As Part of State’s Historic Green CHIPS Package, Micron will Break Down Workforce Barriers by Providing On-Site Child Care for Micron Employees
Micron will Provide Additional Grants for In-Home Child Care through PEACE
Announcement Follows Inaugural Central New York Community Engagement Committee Meeting; Group Will Identify Priorities to Guide $500 Million Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund
Watch Governor Hochul's announcement regarding Micron Technology's child care commitments on YouTube.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Micron Technology, Inc. today announced new details surrounding the company's child care commitments, as part of its historic $100 billion investment to build a cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing campus in Clay, Onondaga County. The transformational public-private partnership will bring up to 50,000 jobs to Central New York. As part of the agreement between Micron and New York State, Micron has purchased a parcel of land on Caughdenoy Road in Clay that will be developed to provide on-site daycare for Micron employees.
"Early in my career, I made the difficult decision to quit my job because our family didn't have access to child care – a difficult choice no parent in New York should be forced into,” Governor Hochul said. “Achieving that goal requires innovative policy solutions like our Green CHIPS Act, nation-leading economic development legislation that requires semiconductor manufacturers to commit to bringing affordable, reliable child care for the communities where these businesses put down roots. Micron has done incredible work living up to their end of the deal, including through a $500 million community fund, and I'm excited to see this child care facility move forward in Central New York."
Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Micron and Micron Foundation President April Arnzen said, “By removing barriers to workforce entry or reentry, Micron is creating opportunities for more women and others who have been typically underrepresented in our industry to step into impactful careers and contribute to their fullest potential. I’m pleased to join the Board of Directors at the Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga County. We’re looking forward to working with Governor Hochul, County Executive Ryan McMahon, fellow business leaders and local childcare providers to provide more childcare opportunities to Central New York families.”
Since announcing Micron’s commitment to Central New York, the company has made significant investments in child care that will benefit Central New York families. Late last year, Micron pledged $500,000 to the YMCA of Central New York to help expand access to high-quality child care and early learning for underserved communities in the region. To date, $250,000 has been spent in early childhood education, impacting nearly 2,000 kids in the region. The remaining $250,000 will be devoted to child care for children up to five years old.
Additionally, Micron announced funding for the Early Childhood Career Pathways Program, administered by Childcare Solutions and PEACE Inc. This program is focused on expanding and enabling family home child care centers, benefitting the providers themselves, many of whom are women and minorities, by increasing the number of home child care centers. This helps to ensure stability and quality in an important child care service channel.
Incorporated in 1968, PEACE, Inc. is a federal designated Community Action Agency (CAA) that serves nearly 10,000 clients in Syracuse, Onondaga County, and portions of Oswego County. With a guiding principle of “Maximum Feasible Participation,” or the concept that those who are served by the CAA must also be involved with the organization’s decision-making processes, the agency pursues a mission to help people in the community realize their potential for becoming self-sufficient.
Today’s announcement follows the inaugural meeting of the CNY Community Engagement Committee, first announced in April 2023 as part of the Community Investment Framework agreement made between Micron and New York State. The Committee, comprised of subject matters experts and community leaders appointed by Governor Hochul, will engage with a wide range of stakeholders on an ongoing basis to ensure full representation for communities across the region in the process of developing priorities for community investment. The Committee met with residents, community leaders and stakeholders to outline the process for the development of a community priorities document that will support the company’s community investment strategy.
During the meeting, it was announced that Empire State Development and Micron commissioned an in-depth study to better understand the Central New York housing market and help guide stakeholder investments. The study will include data analysis, stakeholder engagement, understanding of case studies and national best practices, and policy research. ESD is finalizing the consultant and anticipates work starting in late 2023.