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JMA: Lauren LaBorde
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Coalition Launches to Ensure Micron’s $100B Project Delivers for Local Communities
CNY United for Community Benefits seeks commitments from the company related to environmental, workforce, and affordability concerns
SYRACUSE, NY, Jan. 21, 2026 – Central New York United for Community Benefits —a new coalition of community organizations, educators and environmental leaders — launched today, calling for a legally enforceable Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with Micron Technology.
View the virtual press conference and coalition launch event here.
Micron, the Boise-based microchip manufacturer, broke ground on its Clay, NY facility January 16, backed by $20 billion in federal and NY state subsidies — making it one of the largest publicly subsidized development projects in the region’s history. A coalition of groups representing environmental, community and workforce concerns formed to ensure that the unprecedented investment of public dollars behind the project translates to benefits for the community.
The coalition, which includes Jobs to Move America, Sierra Club, Sustain CNY, Urban Jobs Task Force, Syracuse Chapter of NAACP, and others, is calling for a CBA with Micron to address concerns the coalition feels the company has not adequately addressed, including:
- Workforce: Ensuring Micron commits to family-supporting compensation packages, access to good jobs without barriers, and to maintaining the highest health and safety guarantees for workers.
- Environmental: Protect air, water, and soil by minimizing toxic chemical use and adhering to the highest standards for handling and disposal; replacing destroyed wetlands and protecting endangered species and habitats; generating or procuring 100% new renewable energy without relying on renewable energy credits.
- Housing, transportation and affordability: Ensure the burden of Micron’s energy and water use does not fall on residents; mitigating housing inequality and rising prices that could result from an influx of Micron workers; invest in public transportation so jobs are accessible to transit-dependent workers across Central New York.
Coalition members also delivered a letter addressed to Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra outlining its concerns. Read the letter here.
Micron has made a series of commitments to the community, including up to 50,000 new permanent jobs and a $500 million Green CHIPS Community Investment Fund. However, without a legally binding CBA, the coalition is concerned that these commitments lack the enforcements needed to ensure accountability.
Quotes from coalition members
“Micron’s promises to our community so far are a good first step, but these promises aren’t enforceable. A Community Benefits Agreement would create enforceable commitments to ensure Micron follows through. With the amount of public money the Micron project is receiving, the CNY community deserves transparency and enforceable accountability to ensure these investments deliver real shared benefits for our region.” Khadeejah Ahmad, Jobs to Move America
“Micron is building a huge manufacturing complex in Central New York. While this represents a historic opportunity for economic growth and employment, we must also recognize the enormous risks this poses to our environment. An unprecedented amount of wetlands will be destroyed, along with hundreds of acres of forest which serve as habitat for endangered bats as well as birds, amphibians, and other wildlife. Once built, the facility will consume hundreds of tons of chemicals per week, many of which are extraordinarily toxic. The facility will generate millions of gallons per day of industrial wastewater and will release millions of tons of greenhouse gases into the air annually. Furthermore, the facility will consume over 1,000 megawatts of power, with no viable plan to sustainably produce that electricity. We call on Micron, Onondaga County, and the state of New York to live up to the promise made by DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton to ‘uphold the protection of freshwater wetlands, water quality, air quality, endangered and threatened species, and other environmental priorities.’” Caitlin Ferrante, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter
“As stewards of clean air, clean water and clean soil, members of our organization are committed to the preservation of the vast natural resources in CNY. A Community Benefits Agreement with Micron, with full collaboration from all sides, will ensure our commitment to the environment is here for future generations.” Cheryl Matt, CNY Izaak Walton League
“GreeningUSA supports sustainable development in all communities. The Community Benefits Agreement is a way to engage the Central New York community with Micron to focus on making our region more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable while working to prevent some of the mistakes of the past.” Peter J. Arsenault, GreeningUSA
“Since 2012 Urban Jobs Task Force of Syracuse has been an advocate for ‘local hire’ on projects using public money. Micron expects to garner $20 billion in subsidies and has promised to deliver jobs to underrepresented populations. The way forward to include Syracusans in these good-paying jobs is a Community Benefits Agreement.” Aggie Lane, Urban Jobs Task Force
Coalition list
ACTS-Alliance of Communities Transcending Syracuse
Alliance for a Green Economy
ALIGN
Central New York Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
CHIPS Communities United
Clean+Healthy
Climate Change Awareness and Action
CNY Solidarity Coalition
Earthjustice
Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now Inc.
GreeningUSA
Izaak Walton League CNY Chapter
JHP INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO,INC
Jobs to Move America
Moving People Transportation Coalition
NY Renews
United University Professions
Urban Jobs Task Force of Syracuse
Satter Ruhlen Law Firm, PLLC
Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter
SustainCNY
Syracuse Cultural Workers
Syracuse Chapter of NAACP
Syracuse Peace Council
Sterling Water Stewards
Workers Center of Central NY
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About CNY United for Community Benefits
CNY United for Community Benefits is an Alliance of Central New York workers, community leaders, educators, and environmentalists working to ensure that public subsidies translate to real benefits for our community.
www.centralnyunited.org