Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes $7.9B in CHIPS Act Funding for Intel | Columbus Ohio Dump Trucks

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce announced Nov. 26 it has finalized up to $7.86 billion in direct funding from the CHIPS and Science Act for Intel's commercial semiconductor manufacturing and packaging projects under construction in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon.

“The CHIPS for America program will supercharge American innovation and technology and make our country more secure—and Intel is playing an important role in the revitalization of the U.S. semiconductor industry through its unprecedented investments across Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio and Oregon,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, in a statement. “Thanks to the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, our CHIPS award is enabling Intel to drive one of the most significant semiconductor manufacturing expansions in U.S. history.”

Remarking on the company's latest funding award, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said in a statement, “With Intel 3 already in high-volume production and Intel 18A set to follow next year, leading-edge semiconductors are once again being made on American soil.

“Strong bipartisan support for restoring American technology and manufacturing leadership is driving historic investments that are critical to the country’s long-term economic growth and national security," Gelsinger continued. "Intel is deeply committed to advancing these shared priorities as we further expand our U.S. operations over the next several years.”

This past March, the Dept. of Commerce and Intel announced they had reached preliminary terms for $8.5 billion in direct funding—approximately $600 more than was ultimately awarded. However, the additional award in September of this year for an estimated $3-billion contract with the Dept. of Defense and the Commerce Dept. for the Secure Enclave program required a reduction in the latest funding.

"The final total award is less than the proposed preliminary award due to a congressional requirement to use CHIPS funding to pay for the $3-billion Secure Enclave program," Intel said in a statement. The Secure Enclave program supports manufacturing of microelectronics and ensuring a domestic supply chain of advanced semiconductors for national security purposes, according to the DOD.

Scott Judy is Deputy Editor for Regions, and editor of ENR Southeast, one of Engineering News-Record's 10 Regional publications. His roughly 27 years as a construction journalist began with an 11-year stint covering Midwest construction projects. In 2000, Judy helped launch the publication now known as ENR Southeast. He often delves into controversial aspects of the construction industry such as bankruptcies and fatal accidents, and wishes he would never have to cover another accident but suspects that he might.