Public forum asks crucial questions regarding the future growth of Micron

CICERO, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) – Some compare the chip plant coming to Clay like winning the Micron lottery.

“It’s like the construction of the Erie Canal, people have likened it to that big thinking big project, lots of money, out of the box imagination,” Elizabeth Kamell, Associate Professor at the School of Architecture at Syracuse University said.

It’s a pivotal time for Central New York, one that will forever shape our future, and why there are concerns about how the surrounding area could be impacted.

“I think the other to talk about is water. They’re going to be using a lot of water, that’s a finite resource, so if they’re using a lot of water does that mean other communities don’t have the water resources that they will need? Maybe the answer is yes and maybe the answer is no, but I think that’s something to be thought about,” Andrew Herod, a professor at the University of Georgia said.

Clay, Syracuse, Onondaga County, and New York State are all interconnected on this Micron journey, which means communication and collaboration between all those involved is essential.

“You can’t do everything on your own, you need partners, you need stakeholders, and I think the key to bringing those stakeholders on board is trust,” Herod said.

Trust, transparency, and the ability to take a step back to ponder what lies ahead.

“But I think now is the time to ask the really hard questions because a few years down the road that time will have passed and it will be too late,” Herod explained.

A collaboration between the public, educators and local officials all to make the right room for Micron.