There is yet another entity making a strong bid for the mystery IC-packaging center in New York.

The Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises Corp. (EDGE)--which is in the center of New York State--is at least the third or fourth entity making a bid for the R&D chip-packaging center in the state. Mohawk Valley EDGE is the site developer and marketing organization for Marcy NanoCenter, a fledging fab and R&D site in central New York state.

As reported, in June, New York state said it would invest $50 million toward the establishment of a new, 120,000-square-foot semiconductor packaging R&D center at a to-be-determined location in upstate New York. This center will be established, managed and owned by the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), with IBM conducting operations at that site.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) will also be a research partner in the new packaging facility. It is expected this public-private partnership will ultimately create over 675 jobs.

No decision has been made on the location of the R&D IC-packaging center. It's up for grabs in the state and several regions want it for good reason: They need the jobs amid an economic downturn.

In New York, Albany wants it. Hudson Valley wants it. Saratoga County wants it.

Sources said that Marcy NanoCenter wants the project as well. Marcy NanoCenter has a 300-acre greenfield site for fabs and other potential projects.

So far, EDGE has yet to garner a tenant for the site. It is near the State University of New York (SUNY). Located in the Northeast United States, the Mohawk Valley is part of two larger regions that includes 12 counties centered around Syracuse.

In June, Mohawk Valley EDGE quietly issued a release on its Web site, saying that the area would benefit from the 120,000-square-foot semiconductor packaging facility. If the Mohawk Valley were to land the plant, the area could attract some 200 scientists and researchers.

Even if it does not win the plant, opportunities would exist for as many as 475 small businesses, contractors and manufacturers to supply and produce high-tech items needed to run and support such a facility, according to the group.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente wrote New York Governor David Paterson in June, saying he wants the facility in Marcy because the region needs such high-paying jobs.

''This is one that we are really going to stay on top of,'' Picente said in the letter in June. ''This industry is not one that needs to grow in just the Albany area. We have a pre-permanent site that needs to be invested in.''