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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a $47 million plan to offer free tuition to community college students seeking degrees that train them for the microchip production industry.

Under the proposal, fees including tuition, books and supplies not covered by financial aid would be paid in full for students at any public community college in the state. With Micron Technology set to build a new semiconductor manufacturing plant in Clay, New York, the proposal aims to increase the supply of workers for the industry in central New York.

Eligibility will be limited to adults ages 25 through 55 who do not already possess a college degree. Onondaga Community College anticipates the free tuition will lead to a flood of students hoping to join electromechanical programs, syracuse.com reported.

The proposal comes alongside other affordability plans outlined in Hochul’s State of the State address that aim to lower housing costs, cut taxes for middle-class New Yorkers and invest in childcare and welfare programs.

Though the proposal cannot go into effect until the state legislature approves Hochul’s budget, Micron and Onondaga County recently committed a combined $10 million to OCC to build a 5,000-square-foot laboratory for training and research related to microchip production.

OCC has also invested in the construction of facilities for machining, welding, HVAC, equipment repair and health-related fields.

In congruence with the initiative, the federal government and New York state finalized an $825 million agreement on Jan. 15 bringing computer chip production to the state by acquiring a new version of an extreme ultraviolet lithography machine to be used in a government-owned research center.

Beyond microchip production, the proposal aims to combat broader employee shortages throughout the region. Other community college programs set to be covered include manufacturing, engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity construction, renewable energy, teaching, technology and health fields including nursing.

Hochul’s announcement is one of many recent financial commitments that have pulled companies like Micron to move to the region since former President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022. Following the act’s passage, Micron said it will build four plants in upstate New York over the next 20 years, and is set to create up to 40,000 new jobs.

Many politicians, including Biden, have called central New York “transformative” to a national effort of leading in semiconductor manufacturing. The industry’s development is also expected to reinvigorate many plighted areas in the region.

Micron is expected to break ground in Clay in November.

Published on January 27, 2025 at 10:14 pm

Contact Anna: aclevitt@syr.edu