Syracuse debates the impact of Micron’s mega-fab plants on local job equity

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Micron’s promise of bringing jobs to the Syracuse community was the focus of a community event at the Syracuse Central Library on October 1, 2024.

The event, called the CNY Town Hall on Good Job Access at Micron involved community members, labor organizations and elected officials to discuss the quality of jobs micron could create.

Micron has promised to build two mega-fab plants in Clay, New York using federal funding from the CHIPS and Science Act. Beyond creating thousands of jobs at Micron, the plant would also create positions in parallel industries. Those who attended the town hall hope those jobs are worth taking.

“An investment of this magnitude really does have the ability to either widen or lessen the gap of the haves and the have-nots in our community,” said one event panelist.

Another key concern of those in attendance is access to positions created by Micron’s arrival. Micron has begun hosting community engagement events in communities near Syracuse but has not made firm commitments on providing equitable access to jobs for currently local residents, especially those who live within the city.

“We want to really hone in on those commitments,” said Deka Dancil, Board President of the Urban Jobs Task Force at the NYCLU. “We’re looking for legally enforceable agreements, so that way, if they fall short — we’re hoping that they don’t, obviously, and we’re here to support them in being successful in that — but that if they don’t, that this community has some option for recourse.”

Micron expects groundbreaking of the Clay facility to begin in late 2025, with the plant expected to open several years later.