Rob Simpson Issues Statement on Micron’s Historic Groundbreaking in CNY

CenterState CEO President and CEO Rob Simpson shared the following message with members following Micron's groundbreaking celebration in Clay, NY on Jan. 16, 2026:

I had the privilege of attending Micron Technology’s historic groundbreaking today and want to take a moment to reflect on what this milestone means for our community, and acknowledge the many people who helped make it possible. It is impossible to overstate the significance of this moment for Central New York. Today’s event represents years of dedicated effort and the beginning of a new era of growth for our region. 

This moment, nearly four and a half years in the making, was driven by an extraordinary coalition of individuals, organizations and leaders across every level of government. An effort of this scale, and a project this consequential for both our region and our nation, defies easy description. It brings with it a mix of pride, relief, gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility for what comes next. 

When I returned home in 2003, our regional economy was frayed and uncertain. Today, Syracuse and Central New York stand at the center of one of the most compelling economic turnaround stories in the country. Micron’s megafab will accelerate that momentum, creating thousands of jobs, catalyzing new business growth and expanding opportunity for residents across our community. The positive impacts will be felt quickly and broadly, and we are proud to work alongside Micron and our public and private sector partners to ensure this investment delivers lasting benefits. 

We thank U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for joining us at today’s event and for the administration’s support of this project. I also want to commend U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and the entire federal and state delegations for their bipartisan support of this project from day one, and across two successive administrations.  I’d additionally like to recognize Governor Kathy Hochul, Empire State Development, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, the team at Micron and my colleagues at CenterState CEO. Their collective collaboration and commitment have made this moment possible. 

Yet even as we celebrate, we must also look ahead. Having strengthened the macro-level performance of our regional economy and positioned ourselves as a small but mighty force for innovation and manufacturing, we now face a new set of questions.  

How do we translate the promise of a $100 billion investment into meaningful outcomes for families across our region?  

How do we use this momentum to accelerate economic, human and civic transformation?  

And how do we preserve the spirit of collaboration that brought us to this moment? 

To our members, partners and community leaders who have worked tirelessly toward this day, thank you. I am energized by the opportunities that lie ahead for the people of this region who have weathered decades of economic challenge. 

Together, we now turn to the most important question: What’s next?