Ohio Lands $20B Intel Investment, Most Advanced Semiconductor Plants

With its two new semiconductor manufacturing facilities, the company's most advanced in the world, Intel will bring 3,000 jobs to Licking County, OH by by 2025.  

Global semiconductor manufacturer Intel Corporation will invest more than $20 billion in central Ohio’s Licking County, where it will build its most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the world. The two state-of-the-art factories, to be completed by 2025, were designed for what the company calls the “Angstrom era” — with materials processed on the atomic level — and with support for Intel’s most advanced process technologies. The megaproject will result in an increased American share of the global semiconductor supply chain.

“We are excited to call Ohio home to Intel’s first new manufacturing site in 40 years,” said Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO. “Today, we take an important step toward our goal to rebalance global chipmaking capacity and help boost production to meet the surging demand for advanced semiconductors, powering a new generation of innovative products. The new factories we’ll build in Ohio are part of our strategy to increase semiconductor R&D and global manufacturing capacity and restore U.S. semi manufacturing leadership. We expect Intel Ohio will become one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing sites in the world over the next decade.”

Intel Semiconductor Ohio
A rendering shows early plans for two new leading-edge Intel processor factories in Licking County, Ohio. Announced on Jan. 21, 2022, the $20 billion project spans nearly 1,000 acres and is the largest single private-sector investment in Ohio history. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

The megaproject will be the largest single private sector company investment in Ohio’s history. It will generate more than 20,000 jobs in the state, including 3,000 direct Intel jobs earning an average of $135,000 per year (plus benefits), 7,000 construction jobs over the course of the build, and tens of thousands of additional indirect and support jobs. The project is expected to add $2.8 billion to Ohio’s annual gross state product.

The initial manufacturing facilities (known in the industry as FABs or foundries) will be located on a 926-acre site in Licking County but have a statewide impact: More than 140 existing Ohio businesses are already Intel suppliers, and the project is expected to bring additional new businesses to Ohio to support the supply chain.

“Today’s announcement is monumental news for the state of Ohio,” said Governor Mike DeWine.  “Intel’s new facilities will be transformative for our state, creating thousands of good-paying jobs in Ohio manufacturing strategically vital semiconductors, often called ‘chips.’ Advanced manufacturing, research and development, and talent are part of Ohio’s DNA, and we are proud that chips — which power the future — will be made in Ohio, by Ohioans.”

In 1990, the U.S. was a world leader in chip production, dominating nearly 40% of the world’s production capacity. In 2020, the nation’s share fell to only 12% and is projected to slide to just 10% by 2030.

“Just as candles gave way to light bulbs, carriages gave way to cars, and now engines to battery packs, we must continue to attract the businesses and jobs of the future to make sure Ohioans, their children, and their grandchildren can prosper here,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “With the project announced today, we are establishing an entirely new industry sector that currently does not exist in our state, and along with it, we are rebuilding for America a sustainable, resilient domestic supply chain of semiconductors, which is critical to our national and economic security.”

Boosting chip production in the U.S. is considered critical to national security and industrial competitiveness. Intel’s technology, built in America, is essential to key Ohio sectors, including automotive, advanced mobility, aerospace and aviation, consumer goods, data centers, defense, healthcare, and technology — these industry segments are crucial to state and regional economies. And demand is increasing — global computer chip manufacturing capacity is expected to grow by 56% over the current install base by 2030.

“Ohio was built for this moment and this industry. Intel envisions building its future in Ohio because generations of visionary Ohioans built the ideal foundation — a great place to live and work combined with a spirit of dedication to excellence and pride in hard work,” JobsOhio president and CEO J.P. Nauseef noted. “For 11 years, JobsOhio has been proud to work with the state administration, our network partners, and stakeholders across the state to provide Ohio a competitive advantage in attracting and growing some of the world’s most important businesses. We want the world to know that Ohio’s Future is Built with Intel and is open to business from other companies that want to come alongside.”

Intel Semiconductor Ohio
A rendering shows early plans for two new leading-edge Intel processor factories in Licking County, Ohio. Construction is expected to begin in late 2022, with production coming online at the end of 2025. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

“Today’s announcement is what’s possible when dedicated leaders like Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted work tirelessly every day to make Ohio the place where companies, like Intel, want to grow their business,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Ohio is second to none when it comes to talent, public-private collaboration, and opportunity. As a result, we are welcoming a new industry sector to our state.”

Public and private leaders across Ohio support the passage of the CHIPS for America Act, already approved by the U.S. Senate, to make Ohio and the nation globally competitive and accelerate growth in the Ohio project.

“This is a powerful development for Ohio’s economy, jobs, and national security,” said Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman. “Now more than ever, critical components need to be made here at home instead of relying on overseas manufacturing.”

Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp added, “This is an historic day for Ohio. This project will make Ohio a national leader for domestic semiconductor manufacturing and puts Ohioans at the forefront of making built-in-the-USA products that are safeguarding our national security. This is a project that will have a profound economic impact not only in Licking County but throughout Ohio for decades to come.”

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