The Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund (CIF) is a $500 million partnership between Empire State Development (ESD) and Micron Technology, Inc. intended to amplify the benefits of Micron’s investment in Central New York for those who need it most, while protecting communities from the challenges posed by rapid economic growth. CIF awards will be limited to the following categories – workforce development, education, community investments, and housing.

In October 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Micron Technology, Inc. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra announced Micron’s plan to invest up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years in a memory chip fabrication facility in Central New York. This investment, the largest private investment in New York State history, is expected to generate over 50,000 new jobs. 

As part of the Green CHIPS incentive agreement between NYS and Micron, Empire State Development (ESD) and Micron have partnered to establish a $500 million Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund (CIF) to be funded and distributed over 20 years, with Micron contributing $250 million, NYS contributing $100 million, and the remaining funding being raised from local, statewide and national partners.  To ensure ground-up participation in Micron’s investments and implementation in the region, Governor Hochul formed the Central New York Community Engagement Committee (CEC) comprised of local stakeholders and ex-officio members. The CEC engaged in a community-led effort to identify and elevate ideas for making investments that will create meaningful and lasting changes for the Central New York region and compiled them in a Community Priorities Document (CPD). The document represents more than 13 months of community-driven engagement across over 300 community organizations and contains input from more than 12,700 Central New Yorkers.

Empire State Development and Micron are soliciting proposals for consideration under the Community Investment Fund (CIF). As additional partners are identified the program guidelines will be updated to include those funding opportunities.

Each entity will administer its own funding -- in consultation with one another and in alignment with the contents of the Community Priorities Document -- in four categories of spending: Workforce Development, Education, Community Investments, and Housing.

Goals of the Program: 

Community Investment Fund awards are intended to amplify the benefits of Micron’s investment in Central New York for those who need it most, while protecting communities from the challenges posed by rapid economic growth. Per the agreement between New York State & Micron under ESD’s Green CHIPS program, under this program, funding will be provided to Central New York communities in four categories of spending: 

1. Workforce Development: There is an urgent need to develop and implement workforce support services and to strategically develop and expand workforce development and opportunity programs that enhance skill sets, meet industry demands, and foster employment growth for all Central New Yorkers, especially for socially and economically disadvantaged community members.
2. Education: As we look to the next generation of the region’s workforce, it will be essential to create career and workforce readiness opportunities in all grade levels, and actively engage students and adult learners in workforce exposure programs grow interest in STEM careers and to align their skills with evolving industry needs.
3. Community Investments: Focus community development efforts and strategies on creating environments that enhance the quality of life for its residents and fostering vibrant communities that address the needs of all residents.
4. Housing:  As the region stands on the precipice of unprecedented economic growth and works to enhance and develop diverse and sustainable housing development initiatives, it is critical that we remove barriers to safe, affordable, and equitable housing for new and existing residents. 

Grant funding will be allocated to projects within these four categories of spending, that address the Immediate Priorities identified in the CPD, and are capable of making the benefits of Micron’s investment more impactful and equitable for Central New Yorkers. 

Final funding awards from Micron and ESD’s allocations of the CIF will be awarded at the discretion of each entity.

General Eligibility and Use Restrictions

Submissions that best align with the program’s goals and respond to the concepts and priorities outlined by the Community Priorities Document will be made a priority for funding. 

ESD is contributing $100 million to the CIF.  Investments from ESD’s portion of the CIF will be available for capital-based projects. 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 CIF.  Investments from Micron’s portion of the CIF will be determined by Micron with guidance from the Community Priorities Document and in consultation with ESD. Entities with projects that align with program goals are encouraged to submit proposals.

Funding from the CIF will not be used to make research and development investments. Any investments in higher education institutions will be intended to expand the workforce pipeline. 

Project Selection Criteria:

ESD and Micron will work in consultation with one another to review each Letter of Intent to determine eligibility for Community Investment Fund funding and determine which funding source is best suited to the needs of the proposed project based on consensus deliberation. The following factors will be taken into consideration as applicants are evaluated and selected to receive invitations to submit a Phase 2 Full Application and be considered for funding: 

• Does the project fall within the four categories of spending: Workforce Development, Education, Community lnvestments, and Housing?
• Does the project align with the Community Priorities Document? 
  • Does this project demonstrate alignment with the priorities outlined in the Community Priorities Document, with special consideration given to proposals that align with the Immediate Priorities outlined in the most recent published version of the Community Priorities Document?
  • Does this project demonstrate alignment with the Community Principles and Core Considerations detailed in the most recent published version of the CPD.
• Does this project seem feasible based on the applicants demonstrated organizational capacity?
  • Has the applicant demonstrated the ability to plan and implement the proposed project within the stated timeline as shown in the application materials?
  • Demonstration of the applicant organization’s capacity to execute and manage the proposed project successfully.
• Consideration of impact on diverse and disadvantaged populations.  

In addition to the criteria noted below, ESD and Micron shall have the discretion to consider additional factors in determining the relative merits of projects.

The Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund Letter of Intent form can be accessed here. 

All entities seeking CIF grant funding from ESD and/or Micron, must submit a Letter of Intent for initial consideration. Letters of Intent will be received and reviewed on an ongoing basis by funding partners. If the Letter of Intent submission is determined to meet basic program requirements by ESD and Micron, an applicant will be invited to submit a Phase 2 Application through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) for consideration. Receiving an invitation to submit a Phase 2 Application is not a guarantee of funding; final award decisions will be made at the sole discretion of ESD and Micron based on the selection criteria outlined in the program guidelines.

Applicants may not submit a Phase 2 full application for a project that was not the subject of an approved Letter of Intent. 

Letter of Intent forms for this first round of funding will be collected until January 31, 2025.

Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund Workshop: View Workshop Recording

All questions can be directed to Empire State Development via email [email protected].

The Phase 2 Full Applications must be submitted electronically through New York State’s Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) portal.

All technical CFA questions can be directed via email to [email protected].