Cayuga County officials and professionals have formed a workforce development subcommittee in preparation for the construction of Micron’s $100 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in the town of Clay, Onondaga County. The facility is expected to create 9,000 new jobs and over 40,000 additional jobs in supporting industries, and is set to begin construction in 2024.
The subcommittee’s primary goal is to prepare the county’s workforce to capitalize on the Micron project, which may lead to Micron workers and employees of supply chain businesses residing in neighboring counties like Cayuga. The subcommittee comprises members of the Auburn City Council, Cayuga Economic Development Agency, workforce development professionals, business managers, and officials from the Auburn school district, Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, and Cayuga Community College.
The group is creating an inventory of training programs available in Cayuga and nearby counties and identifying the gaps in relation to high-growth sectors and existing businesses, focusing on barriers that could arise with fields other than Micron. The subcommittee also recognizes the potential growth in fields such as healthcare and retail that could follow the influx of new jobs.
Cayuga Works Career Center’s employment and training director and chair of the subcommittee, Kelly King, expressed optimism about the group’s ability to create pathways and educational opportunities to be at the forefront when Micron arrives. Dr. Brian Hartwell, district superintendent for Cayuga County, and Dr. Brian Durant, president of Cayuga Community College, also expressed excitement about the possibilities and opportunities the Micron project could offer.
Durant discussed the college’s upcoming workforce development center and how it could fit with the Micron project. He stated that the center’s purpose is to help workers gain skills desired by local employers and that Micron will need a vast workforce equipped with the necessary skills to ensure continued growth. He also noted that once the center is operational, it will facilitate the process for the future workforce and the unemployed or underemployed looking to revitalize their careers.
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