September 16, 2009 White House eyes visit to Luther Forest site By Blake Jones
MALTA -- The region is buzzing about a possible upstate New York visit next week by President Barack Obama.
While no official confirmation of an appearance has been made, the White House has reportedly been doing its homework on Saratoga County and, more specifically, Malta.
Officials at Luther Forest Technology Campus, which is home to the GlobalFoundries computer chip plant, confirmed they have been in communication with Obama staffers and advisers for more than a month.
Luther Forest spokeswoman Missy Shorey said conversations about the campus have focused on the economic activity in progress, the availability of shovel-ready sites, and its partnership with Hudson Valley Community College to create a job training program.
Luther Forest President Michael Relyea said Tuesday that exposure from a visit by the president would raise the profile of the project going forward and validate the accomplishments thus far.
"We believe that if you can get the president of the United States even just to talk about (the campus) for a minute, it creates a buzz and an excitement that most other projects never get," he said.
GlobalFoundries spokesman Travis Bullard said the company has also been contacted by the Obama administration, but didnt have any information on a potential visit.
"All weve heard is the same rumors," Bullard said.
A few months ago, GlobalFoundries invited the White House to participate in the July groundbreaking of its $4.5 billion chip manufacturing plant. Since then, communication with Obama aides has focused on the plants implications for technology and education, particularly the need to prepare future workers at local community colleges, Bullard said.
According to Bullard, a large percentage of the plants work force will need, at minimum, an associates degree.
"Community colleges seem to be a big part of the administrations agenda," he said.
Tuesday afternoon, a White House spokeswoman said she could not confirm if or when the president would make a stop in Malta.
An effort to bring him here, however, does appear to be under way.
Saratoga Democratic Chairman Larry Bulman said he and others have been working since spring to encourage the president to see Luther Forest. He said he had talked with the presidents staff in Washington as recently as this week.
Bulman, who also is state political director for New York Pipe Trades, is currently on Capitol Hill to discuss health care with members of Congress.
Bulman said Tuesday afternoon that nothing is definite, but the president could possibly visit the area next week during a tour of northeastern states.
On Sept. 22, Obama is scheduled to speak at a climate change summit at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan.
The Post-Stars news partner, NewsChannel 13, cited unnamed sources in a report that pegged Sept. 22 as the date of a local appearance, either before or after Obamas speaking engagement.
According to the report, the Secret Service has already checked out Albany International Airport in advance of a visit.
Asked about the rumors, airport spokesman Doug Myers said the airport does not to comment on visits from dignitaries.
The speculation comes on the heels of a number of big developments for GlobalFoundries and its founding partners, Advanced Micro Devices and an Abu Dhabi investment firm.
In May, AMD heralded a $1.45 billion antitrust fine against competitor Intel Corp. as a major step toward developing its markets in the European Union.
On July 25, construction began on the GlobalFoundries computer chip factory, which is expected to create 2,900 construction jobs and employ almost 1,500 once completed. Within a week of breaking ground, the company announced its first non-AMD customer.
AMD has also been the subject of scrutiny in recent months.
In mid-August, a letter was made public from the Securities and Exchange Commission to AMD asking for information about the companys involvement in Iran, Syria and Sudan, all countries classified as state sponsors of terrorism.
Attorneys for AMD said the company has not provided any products or technology to the countries in question.
