Fund Will Accept Letters of Intent Beginning on August 15 for Projects That Focus on Workforce Development, Education, Community Investments and Housing 

Community Workshops Will Offer Guidance and Technical Assistance To Prepare Submissions 

Governor Hochul today unveiled the guidelines for the $500 million Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund which was created as part of the Green CHIPS incentive agreement between Micron and Empire State Development. The Fund was established to amplify the benefits of Micron’s $100 billion investment in New York State, which represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Central New York. Micron’s presence will create nearly 50,000 jobs, including 9,000 new, high-paying Micron jobs and thousands and thousands of prevailing wage construction jobs. When complete, the complex will include clean room space at approximately 2.4 million square feet, the size of nearly 40 football fields. Information about the fund can be found on ESD’s website as well as registration for the community workshops.  

“As New York continues to grow into a global epicenter for semiconductor manufacturing, the Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund will help ensure that the transformation benefits every corner of the Central New York community,” Governor Hochul said. “As our partnership with Micron ushers in an era of unprecedented job growth and investment, my administration is committed to spreading the investment across the communities that are the foundations of the economic resurgence.” 

The Fund will support investments in four categories: workforce development, education, community investments, and housing. In keeping with Governor Hochul and Micron’s emphasis on meaningful, ground-up participation in the Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund, the program guidelines center on the grassroots priorities outlined in the recently released Community Priorities Document from the Central New York Community Engagement Committee. These elements form the key criteria in the program guidelines with special consideration given for projects that address the immediate priorities identified in the Community Priorities Document. 

Empire State Development is contributing $100 million to the fund. Investments from ESD’s portion will be available for capital-based projects and ESD will consider grant requests over $100,000. Refer to the full program guidelines for ESD’s funding for additional detail. Micron is committing $250 million to the Community Investment Fund over the next 20 years, with an additional $150 million to be raised from private philanthropy and other sources.  Investments from Micron’s portion of the Community Investment Fund will be determined by Micron with guidance from the Community Priorities Document and in consultation with ESD. Awards will be publicly reported as part of Micron’s Green CHIPS incentive requirements.

Read the full press release here.