Survey: Nearly half of workers predict rising layoffs in 2026

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American workers are pessimistic about the employment outlook for 2026, with 49 percent expecting layoffs to be more common this year, according to a recent survey by résumé template service Zety. The survey results, published in Zety’s 2026 Job Predictions Report, highlighted the concerns of U.S. workers heading into the new year. In addition to […]

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Merriman elected to Barclay Damon Management Committee

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Insurance & Financial Services, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Barclay Damon LLP has announced that Courtney Merriman, a partner in the firm’s Real Estate and Financial Institutions & Lending practice areas, has been elected to the firm’s Management Committee, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Merriman also serves as managing director of Barclay Damon’s Syracuse office. With professional training and experience in New York

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Merriman also serves as managing director of Barclay Damon’s Syracuse office.

With professional training and experience in New York City, Merriman advises clients in the acquisition, disposition, development, and financing of commercial properties, with a particular focus on big-box shopping centers, multi-unit apartment complexes, and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), per a Jan. 8 announcement from Barclay Damon. She has extensive experience representing landlords and tenants in commercial leasing negotiations of retail, office, and manufacturing spaces. Merriman also represents institutional lenders in real estate-secured commercial financing transactions. Her client base includes individuals, small businesses, national corporations, and not-for-profit organizations.

Merriman joined Barclay Damon in 2008 as an associate and, after several promotions, most recently served as Financial Services Practice Group leader. Her election to the law firm’s Management Committee reflects Barclay Damon’s continued focus on strategic leadership, financial-services growth, and client service excellence.

“I’m deeply honored to join Barclay Damon’s Management Committee,” Merriman said. “Our firm has a strong culture of collaboration and client-focused leadership as well as of opportunity, inclusion, and belonging. I look forward to working with my colleagues across our platform to enhance the firm’s strategic growth in these and other critical areas throughout the firm.”

Barclay Damon has about 300 attorneys and its offices include locations in New York state — in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and New York City. It also has offices in New Haven, Connecticut; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, D.C., and Toronto, Ontario.

OPINION: Let’s resolve to strengthen Congress

Opinion, Subscriber Only

The start of a new year is traditionally a time to reflect on past failures and make resolutions for doing better. Here’s a suggestion for members of Congress: They should resolve to start asserting their rightful role as a separate and coequal branch of government. Such a resolution will need to extend well past 2026.

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Such a resolution will need to extend well past 2026. Congress has been giving up its authority for decades, and a healthy balance of power won’t return quickly. We’ve seen steady growth in the strength of the executive branch, and the trend has thrown our government out of alignment.

When the U.S. attacked Venezuela and arrested its president and his wife on Jan. 3, it put a spotlight on the issue. President Donald Trump ordered the attack without consulting or even notifying Congress, challenging the Constitution’s clear requirement that only Congress can authorize war.

America’s founders created separate branches of government for a reason: They understood that giving too much power to one person or group was an invitation to tyranny. They believed that “ambition must be made to counteract ambition,” as James Madison wrote. Of course, the world is different today than in 1787, when the Constitution was drafted. It’s more complex, and foreign affairs are more important. There are times when the president needs to act quickly. But Congress has too often deferred to presidential ambition, and the House and Senate often seem to be bogged down by dysfunction.

As Paul Kane of the Washington Post reported, Congress set records in 2025, but not the kind you brag about. It set a modern record for the lowest legislative output, approving only about 40 bills that were signed into law. There was a 43-day government shutdown, the longest in history, because the House and Senate couldn’t agree on temporary funding legislation to keep government open. Many representatives and senators plan to step down in the next year, a clear sign of their frustration.

We can attribute some of Congress’s weakness to Trump. He issued a remarkable 225 executive orders in the past year, often overstepping congressional authority. He closed or weakened federal agencies, canceled funding that Congress approved and imposed seemingly arbitrary tariffs. In a sense, though, Trump stepped into a vacuum that Congress created with its acquiescence.

Congress needs to step up and fulfill its proper role. That starts with taking seriously the authority over taxes and spending that the Constitution gives it. For far too long, Congress has failed to follow an established, orderly process for approving budgets, relying instead on massive omnibus spending bills and continuing resolutions to postpone shutdowns. That needs to change.

Congress must also exercise real oversight of the executive branch. It should monitor government spending, changes made to agencies, conflicts of interest and other issues. It’s true that oversight can devolve into grandstanding, but it’s essential to keep the administration in check.

This may seem like a lot to ask, especially with Congress and the nation mired in what New York Times columnist Michelle Cottle has called “maximalist partisanship,” when “independence and ideological heterodoxy are treated as heresy.” But we’re seeing some hopeful signs, including lawmakers from both parties who work on, and take credit for, bipartisan legislation.

Congress should resolve that 2026 is the year when it will reclaim the essential role in governing the nation that the founders envisioned. A vital and assertive legislative branch is necessary for our democratic system to work in the way it was intended.

Lee Hamilton, 94, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.

AmeriCU Credit Union adds branches in Northern New York

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Banks & Credit Unions, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Subscriber Only

ROME — AmeriCU Credit Union ended 2025 by adding new branches through a merger it first announced in September. Rome–based AmeriCU and Mountain Valley Federal Credit Union completed their merger on Dec. 1, 2025, AmeriCU announced on Jan. 5. The transaction brings together two nonprofit financial institutions into a “single, stronger” organization serving more than

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ROME — AmeriCU Credit Union ended 2025 by adding new branches through a merger it first announced in September.

Rome–based AmeriCU and Mountain Valley Federal Credit Union completed their merger on Dec. 1, 2025, AmeriCU announced on Jan. 5.

The transaction brings together two nonprofit financial institutions into a “single, stronger” organization serving more than 200,000 members with $2.8 billion in assets and 25 locations across New York state, per the announcement.

The New York State Department of Financial Services approved the merger on Oct. 30, 2025. Neither AmeriCU nor Mountain Valley disclosed any financial terms of the merger agreement.

Mountain Valley Federal Credit Union is based in Peru in Clinton County, south of Plattsburgh.

AmeriCU says it has served both Clinton and Essex counties, and the North Country for many years. Mountain Valley Federal Credit Union’s branches in Peru, Keeseville, Wilmington, and AuSable Forks now become AmeriCU branches and form AmeriCU’s Mountain Valley Region.

The merger marks an “exciting new chapter” for AmeriCU Credit Union, Ron Belle, president and CEO of AmeriCU Credit Union, said in the announcement.

“By joining forces, we’re now able to provide more services, innovative technology, and a broader network of branches and ATMs to the Mountain Valley Region, all while staying true to our shared mission of ‘people helping people.’ We look forward to continuing to support our communities and helping more members live life, dream big, and achieve financial success,” Belle said.

Maggie Pope, former CEO of Mountain Valley Federal Credit Union, is now the assistant VP for community engagement in the Mountain Valley Region, AmeriCU noted.

“Seeing this merger come to life is incredibly rewarding,” Pope said. “Our members can now access a wider range of financial services without losing the personalized care they’ve always known. Together, we can deepen our impact in Clinton and Essex counties, investing in the people, families, and businesses that make our communities thrive.”

OPINION: Reflecting on Micron’s Historic Groundbreaking

Opinion, Subscriber Only

I had the privilege of attending Micron Technology’s historic groundbreaking [on Jan. 16] and want to take a moment to reflect on what this milestone means for our community, and acknowledge the many people who helped make it possible. It is impossible to overstate the significance of this moment for Central New York. Today’s event

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This moment, nearly four and a half years in the making, was driven by an extraordinary coalition of individuals, organizations and leaders across every level of government. An effort of this scale, and a project this consequential for both our region and our nation, defies easy description. It brings with it a mix of pride, relief, gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility for what comes next.

When I returned home in 2003, our regional economy was frayed and uncertain. Today, Syracuse and Central New York stand at the center of one of the most compelling economic turnaround stories in the country. Micron’s megafab will accelerate that momentum, creating thousands of jobs, catalyzing new business growth and expanding opportunity for residents across our community. The positive impacts will be felt quickly and broadly, and we are proud to work alongside Micron and our public and private-sector partners to ensure this investment delivers lasting benefits.

We thank U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for joining us at [this groundbreaking] event and for the [Trump] administration’s support of this project. I also want to commend U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and the entire federal and state delegations for their bipartisan support of this project from day one, and across two successive administrations. I’d additionally like to recognize Gov. Kathy Hochul, Empire State Development, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, the team at Micron and my colleagues at CenterState CEO. Their collective collaboration and commitment have made this moment possible.

Yet even as we celebrate, we must also look ahead. Having strengthened the macro-level performance of our regional economy and positioned ourselves as a small but mighty force for innovation and manufacturing, we now face a new set of questions.

How do we translate the promise of a $100 billion investment into meaningful outcomes for families across our region?

How do we use this momentum to accelerate economic, human, and civic transformation?

And how do we preserve the spirit of collaboration that brought us to this moment?

To our members, partners, and community leaders who have worked tirelessly toward this day, thank you. I am energized by the opportunities that lie ahead for the people of this region who have weathered decades of economic challenge.

Together, we now turn to the most important question: What’s next?

Robert M. Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, the primary economic-development organization for Central New York. This article is drawn and edited from the email newsletter that the organization sent to members on Jan. 16.

SU to start semiconductor thermal- noise testbed with $1M grant

Education & Training, Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SYRACUSE — Syracuse University (SU) says it will establish a semiconductor thermal-noise testbed after securing just over $1 million in federal funding for the project. The testbed will focus on exploring the manufacturing and testing of ultra-low thermal noise materials for use in quantum sensing, fundamental science, and semiconductor manufacturing — which Syracuse University describes

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SYRACUSE — Syracuse University (SU) says it will establish a semiconductor thermal-noise testbed after securing just over $1 million in federal funding for the project.

The testbed will focus on exploring the manufacturing and testing of ultra-low thermal noise materials for use in quantum sensing, fundamental science, and semiconductor manufacturing — which Syracuse University describes as “skills critical to strengthening U.S. domestic semiconductor industry.”

It will advance domestic semiconductor-manufacturing capabilities while creating new job opportunities and strengthening the high-tech workforce in Central New York, the university contended in its announcement.

The funding was part of the fiscal year 2026 commerce-justice-science appropriations bill as community project funding. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) and U.S. Representative John Mannion (D–Geddes) all supported the funding, Syracuse noted.

SU announced the grant on Jan. 16, the same day that Boise, Idaho–based Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) broke ground on its upcoming semiconductor-manufacturing campus in the town of Clay. It represents a “multibillion-dollar investment in the region” with Central New York “poised to become a major hub” for semiconductor manufacturing, per the announcement.

The new testbed will help support the development of a pipeline of skilled workers “who are ready to support this transformative economic development.”

“Syracuse University is grateful to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Mannion for this critical support,” Duncan Brown, VP of research at Syracuse University, said in the announcement. “Using the semiconductor thermal noise testbed, Syracuse scientists and students will create new semiconductor-on-glass technologies to create ultra-precise measuring devices and advance state-of-the art semiconductor and quantum-optics technologies. This will allow us to engage industry partners, create new job opportunities and economic growth in our region and train students in skills needed by Micron and the chip industry.”

The project will advance knowledge of glass substrates and coatings to create technologies that will impact chips, photovoltaics, and even astronomical observatories, while “positioning Central New York as a national leader” in advanced manufacturing, Syracuse said.

“Thanks to this million-dollar investment that I helped champion, Syracuse University’s cutting-edge thermal noise testbed is poised to develop the semiconductor manufacturing, precision metrology and quantum computing technologies and workforce that will power our nation’s future,” Schumer said. “It gives me great pride to deliver this federal funding to build on Syracuse University’s decades of leadership in thermal noise research while driving economic growth and creating new, good-paying jobs for Upstate New York’s growing semiconductor manufacturing hub.”

Public EV charging network at Ithaca College expands

Education & Training, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only, Technology

ITHACA — It’s a project that Ithaca College (IC) says “dramatically” expands electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across its South Hill campus. The initiative increases public-charging capacity, “positioning the college as a regional leader in clean transportation,” per its Dec. 12 announcement. The multi-year “Recharge at IC” initiative adds 30 new charging stations across campus, with

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ITHACA — It’s a project that Ithaca College (IC) says “dramatically” expands electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across its South Hill campus.

The initiative increases public-charging capacity, “positioning the college as a regional leader in clean transportation,” per its Dec. 12 announcement.

The multi-year “Recharge at IC” initiative adds 30 new charging stations across campus, with a total of 36 charging ports. This includes the first publicly available DC fast chargers located on a college campus in New York state, IC noted. All stations are open to students, faculty, staff, campus visitors, and members of the surrounding community.

The stations include 26 Level 2 chargers along Farm Pond Road near the mail center and print services; 2 Level 2 chargers at Terrace 13/Kostrinsky Field; 2 dual-port DC fast chargers at the Athletics & Events Center; 1 dual-port Level 2 charger in the visitor lot (for visitors only); and 1 dual-port Level 2 charger at the Circles Community Center.

Previously, Ithaca College had only two dual-port chargers on campus, it noted.

“With this project, we saw an opportunity to not only accelerate the electrification of our own campus fleet but also to meet a clear community need,” said Scott Doyle, a 1998 IC graduate, who is currently the college’s director of energy management and sustainability. “Access to dependable charging is the number one factor that determines whether people feel confident making the switch to an electric vehicle. This new infrastructure helps remove that barrier for our campus and for the region.”

Ithaca College chose Schenectady–based Lynkwell to design and install the charging system. With guidance and support from NYSEG and its parent company Avangrid, along with the Town of Ithaca, planning began in fall 2024 and construction concluded this fall.

All stations are available for public use for up to four hours per session. Charging will be offered at below-residential rates to expand access and encourage adoption:

• DC fast charging: $0.30/kWh

• Level 2 charging: $0.15/kWh

Revenue from charging will support long-term maintenance and future EV infrastructure projects at the college, per the IC announcement.

VIEWPOINT: NYS amends Fair Credit Reporting Act to Limit Use of Credit Reports in Employment

Business Mentors, Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

On Dec. 19, 2025, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S03072 (the Amendment) into law, amending the New York State Fair Credit Reporting Act to restrict the use of consumer credit history for employment purposes. With this amendment, New York joins 10 other states and several major cities, including New York City, which have comparable

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Restrictions on Collection & Use of Consumer Credit History

Under the Amendment, employers, labor organizations and employment agencies are prohibited from requesting or using an applicant’s or employee’s consumer credit history for employment purposes or discriminating against an applicant or employee in any way related to their employment based on their consumer credit history.

Consumer credit history is defined as “an individual’s credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity or payment history as indicated by: (1) a consumer credit report, (2) credit score, or (3) information an employer obtains directly from the individual regarding (i) details about credit accounts, including the individuals number of credit accounts, late or missed payments, charged-off debts, items in collections, credit limit or prior credit report inquiries or (ii) bankruptcy judgments or liens.”

The Amendment also defines a consumer credit report to include “any written or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency that bears on a consumer’s credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity or credit history.”

Exemptions under the Amendment

While the Amendment’s definitions and prohibitions regarding the use of consumer credit history are broad, there are limited exemptions for certain employers and positions, including:

• An employer that is required by state or federal law, or a self-regulatory organization to use an individual’s consumer credit history for employment purposes;

• Positions such as peace officers or police officers or positions with law enforcement or in an investigative function with a law enforcement agency;

• Persons in a position with a high degree of public trust subject to background investigation by a state agency;

• Persons in a position that requires security clearance under state or federal law;

• Persons in a position that requires the employee to be bonded under state or federal law;

• Persons in non-clerical positions that have regular access to trade secrets, intelligence information or national security information;

• Persons in positions that have signatory authority over third party funds or assets valued at $10,000 or more or that involve a fiduciary responsibility to the employer with the authority to enter financial agreements valued at $10,000 or more on behalf of the employer; and

• Persons in positions with regular duties that allow the employee to modify digital security systems established to prevent the unauthorized use of the employer’s or client’s networks or databases.

However, employers should be aware that these exemptions are narrow and most only apply to specific positions, not to the employer or industry as a whole.

Impact on Local Laws

The Amendment also specifically states that it does not alter or exempt any employer, labor organization or employment agency duty to comply with any local law, ordinance or regulation regarding the use of consumer credit history where such laws provide greater protection for employees than those laid out in the Amendment.

This is particularly relevant for New York City employers because New York City’s Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act (SCDEA), which has been in effect since 2015, already places stringent restrictions on employers regarding the acquisition and use of consumer credit history for employment purposes. While the Amendment and SCDEA largely mirror each other, there are some differences. For example, SCDEA contains certain reporting requirements for exemptions that are not included in the Amendment. Therefore, New York City employers should be aware of both laws and be prepared to comply with whichever law offers the greatest protection to employees.

Restrictions on Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies

Aside from restrictions on employers, the Amendment also places limits on what kind of information consumer credit reporting agencies may provide under the New York State Fair Credit Reporting Act. Under the Amendment, reporting agencies are prohibited from providing consumer credit history in a consumer report for employment purposes unless one of the statutory exemptions listed above applies to the employer or position for which the information was requested.

Restrictions on State and Municipal Agencies

Lastly, under the Amendment, state and municipal agencies may not request or use the consumer credit history of an applicant, licensee or permittee for licensing or permitting purposes unless the agency is required to do so by law. However, the Amendment does not limit an agency’s ability to consider other information for licensing or permitting purposes such as an applicant’s, licensee’s, registrant’s or permittee’s failure to pay any tax, fine, penalty, or fee that the person has admitted liability for, or for which a judgment has been entered by court or administrative tribunal, or any tax that a government agency has issued a warrant, lien, or levy on property.

While the Amendment does not take effect until April 18, 2026, employers should consider what steps they need to take to comply with these new restrictions. This includes reviewing current consumer credit history practices and identifying the applicability of any exemptions.

Adam P. Mastroleo is a member (partner) in the Syracuse office of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. He is a member of the firm’s labor and employment practice, helping public and private employers to navigate often overwhelming federal and state employment laws. Contact him at amastroleo@bsk.com. Gavin T. Gretsky is an associate in Bond’s Syracuse office. He works with clients on a wide array of issues. Contact him at ggretsky@bsk.com. This article is drawn from the law firm’s New York Labor and Employment Law Report blog on its website.

Koffman Incubator member firms created nearly 200 jobs last year

Education & Training, Small Business, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only, Technology

BINGHAMTON — The 2025 Year in Review report from the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator in Binghamton indicates member companies created 199 new jobs last year. The Koffman Incubator on Jan. 8 released the report, which reflects annual metrics reported from member firms. The Koffman Southern Tier Incubator is part of Binghamton University. The Year in

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BINGHAMTON — The 2025 Year in Review report from the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator in Binghamton indicates member companies created 199 new jobs last year.

The Koffman Incubator on Jan. 8 released the report, which reflects annual metrics reported from member firms. The Koffman Southern Tier Incubator is part of Binghamton University.

The Year in Review report also indicates that Koffman Incubator members have generated an $817 million impact since 2017, created more than 800 jobs, and raised $655 million in capital in the period.

The incubator supports early-stage and growth-oriented companies across the Southern Tier through business and clean-energy incubator programs, accelerators, mentorship, and workforce-aligned training. The Koffman Incubator currently supports 65 member companies, with 46 firms having graduated from its programs since its launch in 2017. The incubator also houses 24 co-working tenants, providing shared workspace for entrepreneurs and startups.

“The economic impact reflected in this report goes far beyond the numbers,” Bandhana Katoch, executive director of the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, said in the announcement. “What we’re seeing is sustained, long-term company growth that translates directly into jobs, investment and innovation here in the Southern Tier. Our focus is on building companies that stay, scale and contribute meaningfully to the region’s economy.”

The Koffman Incubator views its clean-energy incubator program as a “major contributor” to its growth. The program supports 43 startups developing clean-energy and climate-technology products. It provides access to expert mentorship, industry networks and advanced laboratory facilities to help founders commercialize new technologies.

It also supports clean-energy companies that include Bridge Green Upcycle, which is developing a process to extract critical minerals from end-of-life batteries; and KLAW Industries, which manufactures a recycled-glass concrete additive that reduces carbon emissions and removes carbon dioxide during production.

In addition, Carbonix, an international battery-materials company, has entered the U.S. market through the Koffman’s Soft Landing New York program and plans to establish production near Binghamton as its customer base expands.

The organization’s business-incubator program supports 22 early-stage companies across sectors including software, health care, food/agriculture, and e-commerce. Members receive one-on-one mentorship, access to technical resources, and guidance on funding and commercialization.

After groundbreaking, work begins on Micron campus in Clay

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

CLAY — The contractor Gilbane has started its work on clearing trees after Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) held a Jan. 16 groundbreaking for its upcoming, massive $100 billion semiconductor-manufacturing campus in the town of Clay. The event — which was held at the snow-covered Micron site at 8661 Burnet Road in the town of

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The event — which was held at the snow-covered Micron site at 8661 Burnet Road in the town of Clay — attracted local, state, and federal and labor officials, dignitaries, and other supporters.

With up to four fabs (fabrication facilities), this will be the largest semiconductor facility in the U.S., generating 50,000 jobs in New York, Micron said in an announcement on its website.

The groundbreaking happened more than three years after officials gathered at Syracuse University on Oct. 4, 2022 to announce that Boise, Idaho–based Micron had chosen Clay for the project.

“This is a historic moment launching with the groundbreaking [for the] mega site,” Sanjay Mehrotra, chairman, president and CEO of Micron Technology, said in his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Micron CEO noted that he had visited the site four years ago when the company was still determining where to build this manufacturing campus.

“On the fields today, there is snow and soil, but in your mind’s eye, I want you to see what is coming. Imagine the megafabs that will be built here … each of them [the] size of 10 football fields. That’s what going to be here, and over time, there will be four of them,” Mehrotra said.

As the largest private investment in New York state history, Micron’s Central New York project will be home to the most “advanced memory manufacturing in the world and will help meet the growing demands of AI [artificial intelligence] systems and devices that are central to the modern economy, per the Micron website announcement.

The event speakers also included U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

“I’m sure you all know the names of the bats that were in the way of this hundred-billion dollar plant that is going to change the lives of tens of thousands of people here, and that’s the problem … we had to get this done in eight months working hard and close with the company to clear the path and effectively clear the trees that were in the way to allow this to happen,” Lutnick told the gathering.

Lutnick was referring to two species of endangered bats that Micron found on the site where it’s building the manufacturing campus. The work’s early stages will involve clearing hundreds of acres of trees from the White Pine Commerce Park, an effort that has to be completed by the end of March.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer started her remarks by calling it a “landmark moment in American manufacturing.”

“I’m especially proud to witness Micron’s commitment to the American worker through the largest construction project labor agreement in U.S. history,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “This agreement puts American workers first by guaranteeing an estimated 50,000 jobs right here in this community. These are mortgage-paying jobs that will provide fair benefits for hard-working families. In addition, Micron’s $250 million investment in the workforce development will cultivate that skilled pipeline of American talent.”

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) called it an “historic day for Syracuse, Upstate NY, and for all of America.”

“With the first shovels hitting the ground for Micron, and construction beginning on the largest semiconductor manufacturing facility in the country, we are ushering in the next chapter of Upstate NY’s future,” Schumer said in a statement from his office. “Today, we start reversing the trend of parents waving goodbye to their kids at the airport because there aren’t enough family-sustaining jobs. I dreamed of this day when crafting the CHIPS & Science Law because I knew with federal investment, we could bring manufacturing back to America, including Upstate NY. Micron’s $100 billion investment will transform these open fields near Syracuse into thousands of good-paying jobs making the advanced microchips that power nearly every technology from cell phones to AI. Micron’s groundbreaking is proof that America can and will lead in manufacturing once again, and it starts right here in Central NY.”

Production is expected to start in 2030 with the fabs ramping up throughout the decade, Micron said.

The groundbreaking ceremony at Micron’s site in Clay was followed by a celebration program at Syracuse University’s National Veterans Resource Center where executives and officials provided additional remarks.

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