EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) told Central and Western New Yorkers that they are one of only 31 regions nationwide to receive a certain honor from the federal government.
Schumer announced Monday afternoon that the cities of Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo were designated as a federal Tech Hub. This comes a year after the announcement that Boise, Idaho-based Micron would build a semiconductor plant in Clay.
“Upstate New York beat out hundreds of other applicants from the best universities, cities, and companies, and is now in an elite group.”
Sanjay Mehotra, CEO of Micron, along with Michael Haynie, Vice Chancellor at Syracuse University, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh were at Saab Inc. in East Syracuse to join Schumer in the announcement.
The region has received a lot of national attention since last year’s Micron announcement. President Joe Biden visited Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena last October to tout the announcement of the chip-making plant, which is being funded in-part by his administration’s CHIPS and Science Act.
Other leaders celebrated the news today, like New York State governor Kathy Hochul.
NEW: Two major projects in upstate New York were just designated as federal Tech Hubs by @POTUS!
The federal government is making it clear: New York is the place for the innovation, technology, and jobs of the future.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) October 23, 2023
In an X post Monday afternoon, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz (D) said in-part, “The naming of Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse as a Tech Hub is huge news. More than 200 regions applied for the designation; we are one of the chosen few.”
The designation could help the Upstate New York region receive billions in new funding and investment. About 5 to 10 hubs designated could receive up to $75 million each, Schumer said. The incentive is something he created in the CHIPS and Science Act passed last year.
For Mehrotra, the announcement is something he sees potential in, as his company and others, like Saab and Lockheed Martin, could reap some of the benefits if it all comes to fruition.
“We see the potential for a 300-mile tech corridor stretching from Buffalo to the Hudson Valley and even to New York City,” he said.
