ON-RAMP Strategic Blueprint

By the middle of the 21st century, the public and private sector will invest more than $100 billion into the Central New York economy. At the forefront of this wave is Micron’s commitment, announced in 2022, to spend $40 billion by 2030 to build the largest semiconductor facility in the United States. Central to this investment is Micron’s dedication to inclusive hiring, ensuring the workforce reflects diverse backgrounds across the community. Economists project these investments will yield tens of thousands of new jobs, with advanced manufacturing and construction to see the largest employment gains.

This unprecedented opportunity demands an unprecedented response. Within and beyond the city of Syracuse are an abundance of educational institutions, social service providers, nonprofit organizations, and advocacy groups that are positioned to help build the pipeline of well-trained and diverse talent that can meet employer demand and fulfill the promise of this moment. Micron's commitment to hire from underrepresented communities will complement the educational pathways that are developed. To do so, New York’s Empire State Development has engaged CenterState CEO, a Syracuse-based business leadership and economic development organization, to develop the ON-RAMP (One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects) Workforce Innovation Hub (also referred to in this strategic blueprint as “ON-RAMP Hub,” “Workforce Innovation Hub,” or “The Hub.”

Through the spring and summer of 2024, CenterState CEO worked with Braven Solutions, a New York City-based consultancy, to conduct a planning process that would inform the development of the ON-RAMP Hub. This document captures the key insights of that process, including relevant models, business planning, and input from dozens of stakeholders in the greater Syracuse community.