The BoiseDev team is off for the holiday break. (We’ll keep an eye out for any major breaking stories.) While our team enjoys some downtime, we bring you a few stories you might have missed this year. A note that some stories may have new updates since the original date of publication. Have something we should know? Email us.

Micron Technology plans to spend $75 million over the next decade in boosting Idaho’s workforce and other community needs, but has few specifics three years after the global giant first announced an expansion bringing thousands of jobs to the Gem State.

On Thursday, the international company headquartered in Boise announced plans to spend $30 billion more on investments in the US, including a second memory fabrication plant in the Treasure Valley. This joins the announcement for a first fab to expand domestic semiconductor manufacturing with a $6.4 billion boost from the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022 under President Joe Biden’s term.

At the time of the expansion announcement, the company told BoiseDev there were plans in the works to invest in housing to help with the area’s housing challenges, as well as improve transportation options other than driving for workers commuting in from Canyon County. There were few details available, but Scott DeBoer, a Micron executive vice president, said the company building housing, including the possibility of some affordable options, was on the table.

The company has since been largely mum on how or if Micron would deliver on these investments in the past three years. Micron told BoiseDev last summer it would contribute $1 million to the City of Boise’s Supportive Housing Investment Fund, which will fund supportive services for the homeless community transitioning into permanent housing. The company had no details on any investments in transportation last summer aside from plans to route traffic through the area while the fab was under construction.

The company’s webpage announcing Thursday’s second fab included plans to start a fund to support various community programs called the Idaho Community Investment Framework, with $75 million from the company. This mirrors the $500 million community investment fund the company promised in the State of New York to support its two fabs in Syracuse. In New York, half of this fund would come from Micron, along with $100 million from the state, and the rest would come from yet-to-be-identified philanthropic partners. 

On the web page, Micron identified three key areas for investment from the Idaho fund: “building the workforce of the future”, “investing in STEM education for all” and “engaging with local communities.” BoiseDev asked Micron whether the State of Idaho or other partners would contribute to the fund, like in New York, or exactly what projects would be funded, but the company declined to comment. 

“Micron understands that robust community investments are critical to building the diverse, highly skilled workforce of the future that can sustain leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing and U.S. technology leadership,” the company’s web page said. “In support of Micron’s Idaho expansion efforts, Micron has established the Idaho Community Investment Framework, which reflects the shared priorities Micron and its partners have identified to lead inclusive growth across the state.”

In each of the three categories, Micron shared a vague idea of what the fund could be used for.

The “building the workforce of the future” section describes the company’s goal to fund “effective and creative workforce development solutions” to fill out the company’s open jobs at the fabs. It noted the company will be “particularly” focused on individuals in underrepresented groups and underserved communities, which Micron said will include rural Idaho.

The webpage said the company will create workforce training partnerships, “continue our longstanding efforts to expand inclusive hiring,” and it noted the company’s plans to consider improvements to transportation and housing in the Treasure Valley. It also touted on-site childcare for Boise employees, which the company submitted permits for before the CHIPS Act was signed into law.

In the education section, Micron said it plans to invest in statewide education programs to develop curriculum for high school students about semiconductors and provide college students with “experiential learning opportunities.”

The final section on “engaging with local communities” has the fewest specifics.

“Micron is committed to working with our community partners to understand the impact the semiconductor manufacturing expansion will have on the surrounding community infrastructure and needed improvements,” the web page said. “Micron will focus on economic development and continuing to provide community support through giving of charitable dollars and promoting volunteer opportunities.”

Correction: A previous version of this story said Micron would invest an additional $200 billion in Boise. The total amount is $200 billion across the US, including $30 billion in newly announced expansion.