BUFFALO, NY — The Syracuse and Western New York regions plan to submit a joint application to the U.S. Economic Development Agency to become a national technology hub before the deadline of August 15.
U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-NY-23, said the focus is on leveraging and building on Micron’s plans to invest $100 billion in Central New York.
“We have the people. We have the tools. We have the educated workforce to do the job and take this country’s manufacturing and high technology to the next level,” Langworthy said.
The EDA plans to designate 20 regions to split $15 million, with five to 10 getting $50 million to $75 million. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, said the initiative is part of the CHIPS Act to promote domestic microchip production with Taiwan currently making about 90 percent of high-end chips.
“Where is Taiwan? A hundred miles from China. They’re surrounded by hostility and instability. We don’t need that. We need to create the kind of investment that’s needed in a place like Buffalo,” Higgins said.
Speaking at the proposed future site of the Larkin Workforce Training Center, the congressmen said the region is already building the professional expertise to lead the emerging field. They said the upstate “super region” also has the infrastructure, natural resources, colleges and universities and a bipartisan congressional delegation working together to help coordinate complicated enforcement.
“We don’t really vote together on too many things in Washington, but what we come together on is what’s important to Western New York at the dawn of a bright new renaissance for our manufacturing future,” Langworthy said.
That partnership includes a recent meeting in the office of Rochester Democrat Joe Morelle with U.S. Commerce Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo.
“This was not a formality,” Higgins said. “This was a very substantial meeting that included senior management who will review these applications and make a final decision.”
