President Joe Biden visited Syracuse on Thursday to announce the federal government would provide Micron up to $13.6 billion in federal funding to help build a computer memory chip plant in Clay.  The White House announced the funding award earlier in the week. Micron will receive $6.1 billion in grants and another $7.5 billion in loans from the federal government. “It isn’t just about investing in America,” Biden said about the funding. “It is about investing in the American people.”  Thursday’s visit by Biden, who graduated from the Syracuse University College of Law, marked the president’s second stop in the area in 18 months. The first came in October 2022, when Micron first announced its plans to build four computer memory chip plants.  Biden on Thursday stood in front of a standing room only crowd at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology in downtown Syracuse. He spoke for about 15 minutes, along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, and Shannon Thomas, an electrical apprentice from Syracuse’s South Side. He previously came to Syracuse in October 2022, when Micron first announced its plans to build four computer memory chip plants.  The grant is part of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to reinvigorate the American labor and manufacturing force. The full funding is contingent on how much Micron expands in Boise and Clay. Micron says it will spend up to about $50 billion by 2030 on the plants in Clay and an expansion of facilities in Boise, Idaho, where it is based.  In total, Micron estimates it will spend up to $125 billion on the projects over the next 20 years. Micron is also expected to receive other funding and tax credits to build the plants. New York State will provide about $5.5 billion in incentives through New York State’s Green CHIPS Program. Micron has also applied to the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency for $284 million in property tax breaks.  Micron will create 50,000 jobs, with 20,000 being directly tied to the plants, Biden said Thursday. The funding is “the single largest private investment in the history of these two states,” Biden said.  Since Congress passed the Chips and Science Act and Biden signed it, the federal government has given out nearly $33 billion in grants to chip manufacturers. About $6.2 billion in possible grants remains. The grantees include:  Intel, $8.5 billion TSMC, $6.6 billion Samsung, $6.4 billion Micron, 6.1 billion Secure Enclave Program, $3.5 billion Global Foundries, $1.5 billion President Biden greets Shanon Thomas, an apprentice at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 43, who introduced him at the Museum of Science and Technology Thursday, April 25, 2024. Thomas grew up on Syracuse’s South Side. The President was at the MOST celebrating Micron plans to build a facility in Clay. Photo by Michelle Gabel | Central Current Credit: Michelle Gabel | Central Current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) joked Thursday that the 50,000 jobs that Micron will create are more than enough to fill the JMA Wireless Dome. At Thursday’s visit, Schumer showed off an orange tie and socks as a show of the pride for Syracuse and upstate New York.  Schumer touted the labor agreement between Micron and trade unions made between the organizations two years ago.  Hochul also spoke briefly at Thursday’s event. She called the day Micron announced its plans “one of the happiest days” of her life.  Biden hit back at critics of the CHIPS act, including Syracuse’s Congressional Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who each voted against the measure. The president called them “MAGA Republicans.” Williams did not attend Thursday’s event.  “They opposed the CHIPS and Science Act that’s powering this growth today,” Biden said. “In fact, Congressman Brandon Williams called it corporate welfare.” The scene outside the museum included swaths of protesters, supporters and others. More than one hundred people showed up for various causes. Some supporters of former President Donald J. Trump showed up with Trump flags.  The largest swath included protesters over Biden’s handling of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. About 60 pro-Palestinian protesters arrived at 11 a.m. in front of the museum. They used a megaphone to chant: “Free free Palestine,” and “Joe Biden what do you say, how many kids have you killed today?” Several protesters had signs emphasizing their support of Palestine. The post President Joe Biden celebrates $13.6B in funding for Micron in Syracuse appeared first on Central Current.