President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit a Micron semiconductor manufacturing plant in New York state on Thursday to announce additional federal funding to bolster US chipmaking efforts.
These plant visits are among the President’s most frequent reasons for hitting the road. Since taking office, Biden has traveled outside Washington on at least eight occasions to advocate for his administration’s initiatives in chipmaking. During these visits, he often conducts tours to inspect the chip production process, as he recently did during a visit to an Intel facility in Arizona.
Expressing amazement at the intricate chips on display during that visit, Biden remarked, “It’s amazing, I’ll be darned,” according to a pool report.
This week’s trip to Micron’s facilities near Syracuse, NY, marks Biden’s second visit to the same facility, earning it the playful moniker of “the President’s home away from home” from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
The primary purpose of Thursday’s visit is to announce a preliminary agreement for the government to allocate $6.14 billion to Micron over the coming years. This funding will focus on supporting Micron’s production of cutting-edge memory chips in both New York and Idaho.
In addition to Micron, other major recipients of grants from the 2022 CHIPs and Science act include Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and Intel, all of which Biden has visited personally.
Biden’s travels have taken him to various chip manufacturing facilities, including Samsung in Korea, Intel factories, TSMC’s facilities in Arizona, IBM’s chip operations in Poughkeepsie, NY, and Viasat’s headquarters.
The visits from chipmakers and the Biden administration’s substantial investments in the sector are undoubtedly viewed through a political lens, especially in an election year. However, polling suggests broad support for government assistance in spurring semiconductor sector growth.
Biden has strategically visited swing states like Arizona and Ohio during his chip trips, aiming to showcase the economic impact of these investments on local communities.
The announcement at Micron represents the culmination of the Biden administration’s awards for leading-edge manufacturing, with additional awards expected in the months ahead to address semiconductor supply chain issues and advanced packaging.
The combined government grant and private investment from Micron are anticipated to create over 70,000 jobs, signaling a significant economic boost for both New York and Idaho.
