WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) celebrated the Department of Commerce’s announcement finalizing $1.5 billion in direct funding to GlobalFoundries (GF) from the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which Sen. Welch helped pass as a member of the House. The funds will expand capacity and create jobs across three projects at GF, including the revitalization of the Essex Junction fabrication facility, a leader in developing next-generation Gallium Nitride on Silicon for national security and consumer uses including electric vehicles, the power grid, 5G and 6G smartphones and more.
“This investment in Vermont was made possible because Congressional Democrats committed to delivering good paying manufacturing jobs in our communities while bolstering U.S. innovation and competitiveness, and improving the resiliency of our supply chains. And we delivered,” said Sen. Welch. “I look forward to meeting the new members of our semiconductor workforce at GF’s Essex Junction fab in the future. These innovators will help create semiconductors for products that power our lives in the digital age—and they’ll do it right here in Vermont.”
In his role on the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. Welch has pushed for more support semiconductor innovation in rural areas. The CHIPS and Science Act includes landmark investments to support domestic semiconductor and chip manufacturing research and development; bolster the STEM workforce; strengthen our 21st Century security, tech defense, and wireless supply chains; and advance innovation in the advanced manufacturing industry. The CHIPS and Science Act is expected to create more than 115,000 manufacturing and construction jobs nationally.
Read the announcement from NIST’s Chips for America office.
Learn more about the CHIPS and Science Act and the CHIPS for America program.
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