The funding is expected to create up to 7,000 new manufacturing jobs, including 500 positions in Hillsboro, Oregon. This hiring push will intensify competition for specialised talent in regions with existing semiconductor ecosystems, requiring innovative recruitment strategies to fill these roles.
Intel has secured over $1.8 billion in federal CHIPS Act funding to upgrade its Hillsboro campus, part of a broader $8 billion allocation for projects across Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Ohio.
The CHIPS Act, passed in 2022, aims to boost domestic semiconductor production critical to modern electronics.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted Intel’s plans to advance logic node fabrication in Arizona and Ohio, expand advanced packaging in New Mexico, and strengthen research and development in Oregon.
This marks a significant step towards reviving U.S.-based chip manufacturing, with Intel’s projects supporting the production and packaging of American-designed chips on home soil for the first time in years.
The CHIPS Act has distributed over $18 billion so far, with Biden administration officials estimating it could create 125,000 jobs nationwide. In Oregon, already a semiconductor hub with 30,000 industry workers, Intel remains a pivotal employer, anchoring its R&D operations in Hillsboro.
Despite financial challenges, including a $1 billion loss last fiscal year and workforce reductions, Intel is investing heavily in U.S. manufacturing, committing around $100 billion in expansion projects. Nearly $4 billion of the new funding will support production in Arizona, $1.5 billion in Ohio, and $500 million in New Mexico, creating up to 7,000 manufacturing jobs, including 500 in Hillsboro.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger emphasized the importance of bipartisan support for rebuilding U.S. technology leadership, underscoring the company’s dedication to advancing national economic growth and security.
Source: OPB.org
