Intel hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking at its construction site in Licking County Friday morning. It鈥檚 a billion-dollar investment to build up to eight semiconductor manufacturing facilities, or 鈥渃hip fabs鈥� as they call them.
Intel invited local, state and federal leaders to officially celebrate the construction phase of two chip fabs that will be built by 2025. Governor Mike DeWine, senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, congresswoman Joyce Baetty, and Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger spoke at the event.
President Joe Biden also joined others on stage.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to bury the label rustbelt and call it as Pat [Gelsinger] says the silicon heartland,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 happening on these 1,000 acres. A brand new $20 billion dollar campus. 7,000 construction jobs, union construction jobs, 3,000 full-time jobs.鈥�
That is 3,000 full-time jobs for the first two fabs. Intel also launched the first phase of its $50 million investment in Ohio higher education institutes.
Jim Evers is Intel Ohio鈥檚 general manager. He said it is an investment in that goes beyond Intel's specific needs.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not just investing only in our workforce, which we鈥檙e very happy to see all that workforce, but 9,000 students that鈥檚 to basically educate the overall community,鈥� Evers said. 鈥淲e want them to have science, technology, engineering, arts and math degrees cause this is a field that needs that kind of talent.鈥�
It will also give over 2,300 scholarships to students. It is a collaboration led by six universities that include Ohio State and Central State University. But it also connects these schools with 80-other higher education institutions across the state.
Evers also shared his vision for Intel Ohio. He is committed to a diverse workforce and hopes future generations consider careers in science and technology.
鈥淥ne day it would be great to get to population global representation. In order to do that 鈥� the sons and daughters of Ohio and the Midwest that are in K-12, we have to encourage them to be scientists and engineers.鈥�
Intel has also committed that a quarter of its workforce will be women.
Business leaders have also hailed the success of Intel鈥檚 investment. Don DePerro, is the president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. DePerro said even though the project has drawn its skeptics, projects like Intel are necessary for economic growth.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e not growing, you鈥檙e dying,鈥� DePerro said. 鈥淭o have an announcement like this in a community like Columbus Ohio is extraordinary. This can lead to great things. Our children can find wonderful jobs here they don鈥檛鈥� have to leave Columbus they don鈥檛; have to go to other parts of the country they can stay home and have great career opportunities.鈥�
DePerro also said that Intel has shown good faith in working with Ohio businesses.
鈥淲ill not only have 30 to 40 direct suppliers to Intel, but we鈥檒l also have suppliers to suppliers of intel,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey already have 140 suppliers existing now in the state of Ohio. I鈥檓 told a couple a couple will be cajoled to move a little closer to this facility it鈥檚 just unbelievable news.鈥�
DePerro adds that the Chamber of Commerce is on Intel鈥檚 workforce committee and plans to help them recruit employees from out of state as well.
Intel intends to build up to eight chip fabs by 2030 with passage of the CHIPS Act. It is a $50 billion subsidy for semiconductor manufacturers in the United States.
