Schumer Created The Tech Hub Program With Upstate NY In Mind, And Pulled Out All The Stops To Land Designation For Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse Region, And Now With Coalition Officially Submitting For Phase 2 Tech Hub Implementation Funding From His CHIPS & Science Law Schumer Is Going All Out To Land This Funding
“NY SMART I-Corridor” Tech Hub Coalition Has Grown To 100+ Partners and New Funding Will Fill In Gaps In Upstate NY’s Booming Semiconductor Industry, Helping Grow Suppliers And New Startups, Bolster Tech Workforce Training, And Spur Innovation To Accelerate Upstate NY’s Transformation Into Global Leader In Semiconductor Manufacturing and R&D
Schumer: Upstate NY Is Ready To Be The Driving Force Behind America’s Semiconductor Superhighway!
After securing the prestigious federal Tech Hub designation for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region’s New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor Consortium (NY SMART I-Corridor) last year, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced the coalition has officially submitted its application for up to $54 million in Phase 2 Implementation funding.
Schumer is now launching an all-out push to make the project one of the program’s first implementation award winners to build a globally leading semiconductor cluster in Upstate New York. Schumer said the NY SMART I-Corridor project builds on the historic investments Upstate NY is seeing in semiconductor manufacturing and R&D thanks to his CHIPS & Science Law. It is expected that one in four American-made chips will be produced within 350 miles of the NY Smart I-Corridor by 2033. The senator said Tech Hubs implementation funding would work to maximize the existing success of U.S. semiconductor facilities and related supply chain companies in the region, by helping directly address the growth challenges it would otherwise face over the coming decade through bolstering workforce training initiatives, helping further strengthen the supply chain, spurring semiconductor R&D and manufacturing innovation, and filling in other gaps in the existing semiconductor ecosystem infrastructure.
“The Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region is on the road to becoming a global leader in the semiconductor industry, and now with the application for funding officially submitted, I am kicking efforts into overdrive to make this one of the first Tech Hub implementation awards in the nation from my CHIPS & Science Law. I pulled out all the stops to land the federal Tech Hub designation for Upstate, but that’s just the beginning. This implementation funding is a critical missing puzzle piece to help fill in the gaps in our growing semiconductor ecosystem – that can help make the region unstoppable in the vital effort to bring this industry back to America and Upstate NY,” said Senator Schumer. “I created the Tech Hubs program in my CHIPS & Science Law with Upstate NY as my north star, and today with the application submitted, that vision of transformation for Upstate NY is one step closer to becoming a reality. This semiconductor superhighway across Upstate NY is exactly what I had in mind when I created the Tech Hubs program in my CHIPS & Science Act to bolster American innovation and manufacturing by building out the skilled tech workforce, helping translate R&D into new startups, and creating a thriving regional economy that attracts more investment and good-paying jobs in Upstate NY for generations to come. I am going all out to secure this funding to put Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, and the broader Upstate NY region on the road to becoming America’s semiconductor superhighway!”
“The Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse SMART I-Corridor region has a generational opportunity to build a globally leading semiconductor cluster as one in four American-made chips will be produced within 350 miles of the I-Corridor by 2033,” said Rob Simpson, President of CenterState CEO. “No other area will account for a greater share of domestic production, which represents a critical capacity building opportunity for the region. To meet this moment, leading civic institutions across our region have partnered to co-design solutions that will catalyze efforts through five component projects. This proposal when executed will transform our economic competitiveness for generations while also impacting more immediate national security challenges. This corridor is poised and ready to lead and we thank Senator Schumer for sharing our vision and providing unwavering support for this application.”
“More than two years ago, we committed to building a regional consortium greater than the sum of its parts – one that could meet this moment, fulfill the mission of the Tech Hubs program, and create a shared foundation for transformational and inclusive growth across the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse corridor,” said Dr. Joseph Stefko, President and CEO of ROC2025 in Rochester. “Our Phase 2 application does just that. Through five strategic and intentionally integrated component projects – spanning workforce, supply chain, innovation, capital access, and coordinated regional governance – we have charted a path to transform our economic competitiveness and advance national security. I’m deeply grateful to Senator Schumer, Congressman Morelle, and our 100+ partners for their determined leadership and commitment to this collaboration.”
“The submission of our Tech Hub’s Phase 2 application is the culmination of the most significant regional collaboration between Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse in history. The impact of this effort will not only put our region at the center of helping to meet critical American economic and national security imperatives, but will truly drive transformational economic competitiveness across the SMART I-Corridor. Senator Schumer should be applauded for developing the Tech Hub concept and championing the SMART I-Corridor effort every step of the way,” said Dottie Gallagher, President and CEO, Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
“Our Phase II application builds on the momentum of the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse Regional Technology Hub designation and advances our efforts to secure historic federal investments in local innovation,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “This is yet another step forward in leveraging our community’s unique strengths to catalyze our growth and transform our regional economy. I am grateful to my colleagues and the NY SMART-I Corridor consortium for their tireless work and look forward to our continued advocacy to make our region a global leader in innovation.”
Schumer created the Tech Hubs program in his CHIPS & Science Law with Upstate New York in mind, also fighting to secure the necessary appropriations funding in the FY2023 omnibus spending bill to launch this initial Tech Hubs Competition, and advocated relentlessly to secure the Tech Hubs designation for Buffalo-Rochester Syracuse last year through Phase 1 of the Tech Hubs Competition. The three-region consortium beat out hundreds of applications and was one of only 31 regions chosen for the Tech Hub designation. The application was led by three designated conveners, one from each region: Buffalo Niagara Partnership in Buffalo, ROC2025 in Rochester, and CenterState CEO in Syracuse. The NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub proposal is now competing for the next phase of the Tech Hubs Program that will invest tens of million from the CHIPS & Science law in select designated hubs.
Implementation funding that the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub is applying for today will go towards specific component projects that aim to solve the growth challenges the region would otherwise face over the coming decade. Specifically, the component project efforts will be led by the University at Buffalo (UB), Monroe Community College, Syracuse University, and Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), all of which will be coordinating across the region to bolster workforce training initiatives, help attract supply chain companies, create a collaborative ecosystem for semiconductor R&D commercialization, and seed early-stage manufacturing innovation. The implementation phase of the program will allow the region to expand the semiconductor ecosystem already in existence to develop and make the future of semiconductor technology in Upstate NY.
The NY SMART I-Corridor Consortium Tech Hub spans across the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, region and has engaged 100+ institutions, including assembling commitments from industry, academia, labor, non-profit, government, and other private sector members.
Phase 2 Implementation Funding would focus on key areas across all regions including:
- Workforce Training: led by Monroe Community College, the workforce training program will increase access to semiconductor opportunities for those who have been historically excluded from tech and manufacturing job opportunities. EDA funds will be allocated to bolster a variety of initiatives including expanding internship and apprenticeship opportunities; to establish a program to pair industry partners with semiconductor supply chain firms to develop training and job placement efforts; and create employer-led training initiatives at regional training and education institutions to expand the workforce
- Commercialization: led by Syracuse University, will be a collaborative effort across research institutions to better coordinate access to the region’s R&D assets, including availability of cleanrooms, equipment, and faculty and students across universities, as well as funding for research experiences, internships, and co-ops. Funds would improve access to facilities for prototyping for small and minority-owned businesses, boost technical assistance and establish greater transparency around licensing agreements; and host semiconductor innovation conferences to bolster visibility of the region.
- Supply Chain: Led by UB, this would aim to close gaps in the supply chain by making it easier for local firms to gain access to growth opportunities in the semiconductor industry. Federal funds will be allocated to scale capacity at three regional Manufacturing Extension Partnerships; increase visibility of new opportunities; track regional growth opportunities; and assist firms with access to capital for the growing semiconductor industry.
- Startup Innovation: led by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), will take point on investment in tech startups and entrepreneurs to accelerate their growth in the region. With funding going towards identifying investment needs for new businesses, recruit founders, including minority, women and veteran founders; provide seed-funding to semiconductor firms, with a focus on recruiting underrepresented founders; and provide hands-on support for entrepreneurs and researchers looking to start new semiconductor technology businesses.
In addition, the SMART I–Corridor Innovation Office will create an integrated governance function supporting all components of the Tech Hub to ensure success of the project and oversee implementation. Members of the consortium include semiconductor manufacturers and supply chain business like Micron, Wolfspeed, Global Foundries, Menlo Microsystems, INFICON, Corning, Optimax, AMD, TTM Technologies, Saab, Akoustis, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Edwards Vacuum, Danfoss, Linde, Lifatec, Indium and SRC; business organizations like CenterState CEO, NY Photonics, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA), Buffalo Niagara Manufacturing Alliance (BNMA), and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce; education and research institutions like University at Buffalo, University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Monroe Community College, Syracuse University, Cornell University, Clarkson University, Le Moyne, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, SUNY Oswego, SUNY ESF, SUNY EOC, and Onondaga Community College; workforce development and labor partners like Northland Workforce Training Center, RochesterWorks, RMAPI, UNiCON, WNY Area Labor Federation, Central-Northern New York Building and Construction Trades Council, IBEW; philanthropic and community partners like Buffalo Manufacturing Works, the John R. Oishei Foundation, M&T Bank, NY CREATES, Empire State Development; and many more.
A copy of Schumer’s letter of support to Department of Commerce Secretary Raimondo can be found here:
The Senator originally proposed the Tech Hubs program years ago as part of his bipartisan Endless Frontier Act with Upstate NY in mind to help bring critical industries back from overseas to communities that have great potential to lead in manufacturing and innovation, and finally was able to create the Regional Tech Hubs competition in his final CHIPS & Science Law. The CHIPS & Science Bill included a $10 billion authorization for the Tech Hubs program – meaning that designated Tech Hubs can compete for significantly more investment based off future availability of funding.
Schumer’s relentless advocacy has resulted in tens of billions in proposed investments from the semiconductor industry spurred by his Chips & Science Law. In the Syracuse region alone, Micron has announced plans to invest an historic $100 billion to build a cutting-edge memory fab expected to create nearly 50,000 jobs. In Western NY, Edwards Vacuum will invest $300+ million to build a 600 job U.S. dry pump manufacturing facility to supply the semiconductor industry. With Schumer’s direct advocacy, Buffalo has already received $25 million for its growing tech industry through the American Rescue Plan’s Build Back Better Challenge, laying the foundation for the Tech Hub designation they have now secured and the Tech Hub implementation grant this proposal is focused on. In the Rochester region, Corning Incorporated, which manufactures glass critical to the microchip industry, has already invested $139 million in Monroe County – creating over 270 new, good-paying jobs in the Finger Lakes region.
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