COMING UP TONIGHT: A WORKFORCE INITIATIVE TO BUILD UP THE MEDICAL AND TRUCKING SECTORS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN ONEIDA COUNTY.

A YATES COUNTY AIRPORT HAS SOLAR POWER IN THEIR SIGHTS.

AND AT A TIME WHEN THERE'S A WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE OF SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS, OUR SPOTLIGHT FEATURES A MOHAWK VALLEY SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP FAB THAT'S PRIMED TO BE A GLOBAL LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY.

ON THE MONEY BEGINS RIGHT NOW • GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, WCNY'S NEW FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M DANIEL PLUFF.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'LL SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT AND SOMETIMES LOST AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

OUR FIRST REPORT TAKES US TO THE MOHAWK VALLEY.

THIS PAST APRIL, ONEIDA COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANTHONY PICENTE ANNOUNCED THE COUNTY'S EMERGING WORKER RECOVERY PROGRAM.

THROUGH FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN .

THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EXPANDED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS.

IT ALSO FOCUSES ON HELPING LOCAL EMPLOYERS BOLSTER THEIR DIMINISHED WORKFORCES.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE MEDICAL AND TRUCKING SECTORS WERE HIT INCREDIBLY HARD.

NEXT, WE'LL SEE HOW THE COUNTY IS TAKING ACTION TO REPLENISH THESE TWO VITAL SECTORS.

>> AS WE ENTER THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS PANDEMIC, WE HAVE LEARNED MUCH.

WE MUST BELIEVE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF COVID.

THE GREAT RESIGNATION AS IT HAS BEEN TERMED, HAS LEFT MANY EMPLOYERS, INCLUDING THIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT STRUGGLING TO FILL NECESSARY POSITIONS.

WE IMMEDIATELY FACE SHORTAGES IN TWO PRIME INDUSTRIES THAT PERFORM CRITICAL FUNCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

HEALTHCARE AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, DAVID MATHIS, TO BEGIN A PROGRAM AIMED AT THESE TWO ALL IMPORTANT SECTORS.

>> BASICALLY, ONEIDA COUNTY OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTERS THE WORKFORCE INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITY ACT FUNDS.

THOSE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT COME IN FOR JOB TRAINING.

WE WORK WITH DISLOCATED WORKERS, YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TWO FOLD.

ONE THAT IS DIRECTED AT THE EMPLOYERS.

EMPLOYERS HAVE GREAT NEEDS, ESPECIALLY IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.

WE KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE DEVASTATION THAT COVID BROUGHT TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

NUMBER 2 IS THE NEED TO FIND INDIVIDUALS TO BE TRUCK DRIVERS AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT COVID CREATED SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH TRANSPORTATION AND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL WORKERS TO BE TRUCK DRIVERS.

WE ARE TARGETING ABOUT 200 INDIVIDUALS TO GO INTO THE HEALTHCARE FIELD AND WE ARE LOOKING TO TRAIN ABOUT 100 TRUCK DRIVERS OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

>> WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

BUT THEN ALSO HAS A PROGRAM WITH OUR COLLEGE CORE, WITH COLLEGE INTERNS.

SO IT'S REALLY TAKING THAT AND EXPANDING THAT INTO A YEAR ROUND PROGRAM.

IT'S NOT TO REPLACE JOBS.

IT'S REALLY TO ENHANCE JOBS.

WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDING, SO THAT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO REALLY ENHANCE AND FOR MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK AND AT THE SAME TIME FILL SOME OF THE GAPS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED, THE USE OF THOSE DOLLARS HAVE TO BE DESIGNED AROUND THE PANDEMIC'S EFFECTS AND NEEDS AND THINGS THAT COULDN'T GET DONE.

SO IN THIS CASE LOOKING TO COMMIT A COUPLE MILLION TO $ $2.5 MILLION NOT JUST FOR THIS PROGRAM AND SUMMER PROGRAMS BUT OTHER SPECIFIC JOB TRAINING AREAS THAT WE HAVE SEEN SHORTAGES.

>> BASICALLY WE ARE LOOKING FOR ANYBODY 18 ON UP.

IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, THE OLDER YOU GET, TO FIND EMPLOYMENT.

SO THIS OPPORTUNITY IS NOT GOING TO CUT OFF AT A CERTAIN AGE.

>> TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IS SO IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE IN OUR LIFE.

GETTING THEM TRAINED AND GETTING THEM INTO THE WORKFORCE IS KEY FOR ALL OF US AND TO KEEP THE ECONOMY MOVING.

THE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TUITION DOLLARS.

WE WILL TRAIN PEOPLE.

OUR TUITION FOR TRACTOR-TRAILER PROGRAM IS UNDER $5,000 PER PERSON.

IT'S A SHORT-TERM TRAINING.

THEY ARE TRAINED BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEHIND THE TRUCK.

ONCE THEY DO THAT, THEY ARE TYPICALLY SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS AND THEY CAN GET TO WORK.

>> WHILE WE ARE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE EFFECTS OF IT IS A WORKER SHORTAGE.

THAT'S WHY THIS BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO STIMULATE AND HELP.

IT ALSO HELPS LOCAL BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE CAN SUPPLEMENT WITH OUR FUNDING, THE SALARIES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND NOT HAVE TO BURDEN THEM FURTHER.

>> THESE WILL BE FULL-TIME JOBS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE JOBS THAT OFFER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE JOBS THAT WILL IMPACT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO STAY IN THE AREA, WHO ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO WORK.

SO THIS IS A MULTIFACETED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

>> OUR THANKS TO ONEIDA COUNTY'S LEADERS FOR SHARING THEIR STORY WITH US ... NEXT WE HAVE OUR COMMON SENSE SEGMENT - AND AS YOU'VE HEARD AND AS WE'VE DISCUSSED ON PREVIOUS SHOWS, INFLATION HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS THIS YEAR WITH LOTS OF TALK ABOUT RISING PRICES.

FOR THE MOST PART, THAT'S NOT BEEN GOOD NEWS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING POTENTIALLY POSITIVE COMING FROM SOCIAL SECURITY.

THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION HAS PROJECTED A 2023 COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT OF 11.4% NEXT YEAR IF INFLATION CONTINUES AT ITS CURRENT PACE.

IF THAT HAPPENS, THE AVERAGE RETIREE BENEFIT WOULD INCREASE $190 A MONTH OR ABOUT $2,280 A YEAR.

NOW INFLATION HAS STARTED TO COME DOWN SO IT'S HARD TO SAY WHERE THE FINAL NUMBERS WILL BE, BUT EVEN IF THERE'S NO FURTHER INFLATION THIS YEAR, MOST ANALYSTS PREDICT AN INCREASE OF 9% IN BENEFITS NEXT YEAR.

THE BENEFITS ARE CALCULATED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN OCTOBER SO WE SUSPECT THAT WILL BE OF INTEREST TO MANY RETIREES.

IF YOU'RE ONE OF THEM, IT MAY MAKE SENSE TO WATCH FOR UPDATES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPECTED SOON.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE MAY HAVE TO CHECKBOOK THAT WHOLE SOCIAL SECURITY INCREASE.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS LATER THIS YEAR AND KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT.

NEXT IS OUR TECH BYTES WHERE WE BRING YOU SOME NEW AND INTERESTING TECHNOLOGIES FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK.

SMALLER AIRPORTS CAN FACE A DISADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN DIMINISHED SAFETY STANDARDS WHEN COMPARED TO LARGER FACILITIES AROUND THE NATION.

IN YATES COUNTY, THERE'S A MAJOR STUDY HAPPENING AT THE PENN YAN AIRPORT, POTENTIALLY EVOLVING THE FUTURE OF LIGHTING FOR RUNWAYS.

THANKS TO FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, 23 SAFETY SYSTEMS, INCLUDING RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY EDGE LIGHTS ARE LIT WITH THEIR OWN SOLAR PANELS AND BATTERY SUPPLIES.

THE INTENTION OF THESE LIGHTS COULD LEAD TO IMPROVED VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AND DURING BAD WEATHER EVENTS LIKE SNOWSTORMS BUT.

BEYOND THAT, IS THE INTRIGUING POTENTIAL OF AIRPORTS, BOTH BIG AND SMALL, GRAVITING TO SOLAR LIGHTING WHICH COULD PLAY A ROLE IN CUTTING COSTS AND REDUCING THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> A LOT OF THE LARGER AIRPORTS THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY HAVE ELECTRICITY TO THEIR LIGHTING.

AND IN SMALLER, RURAL COUNTIES THAT HAVE SMALL AIRPORTS, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO RUN THE ELECTRICITY ALONG OUR TAXI WAY.

SO F.A.A.

APPROACHED US AND ASKED IF WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BEING THEIR VERY FIRST TESTING SITE FOR SOLAR LIGHTING.

WE, OVER THE YEARS, HAVE RECEIVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AID FROM THE F.A.A.

FOR OUR AIRPORT, AND THEY REALLY HAVE KEPT OUR RURAL AIRPORT GOING.

>> IN THE END, IT IS ONE PORTION OF A BROADER RESEARCH STUDY THAT WE ARE DOING.

WE IDENTIFY BASICALLY THROUGH GOOGLE AND GOOGLE IS LOOKING INTO AVAILABLE SOLAR THAT IS AVAILABLE IN DIFFERENT REGIONS SO THEN WHAT WE DO IS ZOOM INTO THAT REGION AND LOOK AT THE AIRPORTS ON THE MAP AND THEN WE PURSUE EACH OF THOSE AIRPTSZ.

1: ARE THEY WILLING TO COOPERATE WITH THE F.A.A.?

WE HAVE STRICT CRITERIA AND WE THEY MEET THOSE AND WE EVALUATE EACH OF THE CANDIDATE AIRPORTS AND ARRIVE TO A SELECTION AND PENN YAN FIT THE BILL FOR US.

>> WE ARE TESTING SOME PROTOTYPE LIGHT FIXTURES THAT MAY BE USED TOY LIMB NEWT THE EDGES OF RUNWAYS AND TAXI WAYS.

IF THESE LIGHTS CAN MEET OUR CURRENT STANDARDS FOR LIGHTING ON THE AIRPORT SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THE LIGHT THAT THEY PRODUCE IS CONSISTENT SO THAT THE PILOT CAN NAVIGATE THE AIRPORT SURFACE SAFELY, WE SET THESE LIGHT FIXTURES AND SIGNS OUT IN TEST AREA ON THE RAMP AND WE ARE COLLECTING THE PERFORMANCE DATA SO WE ARE COLLECTINGLY LIGHTOUT AND THE ENERGY DRAW, LOOKING AT THE BAT BATTERY CAPACITY.

>> THEY WANTED A COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS ALL FOUR SEASONS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO TEST THE SOLAR LIGHTING IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS.

WE GET OUR RESEARCH OUT OF A FUND CALLED THE A.I.P.

FUND, THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR FUND, SO IT COMES OUT OF THAT FUND.

INSTALLATION OF THIS PARTICULAR TEST AWRY RAY-- TEST ARRAY IS $400,000 THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, PROCURING THE ACTUAL FIXTURES FROM TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES, THE TRAVEL, MATERIALS, THE BIG ACQUISITION SYSTEMS, ALL THOSE PIECES.

AND THEN COLLECTING THE DATA, ANALYZING THE DATA AND WRITING A REPORT.

>> THEY'RE MONITORING IT DAY AND NIGHT.

AND IF IT DOES PROVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS FISCALLY BENEFICIAL FOR OUR COUNTY, WE HOPE WE HAVE THAT COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT ALREADY ESTABLISHED WITH THE F.A.A.

SO PERHAPS WE COULD GET GRANT MONEY TO INSTALL THE SOLAR LIGHTS THROUGHOUT OUR RUNWAYS AND TAXI WAYS INSTEAD OF THE ADDITIONAL COST OF ELECTRICITY, WHICH IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE FOR SMALLER AIRPORTS.

>> ULTIMATELY, OUR RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION AND INFORM POTENTIALLY A PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AND/OR STANDARD FOR USE OF THESE DEVICES.

SO IF AN AIRPORT LIKE PENN YAN CAN AND THEY KNOW WHATEVER THEY BUY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET OUR STANDARDS.

THAT'S THE END GOAL.

>> IT'S REALLY AMAZING AND IT'S COOL THAT LITTLE YATES COUNTY GOT CHOSEN TO BE THE TESTING SITE FOR SOMETHING SO FUTURISTIC.

>> IN SEASON 1, WE TALKED ABOUT THE GREAT RETIREMENT WHERE PEOPLE WERE LEAVING THEIR JOBS EARLY AND LEAVING NEW YORK STATE FOR FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, ET CETERA.

BUT EARLIER THIS YEAR, KEVIN TAMPONE WITH SYRACUSE.COM AND THE SYRACUSE STANDARD WROTE A STORY ABOUT PEOPLE MOVING TO SYRACUSE FROM ALL PLACES NEW YORK CITY.

PLEASURE MEETING YOU BY THE WAY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M A NEWSPAPER GUY AND THAT STORY REALLY STRUCK ME BECAUSE WE TALK SO MUCH ABOUT PEOPLE LEAVING NEW YORK.

YOU HAD A DIFFERENT ANGLE ON THIS.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH, WELL URBAN COUNTIES IT-- WELL, IT IS A REAL TREND, A REAL THING WE STARTED TO IDENTIFY PRETTY EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

WE STARTED TO GET ANECDOTAL STORIES OF PEOPLE MOVING TO THE SYRACUSE AREA FROM NEW YORK CITY.

ANOTHER REPORTER WAS ABLE TO TALK TO SOME OF THE FAMILIES EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC AND THEN SORT OF SLOWLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE' GOTTEN SOME REAL NUMBERS TO BACK THEM UP.

WE GOT NUMBERS EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT I BASED THE STORY ON THAT YOU MENTIONED, FROM THE I.R.S.

THEY TRACKED TAX RETURNS YEAR TO YEAR.

SO WHEN SOMEONE FILES IN A NEW PLACE, THEY PRODUCE A SET OF NUMBERS THAT REFLECT THAT.

AND WHAT I FOUND LOOKING ATHE AT THESE NUMBERS IS THAT 2019-2020, THE MOST RECENT YEAR WE HAVE NUMBERS FOR, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAD MOVING FROM NEW YORK CITY TO ONONDAGA COUNTY THAT YEAR, SINCE AT LEAST 2009 TO 2010, 775 PEOPLE MOVED IN 2019-20.

IN ANY OTHER YEARS IN THE LAST DECK DECADE WERE NOT EVEN CLOSE.

2019-2020 STOOD OUT AS A BIG YEAR PEOPLE MOVING TO HERE FROM NEW YORK CITY.

>> WERE THERE REASONS CITED.

WHY SYRACUSE?

THERE ARE OTHER PLACES TO GO BUT THEY WENT TO SYRACUSE AND CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> YES AND OF COURSE THE PANDEMIC PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS AND THE ABILITY THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOW TO, FOR A LOT OF JOBS, NOT ALL BUT A LOT OF JOBS, TO WORK REMOTELY AND WORK FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A JOB IN AN OFFICE IN MIDTOWN, WHETHER YOU ARE AT YOUR HOUSE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY OR IN A HOUSE IN SYRACUSE, SUDDENLY IT DIDN'T MATTER ANYMORE.

>> PEOPLE WERE LEAVING-- I SHOULD SAY A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE FOUND THAT WE TALKED WITH WERE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT HAD KIDS SO THEY WERE LOOKING INTO SCHOOLS.

THEY WERE ATTRACTED BY THE SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD SCHOOLS AROUND HERE.

GREEN SPACE, OBVIOUSLY.

EASY ACCESS TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

THOSE WERE SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE MENTIONED.

>> ALL GOOD STUFF.

AND WE ARE A LITTLE TIGHT ON TIME BUT YOU WILL BE BACK WITH US LATER THIS SEASON WITH ANOTHER REPORT YOU'VE DONE.

AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WHEN WE COME UP LATER ON BUT RIGHT NOW, THANKS FOR THIS UPDATE.

IT'S INTERESTING STORY, PEOPLE COMING TO SYRACUSE.

APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

KEVIN TAMPONE WITH SYRACUSE.COM AND THE POST STANDARD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SEE YOU LATER THIS SEASON.

WE FINISH UP TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL - LAST SEASON WE BROUGHT YOU A NUMBER OF REPORTS HIGHLIGHTING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IN ONEIDA COUNTY - TURNS OUT THERE'S QUITE A BIT HAPPENING IN ONEIDA WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING OF TECHNOLOGY AT THE FOREFRONT.

ON THE MONEY RECENTLY VISITED THE $1.2 BILLION WOLFSPEED PLANT IN MARCY, NEW YORK.

THEY'RE MANUFACTURING SILICON CHIPS.

THE PLANT WILL BE THE LARGEST SILICON CARBIDE CHIP FACILITY IN THE WORLD.

WHILE MUCH OF THE FACILITY IS OFF LIMITS TO CAMERAS, WE DID TALK WITH ADAM MILTON, VICE PRESIDENT OF MOWHAWK VALLEY FAB CENTER WHO GAVE US INSIGHTS INTO WOLFSPEED'S PRODUCTS - AND POTENTIAL.

>> WHAT IS IT YOU ARE DOING?

IT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY HIGH EFFECT FACILITY HERE.

WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THESE WALLS?

>> WE ARE SILICON CARBIDE COMPANY THAT FOCUSES ON LEVERAGING OUR TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE WORLD CLASS COMPUTER CHIPS.

OUR CHIPS ARE USED IN POWER ELECTRONICS MOSTLY.

OUR DEVICES ARE REALLY EFFICIENT.

AND SO THE MAIN REASON WE BUILT THIS FACTORY HERE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IS TO SUPPORT THE GROWING E.D.

MARKET, THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.

WE ARE THE WORLD'S FIRST 200-MILLIMETER CARBIDE FACTORY.

>> WOLFSPEED, A PUBLIC COMPANY HERE IN MARCY HEADQUARTERED IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> YES.

>> IT DOES BEG THE QUESTION, WHY HERE?

YOU COULD HAVE BUILT THIS PROBABLY ANYWHERE.

IS THERE A SIGNIFICANCE TO THIS AREA?

>> WE WERE LOOKING TO EXPAND.

WE WANTED TO BUILD A BUILDING WITH THIS SCALE TO SUPPORT THE GROWING CUSTOMER MARKET THAT WE ARE SEEING.

WE WANTED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING THAT WE NEEDED AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE SEMICONDUCTORS.

YOU NEED POWER, WATER, DRAINS TO SUPPORT ALL THE FACILITIES THAT WE USE.

SO THIS SITE WAS THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR US.

IT HAD THE SIZE.

IT WAS ALREADY BASICALLY SHOVEL READY.

SO THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAD ALREADY INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PROVIDE ALL THE WATER, REDUNDANT POWER SOURCES.

>> THE SHORTAGE WAS MOST OF THIS CAUSED, DO YOU THINK, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC?

OR IS IT A CASE WHERE SO MUCH OF THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS STUFF, THESE PRODUCTS, IS DONE OVERSEAS AND NOT HERE?

>> THE PANDEMIC DIDN'T HELP.

IT DISRUPTED A LOT OF SUPPLY CHAINS.

BUT SPECIFICALLY WOLFSPEED, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE COULD SUPPLY CHIPS FOR OUR MARKET.

THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO BUILD A FACTORY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE WERE FORTUNATE TO START BUILDING RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SO WE WERE READY TO DELIVER CHIPS TO OUR CUSTOMERS, YOU KNOW, NOW, WHEN A LOT OF OTHER COMPANIES ARE JUST STARTING TO SCALE UP.

>> BUT CAN WE-- AND THIS IS A TOUGH ONE, I REALIZE.

BUT CAN WE, MEANING THE U.S., WOLFSPEED, CAN WE BECOME A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE MANUFACTURING OF CHIPS?

WE HAVE BEEN SO RELIANT UPON OVERSEAS, CHINA, ASIA, ET CETERA.

CAN WE BE THE DOMINANT PLAYER HERE?

>> YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF MOMENTUM HEADING THAT DIRECTION.

THE PASSAGE OF THE CHIPS ACT JUST RECENTLY... >> BIG NEWS.

HELPS YOU GUYS OUT A TON.

>> HELPS THE WHOLE MARKET AND ALL, ESSENTIALLY ALL THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE TRYING TO BUILD AND GROW ADDITIONAL CAPACITY HERE IN THE U.S.

THERE IS A GROWTH UP OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

I THINK YOU HAVE THE TALENT IN THE U.S.

SO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

>> YOU MENTION THOUGH, YOU MENTION SUPPLY CHAIN AND PANDEMIC ISSUES.

AT SOME POINT, WOULDN'T WE EXPECT THAT THE SUPPLY WOULD CATCH UP WITH THE DEMAND SO MAYBE WE'LL START TO SEE, YOU KNOW, LESS OF A NEED OR DON'T YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING?

>> AT WOLFSPEED, WE ARE ACTUALLY PART OF THIS FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY FROM INTERNAL COMBUSTION TO ELECTRIFICATION.

>> BREAKS MY HEART, YOU KNOW.

BREAKING MY HEART.

>> SO CERTAINLY THERE IS A SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASPECT BUT WE CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH IN MORE AND MORE AUTOMOTIVE COMPANIES WANTING TO SWITCH OVER TO ELECTRIC.

THAT'S WHERE OUR DEMAND IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS THE MARKET CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE, THIS SILICON CARBIDE PRODUCT, I'M READING THAT IT'S MORE SPISHT.

>> YES.

SO SILICON CARBIDE HAS CERTAIN MECHANICAL PROPERTIES THAT HELPS SUPPORT HIGH POWER APPLICATIONS.

SO WHEN YOU GET INTO 600 VOLTS, 800 VOLTS, ANYTHING IN HIGH VOLTAGES, YOU SEE A LOT MORE EFFICIENCY WITH SILICON CARBIDE.

SO IF YOU CAN PUT THAT INTO AN ELECTRIC APPLICATION, ESSENTIALLY, TO YOU AS A DRIVER, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE RANGE ON YOUR CAR.

YOU BASICALLY GET LONGER BATTERY LIFE.

WE ALSO CAN GET FASTER CHARGE TIMES.

AND SO THAT ENABLES YOU TO, IF YOU ARE A CAR COMPANY, YOU CAN SELL A CAR WITH LONGER RANGE OR YOU CAN SELL MAYBE A SMALLER BATTERY WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF RANGE.

>> ON SEASON 1 OF OUR "ON THE MONEY" SERIES, WE SAT DOWN AND WE HAD AN INTERVIEW CENTERSTATE C.E.O.

AND I WAS LAMENTING TO HIM, I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WE HAD ALL THESE BIG MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONE NOW.

IT'S ALL TECHNOLOGY.

HE SAID, DAN, IT HIT ME OVER THE HEAD.

HE SAID THESE TECH COMPANIES ARE MANUFACTURING.

YOU ARE MAKING A PRODUCT HERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S LOST ON SOME OF US.

THIS IS A MANUFACTURING FACILITY, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY A MANUFACTURING FACILITY.

THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR FACTORY, IT'S A LOT MORE TECHNICAL.

THERE ARE A LOT MORE TECHNICAL JOBS.

WE ARE NOT HIRING A LOT OF OPERATORS BUT HIRE A LOT OF TECHNICIANS.

80% OF OUR STAFFING WILL BE IN A TECHNICAL FIELD, MAYBE A TWO-YEAR DEGREE DOING MAINTENANCE ON ROBOTS, REPAIRING TOOLS, LOADING AND UNLOADING TOOLS.

AND SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR TEAM IS ON THE ENGINEERING SIDE AS WELL WITH A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

>> YOU ARE HIRING HERE.

>> YEP.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU NEED AND SECONDARILY AS YOU EXPAND, IS IT DIFFICULT FINDING PEOPLE?

>> SO THROUGH 2029, WE EXPECT TO HIRE MORE THAN 600 EMPLOYEES TO SUPPORT THIS BUILDING.

WE ARE ACTUALLY AT ABOUT 300 EMPLOYEES NOW.

>> THAT'S SIX, SEVEN YEARS FROM NOW YOU ARE GOING HAVE HOW MANY EMPLOYEES?

>> 600.

WE'VE HIRED 300 EMPLOYEES IN IN THE BUILDING.

80% OF THE JOBS ARE TECHNICAL JOBS.

>> LOCALS OR BRINGING PEOPLE IN FROM ELSEWHERE?

HOW ARE YOU FINDING THESE FOLKS?

>> IT'S A PRETTY GOOD MIX.

THERE ARE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING THAT THERE IS A UNIQUE SKILL SET YOU NEED SO WE HAVE RECRUITED TALENT FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. WITH THE DESIRE TO MOVE HERE.

>> TALK TO ME MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUNY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE... >> RIGHT, ACROSS THE STREET FROM HERE.

>> LITERALLY.

>> SUNY POLY HAS A CAMPUS AND WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM TO HELP TRAIN SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE ALSO HIRED THEIR GRADUATES.

WE HAVE A STRONG INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND SO WE HAVE HAD SOME OF THEIR STUDENTS COME INTERN WITH US HERE, EVEN SOME WENT TO NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING THE BUILDING AND THEY GRADUATED AND WE HIRED THEM AS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

>> I GUESS THIS IS OUR FUTURE, RIGHT?

ELECTRIC VEHICLES, YOU ARE DOING INTERESTING WORK WITH LUCID.

>> THEY HAVE SEEN IF YOU REPLACE EFFICIENT SILICON INEFFICIENT SILICON CHIPS WITH OUR EFFICIENT SILICON DEVICES, THEY CAN GET A LOT MORE EFFICIENCY.

>> AFFECTING THE RANGE?

>> THEY'RE TRYING TO CONVERT POWER FROM THE GATRY TO DRIVE THE CAR.

AND SO WHEN YOU USE SILICON CARBIDE DEVICES WE HAVE FASTER SWITCHING SPEEDS.

AND ESSENTIALLY LESS POWER LOSS.

SO, FOR A GIVEN CHARGE, A GIVEN AMOUNT OF BATTERY POWER, YOU CAN GET FURTHER WITH OUR DEVICES INSIDE THE CAR VERSUS THE INCUMBENT SILICON TYPE.

>> SOME OF THIS CLEARLY CAN GO OVER MY HEAD.

BUT DRIVING UP HERE AND LOOKING AT THIS, IT'S LIKE A BILLION-DOLLAR FACILITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHICH TELLS ME THIS IS IMPORTANT.

THERE IS DEMAND FOR THE PRODUCT HERE.

THERE IS DEMAND FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

YOU SEE THAT CONTINUING TO GROW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE MARKETS WE SERVE, WE SERVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MARKETS BUT THEY'RE CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS TO USE OUR DEVICES, TO DRIVE MORE EFFICIENCY IN THEIR APPLICATIONS AND SO REALLY THE OVERALL TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IS LOOKING FOR MORE CHIPS BUT OUR MARKETS ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR EFFICIENT POWER DEVICES AND SO WE CONTINUE TO SEE MORE AND MORE EXCITEMENT AND DEMAND FOR THAT SILICON CARBIDE PRODUCT THAT WE MAKE.

WE SEE THE FOREFRONT OF THE INDUSTRY, WE BUILT THIS MASSIVE FACILITY TO SUPPORT THE GROWING DEMAND.

WE ARE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE.

>> I HAVE TO SAY THAT WAS ONE OF THE COOLEST BUILDINGS I'VE BEEN IN IN QUITE A WHILE.

ULTRACLEAN AND REALLY MODERN.

OUR THANKS AGAIN TO ADAM FOR HOSTING US.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT - NEXT WEEK, WE SEE HOW SYRACUSE AREA TEENS ARE ARE USING THEIR VOICE TO SHARE VITAL FINANCIAL LITERACY FACTS THROUGH TIK TOK.

WE EXPLORE HOW ROBOTS ARE BEING UTILIZED AT ONE SYRACUSE HOSPITAL.

AND, WE MEET UP WITH UTICA COMETS AND MOHAWK VALLEY GARDEN PRESIDENT ROBERT ESCHE FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES - HE'LL DISCUSS THE CITY'S NEW 65-MILLION DOLLAR SPORTS FACILITY THAT PROMISES THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO THE AREA.

THERE'S STILL MORE COMING THIS SEASON AND IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, LET US KNOW - CONTACT US BY EMAILING NEWS AT WCNY.ORG.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM - OR VIEW PREVIOUS EPISODES, JUST VISIT OUR WEBSITE WCNY.ORG/ONTHE THERE THE MONEY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AS WELL.

I'M DANIEL PLUFF, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.