(The Center Square) – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company continues to expand its endeavors in the desert.
The company, which makes computer chips for use in a wide variety of technology, will be building a third fab in the Phoenix area. According to a news release from TSMC, the fabs will create an estimated 6,000 jobs at the facilities themselves, and 20,000 jobs in the construction process.
The announcement increases the company’s investment to $65 billion into the Grand Canyon state, but they are also getting $6.6 billion in federal assistance through the CHIPS and Science Act by agreeing to a “non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms.” In addition, the company says they will be looking into United States tax credits.
“The CHIPS and Science Act provides TSMC the opportunity to make this unprecedented investment and to offer our foundry service of the most advanced manufacturing technologies in the United States,” TSMC Chairman Dr. Mark Liu said in a statement. “Our U.S. operations allow us to better support our U.S. customers, which include several of the world’s leading technology companies. Our U.S. operations will also expand our capability to trailblaze future advancements in semiconductor technology.”
The news has generally been well received by local leaders.
“These investments will create thousands of high-wage jobs for families and transform our economy for generations to come,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego tweeted on Monday.
“TSMC makes the world’s most advanced semiconductors—the tiny brains that power our smartphones, home appliances, cars, and more,” she added. “Like I said to CEO Dr. C.C. Wei in Taiwan last summer, I am excited that this cutting-edge technology will soon be made right here in Phoenix.”
As Taiwan is responsible for much of the world’s semiconductor development, the push to get more operations in the United States stems from rising tensions between the island country and nearby China.
Both current fabs are dealing with a pushback in their timelines, CNN reported in January. The company’s first fab is expected to open in 2025, but the other may not open until 2028, according to the news release.
Another concern is workforce development, which the state government has been trying to tackle with partnership programs focused on training Arizonans, The Center Square reported.
President Joe Biden has also touted semiconductor sector developments in the state when he visited an Intel site last month in Chandler.
