U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that Micron Technology has finalized a $6.1 billion federal funding agreement through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to support the construction of a state-of-the-art memory chip facility in Central New York. The deal marks a major milestone in Micron’s ambitious $100 billion investment plan, which promises to create up to 50,000 high-paying jobs over the next 20 years in the region.
The funding agreement, one of the largest federal investments in Central New York’s history, ensures Micron can begin building its semiconductor manufacturing complex in Clay, NY. Schumer, who was instrumental in crafting the CHIPS and Science Act, hailed the award as a transformative moment for Upstate New York and the nation’s semiconductor industry.
“Micron’s CHIPS funding is locked for Upstate NY,” Schumer said. “$6.1 billion from my bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law is now secured for Micron to build its new, state-of-the-art complex of memory chip fabs in Central NY and Idaho. A historic day and historic agreement for Upstate NY and America. This final award locks in the federal investment Micron needs for shovels to be able to hit the ground and create thousands of good-paying jobs here in Upstate NY.”
Micron’s investment will result in the construction of up to four memory chip plants at White Pine Commerce Park in Clay, NY. The cleanroom space alone is expected to span 2.4 million square feet—equivalent to nearly 40 football fields. The company’s expansion will also contribute to national security by reducing the U.S.’s reliance on foreign-made semiconductors.
The CHIPS funding will be distributed in phases, tied to project milestones set by the Department of Commerce. The funds will also support Micron’s plans for additional expansion in Idaho and a $2 billion investment in a Manassas, Virginia, facility, backed by an additional $275 million in federal incentives. These investments are expected to boost domestic semiconductor production significantly.
Schumer emphasized the critical role of Micron’s memory chips, which power everyday technology from smartphones to electric vehicles and advanced defense systems. “The memory chips Micron makes are the bedrock of America’s future, from AI to EVs to smartphones, as well as our most sensitive defense technology,” Schumer said. “Today, the feds make the bold investment needed to bring manufacturing back, to strengthen our national security, and to make sure America stays #1, with Micron and Central NY leading the way.”
The funding comes as part of Schumer’s broader vision to make New York a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing. In addition to Micron, the CHIPS Act has spurred investments from GlobalFoundries in Malta, Corning in Canton, and Wolfspeed in Oneida County, among others. Earlier this fall, Schumer secured $825 million for Albany NanoTech to become a flagship National Semiconductor Technology Center.
Micron’s investment aims to increase U.S. production of advanced memory chips from less than 2% today to approximately 10% by 2035. As the largest private investment in New York state’s history, the project is poised to reshape the economy of Central New York, creating tens of thousands of jobs and bolstering U.S. technological leadership.
Schumer concluded, “We used to lead the world in making microchips, and thanks to the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law, we are seeing new investments every day to make America a major hub for chip manufacturing once again. This is a promise kept for Upstate New York and for America’s future.”
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