Intel Plans 'Historic' $20 Billion Investment In New Ohio Sites

LICKING COUNTY, OH — Intel announced plans Friday for possibly the largest single private-sector investment in Ohio's history. The company intends to invest $20 billion in building two cutting-edge semiconductor facilities in central Ohio.

“We are excited to call Ohio home to Intel’s first new manufacturing site in 40 years,” Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said in a statement.

The project should create 3,000 Intel jobs making an average of $135,000 annually, the company said. There will be an additional 7,000 construction jobs related to the project, and thousands of indirect positions and support jobs, the company estimated.

"We expect Intel Ohio will become one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing sites in the world over the next decade," Gelsinger added.

Gov. Mike DeWine's office estimates the project will add $2.8 billion to Ohio's annual gross state product. The office predicted this would be the single largest private-sector investment in Ohio history.

Construction on the two sites is expected to begin in late 2022, with production coming online at the end of 2025. The finished site should occupy more than 1,000 acres in central Ohio, Intel estimated. The facilities represent Intel's first new manufacturing sites in 40 years.

“The impact of this mega-site investment will be profound,” said Keyvan Esfarjani, Intel senior vice president of manufacturing, supply chain and operations. “A semiconductor factory is not like other factories. Building this semiconductor mega-site is akin to building a small city, which brings forth a vibrant community of supporting services and suppliers."

Intel believes that if the plants reach full buildout, the company's total investment in the sites could reach $100 billion over the next decade. The sites could become one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing sites in the world.

“Today’s announcement is monumental news for the state of Ohio,” DeWine said. “Intel’s new facilities will be transformative for our state, creating thousands of good-paying jobs in Ohio manufacturing strategically vital semiconductors, often called ‘chips.’ Advanced manufacturing, research and development, and talent are part of Ohio’s DNA, and we are proud that chips — which power the future — will be made in Ohio, by Ohioans.”

Shortages of chips have crimped the ability of U.S. automakers to produce vehicles; last year, General Motors was unseated by Toyota as the nation’s top-selling automaker for the first time.

The U.S. and Europe are pushing to aggressively to build chip-making capacity and reduce reliance on producers that are now mostly based in Asia.

Several chipmakers last year signaled an interest in expanding their American operations if the U.S. government is able to make it easier to build chip plants.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.