After years of delay, Micron breaks ground on $100B Clay facility
After years of delay, Micron broke ground on its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Clay Friday. Notable speakers included U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Leonardo Eriman | Senior Staff Photographer
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Micron Technology officially broke ground on its highly anticipated semiconductor manufacturing facility in Clay on Friday, beginning construction after years of delays and regulatory hurdles.
The project’s groundbreaking ceremony, held at White Pine Commerce Park, marked the beginning of Micron’s $100 billion investment in central New York. The Clay facility is part of Micron’s broader plan to invest $200 billion in semiconductor manufacturing across the U.S.
During ceremonious remarks, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra touted the investment as one of the largest private manufacturing investments in U.S. history, expected to create 9,000 direct jobs and thousands more indirect jobs over the next 20 years.
Mehrotra began the groundbreaking conference by emphasizing the eventual scale of the site — which will eventually host four fabrication plants producing microchips powering artificial intelligence technology. The first plant is expected to begin semiconductor production before the end of the decade, Mehrotra said.
“Today, there is snow and soil, but in your mind’s eye, I want you to see what’s coming. Imagine the net of fabs that will be built here, each of them the size of 10 football fields,” Mehrotra said. “We are laying the groundwork for a future where Central New York will be the heartbeat of the AI economy.”
Other speakers at the ceremony included U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.
The investment has also received support from the Trump administration in a push to increase domestic semiconductor manufacturing and compete in the global AI arms race.
A turning point for CNY
During the ceremony, local leaders said Micron’s arrival is a “generational opportunity” for central New York, a region that has faced decades of unemployment due to deindustrialization.
The groundbreaking follows years of planning, negotiations, delays and community discussions since Micron first announced the project in Oct. 2022. Since then, Onondaga County prepared for the project by investing in infrastructure upgrades and workforce development programs.
During her speech, Hochul said Micron’s investment is a moment that indicates a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to reverse a nationwide decline in manufacturing.
“To live long enough to have been able to facilitate this dream, to launch the rebirth of manufacturing in the state of New York, I could not be prouder,” Hochul said.
Leonardo Eriman | Senior Staff Photographer
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul giving remarks during Micron’s groundbreaking event.
Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens told The Daily Orange the investment is “unprecedented” for the region and will have a “far-reaching” impact. She said she looks forward to when Syracuse residents begin working for Micron.
“The moment that means the most to me is when I meet the first person in Syracuse who says, ‘I’m working at Micron,’” Owens said.
Syracuse University’s role
Syracuse University announced new academic programs, research initiatives and partnerships focused on semiconductor manufacturing, AI and advanced engineering in preparation for the plant.
Departing Chancellor Kent Syverud told The D.O. that students will benefit from Micron’s introduction to central New York.
“There’s going to be a huge number of internships, employment opportunities and training opportunities,” Syverud said. “But also experience, seeing how an entirely new economic development changes everything in a community.”
For students preparing to enter the workforce, Syverud compared the Micron facility to the influence Eastman Kodak once played in Rochester as a manufacturing giant.
“When one company changes an entire region, you feel it everywhere. I don’t think there’s any school at SU that’s not going to be touched significantly by this,” Syverud said.
Conflict in credit
Although speakers from across the political aisle praised Micron and Mehrotra’s investment in central New York, officials disagreed on which federal administration deserved credit for bringing the project to life.
In a speech to attendees, Lutnick applauded the Trump administration for “fast-tracking” the project, arguing the project never would’ve moved forward without federal intervention.
“We’re here today because of the core drive from President Trump,” Lutnick said. “This groundbreaking only got scheduled at the end of December because of the Trump administration.”
Leonardo Eriman | Senior Staff Photographer
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at a press conference immediately following the groundbreaking.
Schumer, however, praised the federal CHIPS and Science Act passed under former President Joe Biden as a key factor in Micron’s commitment to central New York. Schumer said the legislation helped allow the federal government to “unlock billions of dollars” in incentives for semiconductor facilities.
“There’s a real future here, a real future in tech manufacturing,” Schumer said after the ceremony. “Have faith in central New York.”
Schumer credited the energy of the groundbreaking to collaboration across different parties and levels of government.
“We are working together seamlessly to make this happen,” Schumer said. “Because getting this done is not Democratic, it’s not Republican, it’s not Independent, it’s America, it’s Syracuse, it’s Orange.”
