Micron reaches deal with federal government for $6.1 billion for projects in Clay, Idaho

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CLAY, N.Y. — Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) has reached a $6.1 billion preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) funding agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce under the federal CHIPS & Science Law for projects in both the town of Clay and in Idaho. The PMT outlines key terms for Micron’s CHIPS agreement. To finalize the […]

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The PMT outlines key terms for Micron’s CHIPS agreement. To finalize the federal CHIPS agreement, the Commerce Department will now begin a due–diligence process on the proposed project and other information contained in the application, the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced Wednesday evening.

After satisfactory completion of the due–diligence phase, the Commerce Department will finalize the PMT.

President Joseph Biden plans a visit to the Syracuse area on Thursday, April 25 to announce the funding, but the White House is still determining final details, the website of WSYR-TV NewsChannel 9 is reporting.

This federal funding is part of a planned public-private investment of more than $100 billion over the next two decades. It represents the largest private investment in New York’s history, the Schumer’s office said.

The funding “was made possible thanks to Schumer’s push to bring Micron to Central New York,” his office noted.

“To all those who have had their doubts, believe it, Micron is here, Micron is real. And now with billions in federal investment from my CHIPS & Science Law, we are taking the next steps to get shovels in the ground to transform the Syracuse region and all of Upstate into a global hub for the chips that will power America’s future,” Schumer saidin the announcement. “From smartphones to AI to our nation’s most sensitive defense technologies, the memory chips Micron makes are in nearly every product of our modern economy, but as the pandemic showed when we don’t shore up our supply chains and make these chips in America it can skyrocket prices and threaten our national security. This investment will build a more secure economy for the entire country, with Micron in Central NY as its beating heart.”

Micron announced its plans for a semiconductor–manufacturing campus at the White Pine Commerce Park in the town of Clay on Oct. 4, 2022.

Gov. Kathy Hochul reacted to the announcement in a statement late Wednesday night.

“The largest private investment in American history is on its way to Central New York. New federal funding from President Biden’s CHIPS and Science Act will help lock in 50,000 jobs, a $100 billion investment, and millions of dollars in community benefits, along with aid from the Green CHIPS Act we passed here in New York,” Hochul said.

The MOST to use federal funding for renovations to create STEAM-education space

Education & Training, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) in Syracuse says it will use nearly $3 million in federal funding for a “major”renovation project at the facility. The money will help pay for a project to turn the eastern portion of the museum building into a STEAM education space, per

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The money will help pay for a project to turn the eastern portion of the museum building into a STEAM education space, per the Wednesday announcement. STEAM is short for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

The project will convert the space into classroom and instructional space; upgrade and modernize plumbing, mechanical, life safety, and other support systems; and add an elevator and other modifications for ADA accessibility. ADA is short for the federal 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.

The MOST used its announcement to thank U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.), and U.S. Representative Brandon Williams (R–Sennett) for securing the funding for the project.

“The federal funding secured by these elected officials is transformational for the MOST and for the community we serve,” Lauren Kochian, president of the MOST, said in the announcement. “This project will enable us to expand and diversify the high-quality science and technology education that we offer the local community, most ofwhich we offer free to participants and their families. We are so excited about the impact that this project will have on educational opportunities for kids from all backgrounds.”

The east wing of the MOST, referred to as Phase 4, was completed in 1907 as part of the third New York State Armory built on the site, the MOST said. The interior has not been in active use since the 1980s and was not renovated as part of the original conversion of the building into the MOST in the mid-1990s.

The space is adjacent to the lawn on the Jefferson Street loop and features a four-story turreted tower. The interior, which is currently used for storage, includes 10,000 square feet of space and retains “considerable historical details” from its original construction. Crews handling the renovation will preserve and restore carved wood fireplaces, original hardwood floors, vintage light fixtures, and other handmade and locally crafted details.

“I am proud to deliver this nearly $3 million in federal funding for Syracuse’s beloved Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology. This will help the museum grow to give thousands of Syracuse kids and families access to new, state-of-the art classrooms and hands-on learning in science, math, and technology,” Schumer said in the MOST announcement. “From Micron’s major investment in Central NY to the exciting research going on at [Syracuse University], places like the MOST that combine learning and fun are how we can spark interest early on for the STEAM jobs that will be building Syracuse’s future.”

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Community Bank announces plans for new Onondaga County branches

Banks & Credit Unions, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank, N.A. will expand its branch presence in Syracuse through 2025 with the addition of a downtown Syracuse office, as well as two other new branches in the metro area, the bank announced. Coupled with its existing branches in DeWitt, Cicero, and Skaneateles, the new locations, including one in the State

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Coupled with its existing branches in DeWitt, Cicero, and Skaneateles, the new locations, including one in the State Tower building on South Warren Street, will bring the total to six branches in Onondaga County.

“Community Bank is not just expanding but deepening our roots in Syracuse,” Hal Wentworth, Community Bank’s SVP of retail banking and marketing, said in a bank press release. “Our branches are the cornerstone of our retail business, and each one allows us to support the community and deepen our relationships with our customers as we partner together throughout their financial journey.”

With the new locations, Community Bank says it is reimagining the customer in-branch experience with designs that encourage customer and banker collaboration and local community tie-ins. The branches will offer a full suite of consumer, business, and municipal-banking products and services. The offices, which represent a substantial investment, will allow Community Bank to better serve clients and aid in local economic development with the creation of new jobs, as well as contributing to community efforts and fostering financial stability, the release stated.

“We’ve served the Syracuse market through various lines of business and are happy to further support new and existing customers with additional branch services,” Community Bank President and CEO Dimitar Karaivanov said. “We are poised to execute on our growth strategy with the goal of bringing our service offerings to more communities across the Syracuse market.

Along with expansion plans in Syracuse, Community Bank also plans to grow its branch presence in the Buffalo, Rochester, and Capital regions of New York; the Lehigh Valley area in Pennsylvania; Springfield, Massachusetts; and New Hampshire.

Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU), the bank holding company of Community Bank, currently operates more than 200 branch locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts. With more than $1.5 billion in assets, Community Bank System also operates OneGroup NY Inc., a risk-management, commercial insurance, employee benefits, and personal-lines insurance subsidiary; Community Bank Wealth Management, an investment-advisory and financial-planning subsidiary; and Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc., an actuarial, retirement, and VEBA/HRA-plan administration subsidiary.

Syracuse Univ Falk College exterior (ER)(f)

SU’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics to focus on sport-related programs with new name

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University (SU) on Monday said it plans to rename itsDavid B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics as the David B. Falk College of Sport. The decision comes two decades after the launch of its sport-management program and results from its significant growth, SU said in its announcement. The college

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University (SU) on Monday said it plans to rename itsDavid B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics as the David B. Falk College of Sport.

The decision comes two decades after the launch of its sport-management program and results from its significant growth, SU said in its announcement.

The college will now focus “exclusively” on sport-related disciplines, making SU the “among the leading academic institutions for preparing students to drive innovation among and lead in sport-related fields and industries,” the announcement contended.

The Falk College of Sport will house academic programs in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science, nutrition and, jointly with the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, esports.

It will focus on four areas of academic excellence: sport business, human performance, sport technology and innovation, and community sport and wellness.

The college will also launch a new research institute focused on sport, which will leverage an interdisciplinary, cross-campus approach to drive innovation in sport and health outcomes and integrate expertise in business, digital media, and technology, among other areas of academic focus.

It may include creating new or expanding partnerships among the university’s schools, colleges, and academic units, such as the Newhouse School, the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Law, and others.

“Falk College has experienced extraordinary growth, particularly in its renowned sportmanagement program, over the last 20 years, thanks in large part to its innovative faculty and the relentless energy and leadership of former Dean Diane Lyden Murphy,” Gretchen Ritter, SU vice chancellor, provost, and chief academic officer, said in the university’snews release. “With the growth of sport participation domestically and globally, there is unprecedented demand for talented practitioners and leaders. The Falk College of Sport will produce hundreds of students every year who are educated across multiple disciplines and well-prepared to lead in the burgeoning sports field.”

In addition to the Falk College name change, SU will also undertake a review of its human dynamics academic programs “with the goal of positioning them for future success and impact.”

Provost Ritter will convene a human dynamics task force to review the college’s human dynamics programs, “identifying future pathways for their growth and success,”SU said.

Schumer pitches Upstate to Japanese semiconductor supply-chain companies

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) last week convened several Japanese companies that supply the semiconductor industry to pitch the benefits of locating in upstate New York. Schumer held the gathering at the U.S. Capitol as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the U.S. last week, representing the first visit from

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Schumer held the gathering at the U.S. Capitol as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the U.S. last week, representing the first visit from a Japanese leader in nine years, Schumer’s office noted.

Attendees at the Schumer-convened meeting included Japanese government officials; along with Sanjay Mehrotra, president & CEO of Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) and Manish Bhatia, executive VP of global operations at Micron.

They also included chief executives and other leaders from GlobalFoundries; IBM(NYSE: IBM); Canon USA; EMD Group; Fujifilm Electronic Materials Japan; Hitachi High Tech America; JSR Corporation; JSR Micro; JX Metals Kanto USA; Kioxia; Screen Holdings (DNS); Sumitomo Chemical; Tokyo Electron (TEL); Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK); and Toppan Photomasks Round Rock.

His office said Schumer told the gathering that upstate New York already has the semiconductor infrastructure needed to support new Japanese suppliers “thanks to his CHIPS & Science Act and major investments in the state” by companies like Micron,GlobalFoundries, Wolfspeed, and IBM, which need new supplier companies to support their operations.

“Locating in Upstate New York means locating at the center of the global semiconductor industry — with everything a company could want right at their fingertips: shovel-ready sites, cheap, abundant, reliable water and power, our top-notch research institutions, a skilled tech workforce, and major investments spurred by my CHIPS & Science Law that are creating significant demand for supplier products. With new semiconductor suppliers, New York will be truly unstoppable and quickly rise to the top of the global semiconductor industry,” Schumer said in a news release. “Foreign investment between the United States and Japan has always been a two-way street, and as global reliance on chips increases, we have an opportunity for both countries to power the semiconductor industry by working together. It’s clear — building in Upstate New York means big investments for the semiconductor industry and global economy, no matter if you are in New York or Nagasaki!”

DASNY board appoints NYS Secretary of State Rodriguez to acting president role

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Boyce Thompson Institute unveils plant-phenotyping facility

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Manufacturing & Engineering, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only, Technology

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) says it has opened its plant-phenotyping facility, PhenoSight. This new facility holds “significant potential for delivering unparalleled insights” into plant growth, development, and response to environmental conditions, according to a BTI news release. BTI is a plant-sciences research institution in Ithaca. “The opening of this facility marks

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ITHACA, N.Y. — The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) says it has opened its plant–phenotyping facility, PhenoSight.

This new facility holds “significant potential for delivering unparalleled insights” into plant growth, development, and response to environmental conditions, according to a BTI news release.

BTI is a plant–sciences research institution in Ithaca.

“The opening of this facility marks a significant milestone in our research capabilities at BTI,” Magdalena Julkowska, assistant professor at BTI and lead of the PhenoSight facility, said in the release. “With this state-of-the-art technology, we are poised to make further groundbreaking discoveries in plant biology and contribute to addressing pressing global challenges such as food security and environmental sustainability.”

The PhenoSight facility is equipped with advanced imaging capabilities, designed to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery in plant biology, BTI said. The facility includes a high-throughput imaging system capable of analyzing up to 64 large plants or 1,280 smaller plants simultaneously.

The system integrates advanced chlorophyll fluorescence and RGB (red, green, blue) imaging techniques to extract real-time data on plant health and vigor, enabling researchers to precisely measure plant height, area, and digital biomass, BTI explained.

Beyond its technology, PhenoSight emphasizes practical applications for research. The vast data sets generated by PhenoSight can be analyzed using advanced computational methods, enabling researchers to uncover hidden patterns and make predictions in plant biology and genetics.

“As we celebrate BTI’s centennial, this new facility stands as a testament to the Institute’s dedication to innovation and excellence in plant science research,” Silvia Restrepo, president of BTI, said in the release. “We are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of plant science and making meaningful discoveries that have a positive impact on our world.”

Opened in 1924, the Boyce Thompson Institute says its scientists conduct investigations into fundamental plant and life-sciences research with goals of increasing food security, improving environmental sustainability in agriculture, and making discoveries that will enhance human health.

BTI is an independent nonprofit research institute affiliated with Cornell University.

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