Syracuse Selected as Site for New York’s First ON-RAMP Workforce Hub
A former Sears building on South Salina Street in Syracuse has been selected as the site for New York State’s first ON-RAMP Workforce Innovation Hub, marking a significant step in the state’s effort to strengthen its pipeline of skilled workers for the advanced manufacturing and construction industries.
The announcement, made Thursday by Governor Kathy Hochul, includes $8.5 million in funding approved by Empire State Development (ESD) to support the first phase of the redevelopment. The ON-RAMP center will serve as an anchor tenant in a larger revitalization effort led by the City of Syracuse and CenterState CEO.
ON-RAMP (Opportunities for New Yorkers through Rapid and Advanced Manufacturing Pathways) is a $200 million workforce development initiative launched in the 2024 State of the State agenda. Syracuse’s hub is the first of four planned statewide locations, with additional centers expected in the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley, and Finger Lakes.
The initiative is designed to prepare New Yorkers for high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing through skills training and support services. The ON-RAMP model is based on Buffalo’s Northland Workforce Training Center, which integrates job training with wraparound services such as transportation, childcare, and financial literacy to address barriers to employment.
“This new ON-RAMP center in Syracuse will be a critical part of the new I-90 advanced manufacturing corridor, giving New Yorkers the skills and training necessary for a good-paying job,” Governor Hochul said in a statement.
Initial programs at the Syracuse site will focus on career exploration, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), financial empowerment, and trade-specific training in construction and manufacturing. Programs will be temporarily housed at CenterState CEO’s offices on West Fayette Street while the South Salina Street site is redeveloped. Between 150 and 200 individuals are expected to be served in the first year.
The hub is being launched in parallel with ongoing development plans connected to Micron Technology’s $100 billion investment in a semiconductor fabrication facility in nearby Clay, which is projected to create tens of thousands of jobs over the next two decades. Officials said the ON-RAMP center will help ensure a local workforce is prepared to fill those roles.
CenterState CEO, a local economic development organization, is collaborating with the city to explore additional redevelopment opportunities for adjacent city-owned properties. Monthly virtual town halls are planned to engage residents and gather community input on the project.
“The ON-RAMP Center on South Salina Street holds high potential for workforce innovation at a time of growth in our region,” said Rob Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “We’re committed to ensuring this project reflects the needs and voices of the surrounding community.”
Local and state leaders echoed support for the project, highlighting its potential to reduce barriers to employment and promote inclusive economic development in Syracuse’s Southside neighborhood.
Upon completion, the ON-RAMP hub will offer employer-aligned training programs and job placement support in collaboration with partners across education, industry, labor, and community organizations.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts by the state to invest in semiconductor manufacturing and workforce readiness. In 2023, the state launched a $10 billion public-private partnership to expand semiconductor research in Albany, and created the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration (GO-SEMI) to coordinate growth in the sector.
The Syracuse hub is expected to play a key role in that ecosystem, serving as a central access point for residents seeking to enter the advanced manufacturing workforce.