Arizona

Signed into law in August of 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act allocates $52.7 billion towards the research, development, and manufacturing of semiconductors or microchips. These semiconductors are crucial to the production of electric vehicles, smartphones, satellites, and countless other technologies that keep Americans connected and thriving. As microchip innovations have accelerated over through the 2010s, the U.S. has been directly competing with China in semiconductor production, and at times has had to import Chinese products while exporting labor. Additionally, as tensions with China worsen, domestic semiconductor production has evolved beyond an economic issue and into a national security issue.

With the CHIPS Act, the Biden Administration is bringing this lucrative industry onto American soil and keeping it here, so that Americans can reap the benefits, creating high quality microchips that power the technologies that keep the U.S. on top. 

With this historic investment in key technologies, President Biden and VP Harris have made the state of Arizona the center of America’s semiconductor future. Over the past two years, the Biden Administration has invested $15.1 billion in direct funds and an additional $11 billion in loans to semiconductor projects in the Copper State alone. Projects include a mammoth collaboration with American tech company Intel, as well as a game-changing investment in the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) hub located in Phoenix. In addition to supporting these microchip powerhouses, the CHIPS Act also elevates smaller manufacturers through the Arizona Small-Supplier Consortium and a collaboration among suppliers through Arizona State University. The CHIPS Act is not only generating revenue for the national economy, but is also boosting the state and local economies.

As Arizona matures as the nexus of microchip production, it needs hard working Americans to support this historic undertaking. Between the Intel and TSMC investments alone, the CHIPS Act has created 35,000 new jobs in manufacturing and construction, making Arizona number 1 in the nation for new semiconductor jobs. Many of these jobs don’t require a college degree or significant work experience – workers can learn the necessary job skills in as little as two weeks. And with the influx of investments coming to the state from the CHIPS Act, Arizona has established programs with community colleges and Arizona State University to train members of historically marginalized communities for these in demand jobs. The state is also planning for future generations by establishing high school apprenticeship programs for semiconductor manufacturing.

The Biden Administration has made Arizona a center for international economic competition, creating jobs for tens of thousands of Arizonans and crafting pathways to opportunities.