumer. “From upgrading facilities on Syracuse University’s South Side Innovation Center to help training our workforce and increasing small businesses’ ability to access the semiconductor industry, this funding will help get Central NY ready for the transformation ahead. This will work hand-in-hand with the vision I created with Tech Hub designation for Syracuse & Upstate NY, to ensure that Micron and many other projects spurred by my CHIPS & Science Act are a success, laying the foundation so the future of Upstate NY is brighter than its past.”

“This $3 million in federal funding for Syracuse’s South Side Innovation Center and CenterState CEO will spark new life and grow businesses in Central New York,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This federal investment will support critical upgrades for the South Side Innovation Center to expand workforce training and will allow CenterState CEO to ensure the region is prepared to capitalize on every economic opportunity created by Micron’s $100 billion investment. I’m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I’ll continue to fight to open more doors for Central New York businesses.”

"Central New York has a generational opportunity to become a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain development by supporting Micron and attracting its top suppliers to locate here,” said Rob Simpson, President of CenterState CEO. “This investment will enhance our ability to compete on a global stage and provide us resources to help existing Central New York businesses gain access to the growing semi-conductor market so that they are rewarded for their long-term loyalty to Central New York. It further doubles down on our recent Tech Hubs designation and reinforces the importance of Central New York's growing advanced manufacturing industry to our national security. We are particularly grateful to Senator Charles Schumer for his national leadership on CHIPS and Science and, most importantly, his recognition that our region can advance the nation this critical sector."

“The South Side Innovation Center has been a hub of innovation in our community for nearly two decades. Its work has stimulated economic growth, propelled job creation and driven community revitalization,” says Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud. “With Central New York on the verge of a once-in-a-generation transformation, this support will allow the Center to enhance its impact in cultivating a thriving and stable workforce in Central New York. I am grateful to our elected officials, especially Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, for their tenacious advocacy on behalf of our state, our region and our city.”

Project descriptions can be found below:

$1,000,000 for Syracuse University to Support the South Side Innovation Center:

The funds will be used to support transformative capital investment in the South Side Innovation Center (SSIC) to create jobs, develop a more qualified workforce, and generate tax revenues through sales of profitable new businesses, ultimately contributing to the overall health and stability of the Central New York economy. More specifically, funding will be used to modernize SSIC facilities to better serve Syracuse’s south side and surrounding communities, including compliance with ADA accessibility regulations, infrastructure upgrades to reflect current business needs and workspace expectations, and technology upgrades to provide 21^st century business and technical training in an inducive and innovative environment. The project supports entrepreneurship and economic development on the south side of Syracuse, an area that has faced higher levels of unemployment, high concentrations of poverty, and limited economic activity, and it has the potential to ensure that upcoming economic development investments will be equitable and inclusive. The SSIC has the potential to help ensure that the economic development brought by Micron's investment will be equitable and inclusive.

$2,000,000 for CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity to Boost Supply Chain Capacity to Maximize the Micron Impact

This funding will help CenterState CEO prepare local businesses, a focus on minority, women, and/ or veteran owned, to access procurement and other business opportunities related to Micron's planned $100 billion investment, empowering these local businesses to add new jobs, make new capital investments, and generate new business. CenterState CEO will work with local partners to promote procurement opportunities to regional businesses and identity specific procurement opportunities that local businesses may be suited to fulfill, ranging from construction trades and high-tech manufacturing, to industrial laundry services, catering and more. CenterState CEO will also help local businesses target procurement and other business opportunities at Tier I semiconductor suppliers in New York. More specifically, CenterState CEO will provide local businesses with business advising and technical consulting services, assistance accessing growth funding, and connecting to the growing list of companies participating locally in this industry. The funding will also support efforts to attract and provide soft landing services to Micron’s supply chain companies that are looking to locate in this region, helping them connect with local and state incentives, coordinate with local workforce development collaboratives, and identify and target real estate in areas that are accessible to underserved workers and are in need of economic revitalization.

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