Syracuse, N.Y. -- President Joe Biden, who lived in Syracuse as a law school student in the 1960s, will return to the city today to highlight Micron Technology Inc.’s plan to build a $100 billion semiconductor plant in nearby Clay.
The visit, Biden’s first since becoming president last year, is a chance for him to take a victory lap over his efforts to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S.
The U.S. leads the world in computer chip design, but most fabrication is done in Asia. That became a problem for the U.S. when supply chain issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a major shortage of the devices, which are vital components in virtually every digital consumer product, including automobiles and cell phones, and all major defense systems and platforms.
Biden persuaded Congress to pass the $280 billion Chips and Science Act this summer, which includes $52 billion in incentives for companies to build semiconductor factories in the U.S. Biden -- with a lot of help from Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer -- spent more than a year rallying bipartisan support for the bill.
Micron announced Oct. 4 that it has selected White Pine Commerce Park in Clay for a megafab that it says will create 9,000 direct jobs and more than 40,000 support jobs in Central New York over the next 20 years, as well as 5,000 construction jobs. The decision followed months of lobbying by Schumer, Hochul and McMahon -- and a state incentive package worth nearly $6 billion over 20 years.
Biden will arrive at Syracuse Hancock International Airport on Air Force One, then proceed to Onondaga Community College for an appearance with Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Schumer, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and other federal, state and local officials at SRC Arena. He will be the first president to visit the college in its 61-year history.
The White House released a more detailed schedule of the trip Wednesday evening. The president is scheduled to depart Andrews Air Force Base at 12:45 p.m. and arrive at Syracuse airport at 1:50 p.m. He’s scheduled to speak at OCC at 3:30 p.m. and depart Syracuse at 5:15 p.m.
Micron will also outline the first phase of specific investments it plans to make to help build its Central New York workforce. The company, a leading maker of memory chips, has pledged to invest $250 million in community and workforce development, with a focus on disadvantaged populations, over the duration of the project. State, local and national partners are expected to invest another $250 million in the effort.
The Idaho-based company, the world’s fourth largest semiconductor manufacturer, will have interactive booths and exhibits at the invitation-only event at OCC to highlight the company’s manufacturing capabilities and plans to collaborate with and invest in the community.
New York State Police say motorists should expect traffic delays on interstates 81 and 690 in both directions from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration is restricting some flight operations at the airport and within a 12-mile radius around the airport from 1:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Regularly scheduled commercial and cargo flights, law enforcement flights, military aircraft flights directly supporting the U.S. Secret Service and office of the president, and approved air ambulance flights will be allowed to proceed except for brief windows immediately preceding the arrival of Air Force One, while the president is on the ground at the airport and immediately preceding his departure.
Biden and his first wife, Neilia, lived in a first-floor apartment in a home at 608 Stinard Ave. in Syracuse’s Strathmore neighborhood from 1966 to 1968 while he attended Syracuse University’s College of Law. Neilia was an English teacher at nearby Bellevue Elementary School.
While this will be Biden’s first visit to Syracuse as president, he has come back to the city multiple times since his law school days to attend family weddings and a friend’s funeral, to watch football games in the Carrier (now JMA Wireless) Dome, and to give commencement speeches. He even visited his old home on Stinard Avenue as vice president in 2009.
Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148