Biden visits New York as IBM announces $20B program; what to know about Poughkeepsie trip
The President of the United States roamed a warehouse in Poughkeepsie Thursday afternoon.
With a warm smile, Joe Biden greeted employees of the IBM facility, shaking hands and asking how they were doing.
The site situated in a town of roughly 45,000 is the global company’s hub for mainframe development and quantum computing, though IBM’s footprint in Dutchess County has decreased in recent decades.
“Where in God’s name is it written that we can’t be the manufacturing hub of the world?” Biden remarked. “There’s a lot of reasons to be optimistic.”
IBM provided one for employees and the region in general Thursday, announcing a $20 billion initiative for its Hudson Valley sites over the next decade.
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“More is going to change in the next 10 years than it has in the last 40,” Biden told employees.
The announcement was the centerpiece of a day packed with local anticipation. Some stood along town roads surrounding the IBM campus holding signs of support for the president; others gathered to show their displeasure. And some drivers faced added hurdles navigating traffic caused by the presidential motorcade.
The IBM program includes a $20 billion investment across sites in Poughkeepsie, Yorktown and Albany, in the areas of research and development, semiconductor manufacturing, mainframe technology, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, according to the White House, which noted “good-paying manufacturing jobs” would be created.
The program is a direct product of the CHIPS and Science Act, which Biden signed in August, according to the White House.
IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna did not elaborate on how the plan would work or how many jobs may be created over the next decade.
But the visit sparked excitement all the same, including among some involved in welcoming the president.
Arrival in Newburgh
For Matthew DeLorenzo, the high point of the day came when Air Force One touched down at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh at 11:46 a.m.
The 24-year-old Gardiner resident, a crew chief in the U.S. Air Force, placed the stops at the wheels − or chocked − Air Force One.
"It's definitely an honor to be able to do something of this caliber," he said. "Everyone knows about Air Force One and this history behind it. And having the opportunity to install chocks, I know it doesn’t seem like a big accomplishment, but it was absolutely cool to be a part of this."
For several minutes after disembarking, Biden stood at the base of the stairs shaking hands and chatting with fellow Democratic officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Congressmen. Multiple members of the Secret Service surrounded the group while they mingled.
The sun shone hot and bright on the tarmac, but Biden briefly removed his sunglasses as he smiled and greeted the politicians. Then, his motorcade departed for Poughkeepsie, and the subdued crew began to show their enthusiasm for the moment.
Several young members of the Air Force and New York Air National Guard stood in front of Air Force One taking photos on their phones and enjoying being in such close proximity to one of the most recognizable planes in the country.
Biden's presence also had an impact on businesses surrounding the Poughkeepsie campus.
Small business owners are hopeful about the president’s message about more jobs in the area, which they say could translate into more customers. However, for now, they are struggling to make ends meet due to rising costs and hiring pressures.
Susan Horton, owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes along Route 9, opened her bakery in 2020 and has seen the cost of supplies triple in less than two years.
“We need all the help we can get in the Hudson Valley, boosting the economy with more jobs, more people and the attraction to be here,” she said.
‘Hope' at IBM
At IBM, many employees and officials were eagerly anticipating the president’s arrival in advance of a 2 p.m. speech.
Myja Carter, a 17-year IBM employee who is now a line lead, was among the group.
"There's hope. There's a future for my generation, for my daughter's generation," she said.
Before his address, Biden was taken on a brief tour of the facility, in which he was shown the z16 mainframes tested and manufactured in Poughkeepsie, and a quantum computer. He also greeted some employees.
“You look like you spend a lot of time in the gym,” he told one.
His roughly 20-minute speech touched not only on IBM’s history, but the importance of the CHIPS and Science Act, aims to boost domestic manufacturing of computer chips and includes roughly $52 billion in incentives for the semiconductor industry.
“It’s here, it’s here at this factory and the factories of other companies across America where America’s future is literally being built,” Biden said. “It was here in Poughkeepsie where the rifles for World War I were made, where the first electric typewriters, calculators, even cough drops were made. I brought some with me. And it’s here now where the Hudson Valley could become the epicenter of the future of quantum computing, the most advanced and fastest computing ever, ever seen in the world."
Following the speech, Biden and his motorcade left IBM for Hudson Valley Regional Airport in Wappinger, where he boarded Marine One and took off before 2:50 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Biden's Poughkeepsie IBM visit includes $20B announcement
