With $20 Billion from Intel, Ohio in Mix to Become US Semiconductor Manufacturing Cluster
Thanks to President Biden's CHIPS Act, Ohio, already a $20 billion winner with Intel's decision to build two factories near Columbus, is in the running to become one of two semiconductor manufacturing clusters being developed according to U.S. Commerce Department officials.
"We want to elevate and amplify the great work that's being done here because this is what an emerging semiconductor cluster really looks like," said Ayodele Okeowo, the department's director of intergovernmental affairs who was among several Commerce officials meeting with Ohio government, economic development and educational leaders this week.
While there is broad interest from states in the $52.7 billion in subsidies available from the bill, called the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors in America, only a few states are in the running to become clusters, he said. "When you look at these leading-edge, large-scale projects, those are in a handful of states and Ohio is certainly one of them."
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, in a speech last February, laid out the department's priorities for the two clusters of factories, also called fabs, by 2030.
"Specifically, the U.S. will have at least two new large-scale clusters of leading-edge logic fabs, that will have been built by highly-skilled union labor," she said. "Each cluster will include a robust supplier ecosystem, R&D facilities to continuously innovate new process technologies, and specialized infrastructure. Each of those clusters will employ thousands of workers in well-paying jobs."