Oswego County Micron Strategy Steering Committee marks second year of collaborative progress at SUNY Oswego summit

The Oswego County Micron Strategy Steering Committee is a coalition of nearly 40 leaders and more than 90 organizations committed to maximizing the economic, educational, and social potential of Micron’s investment for Oswego County and the broader Central New York region. The summit’s attendees included many representatives of these groups as well as other top local officials.

The event highlighted the collective progress across nine focus areas — from workforce training and infrastructure to housing and education –- as community leaders align local resources to support and leverage Micron’s megafab development in Clay, New York. 

As this plant will sit just three miles from the Oswego County line, this group, chaired by SUNY Oswego President Peter O. Nwosu, connects in meaningful ways with Central New York’s largest economic development project in history.

“I am so pleased to greet each of you today, colleagues, community leaders and partners, as we continue our shared work to prepare Oswego County for a future shaped by unprecedented opportunity,” President Nwosu said. “You are the architects of a stronger, more prosperous Central New York, and I am proud to stand with you as we prepare for Micron’s arrival.”

Joe Nehme, senior manager of external affairs for Micron Technology, noted that the ambitious project will challenge communities to step up and create solutions, something the Oswego County Micron Strategy Steering Committee is doing. Nehme also discussed Micron’s progress in creating educational programs and workforce development in advance of the official groundbreaking. 

“The work right now, as we’re waiting for approvals for construction to start, is to really start building the pipeline, and we’re well on our way to doing a lot of that work,” Nehme said. “Keep up the good work. This project is going to bring a tremendous amount of change and benefit to the community.”

Year two highlights

President Nwosu and the nine subcommittee chairs discussed top 2024 efforts, including:

• Broadband investment of $30 million to build a county-owned, open-access network, ensuring equitable internet access to support business and education.
• More than $23.75 million in economic development grants awarded, supporting industrial park expansions, startup manufacturing facilities, and revitalized downtown corridors
• The launch of the Oswego County Child Care Investment Fund, backed by more than $250,000 in initial funding to expand local child care options
• Education initiatives led by SUNY Oswego and CiTi BOCES, including the launch of a regional STEM excellence center and new pre-apprenticeship and manufacturing programs for students.
• Oswego County earned a designation as the first ACT Work Ready Community in the Northeast, supporting talent pipeline development for advanced manufacturing careers

Looking ahead

The June 20 meeting and related reports discussed additional ambitious 2025 goals, such as:

• Expanding workforce readiness and apprenticeships to meet current and on the near horizon labor needs
• Advancing critical infrastructure projects, including water, wastewater, transportation and healthcare improvements
• Finalizing the Oswego County Comprehensive Plan and housing strategy
• Launching a unified tourism and hospitality web presence for the county

President Nwosu noted that a Micron Technology grant will allow the university to establish the Oswego Regional Center for STEM Excellence. SUNY Oswego also launched a new School of Engineering and Natural Sciences within a renamed College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Engineering, as well as creating many new and continuing initiatives and connections between Micron and Oswego students and faculty.

“As I reflect on what we have accomplished together over the past year, I am filled with pride,” President Nwosu said. “We have moved with purpose and unity, laying the foundation for generational impact in our county and in our region. From the beginning, our collective charge has been clear: To prepare our county to fully leverage Micron’s historic investment in our region and to ensure that every member of our community has a role to play in that future.”

For more information on the committee’s work and to download the full 2024 annual report, visit oswego.edu/micron[1].