The U.S. Department of Commerce announced it plans to award up to $406 million in CHIPS for America funding to electronics companies GlobalWafers America and MEMC. The companies will receive the funds as they complete construction, production, commercial, and technology milestones.
Creating Nearly 2,600 Jobs
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that the investment will increase the domestic production of semiconductor wafers and create about 2,600 manufacturing and construction jobs across Missouri and Texas.
Domestic Semiconductor Wafer Production
According to the Commerce Department, the awards will help build a GlobalWafers America facility in Texas, where the company plans to manufacture advanced high-volume 300-millimeter silicon wafers for the production of advanced memory devices.
GlobalWafers America will also convert a section of its silicon epitaxy wafer factory in Sherman, Texas, to produce silicon carbide epitaxy wafers for high-voltage applications, such as clean energy infrastructure and electric vehicles.
MEMC will use the funds to construct a wafer manufacturing site in Missouri, which will produce 300-millimeter silicon-on-insulator wafers for devices used in the aerospace and defense industries.
More Than $25B Awarded
The Department of Commerce has awarded approximately $25 billion through CHIPS for America. The department expects the funds to support operations in 21 states and create more than 125,000 jobs.
Image credit: asharkyu/Shutterstock
