Gov. Kathy Hochul joined Micron executives in a Syracuse on Friday to announce the creation of a committee that will ensure the massive project meets the needs of the community. Micron’s April Armzen, senior vice president and chief people officer, told a crowd at the Oncenter that the Community Engagement Committee will be made up of 14 local and company stakeholders.
“It includes community members. It includes representatives of local governments," Arnzen said. "It includes community-based organizations, philanthropic leaders, education, faith-based, tribal and veterans organizations, as well as just the business community at large.”
Co-chairing the committee are National Grid Vice President Melanie Littlejohn and SUNY Educational Opportunity Center Vice President Tim Penix. Littlejohn said the two of them have worked together on workforce development for decades.
“We know that Micron’s comprehensive approach to workforce development, from everything from education, to training programs to investment in childcare, and transportation and affordable housing, that brings it all together,” he said.
The committee is part of the Community Investment Framework agreement between Micron and the state. Hochul said the impact of a project this large goes beyond the Micron facility and its employees.
“There's a new way of thinking about incentives that come from the state government, that we want you to really be involved and engage and be vested in the success of the entire community, not just your employee base," she said.
Earlier Friday, Micron officials joined state and local government leaders at the future site of the facilityin Clay where the first piece of heavy equipment is drilling into the soil.
Here's a list of the committee members:
· April Arnzen - Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer, Micron
· Karen Belcher - Executive Director, Food Bank of Central New York
· Donna DeSiato - Superintendent, East Syracuse Minoa School District
· Bishop Ronald Dewberry - Senior Pastor, New Life Temple of Praise
· Kristi Eck - Chief of Staff, SUNY Oswego
· Courtney Geduldig - Corporate Vice President, Global Public and Government Affairs, Micron
· Mark Hall - President and CEO, Syracuse Community Health
· Jasenko Mondom - Employment Specialist, Refugee Assistance Program at Syracuse City School District
· Meg O'Connell - Executive Director, Allyn Family Foundation
· Hazel Powless - Haudenosaunne Environmental Task Force, Onondaga Nation
· Kerry Quaglia - Founder and CEO, Home HeadQuarters
· Sheena Solomon - Executive Director, The Gifford Foundation
Ex Officio Members
· Rob Beard - SVP and General Counsel, Micron
· Kevin Younis - COO and Executive Deputy Commissioner, Empire State Development
· Isabelle Harris - Director of Strategic Initiatives, Onondaga County
· Sharon Owens - Deputy Mayor,City of Syracuse
· Damian Ulatowski - Supervisor,Town of Clay
Editor’s note: National Grid is a financial supporter of WAER.
