Today, Intel revealed plans to invest $20 billion building a new, multi-fab chip manufacturing facility in Ohio.
Following unconfirmed reports earlier this month, Intel is expected to formally announce the new factory in a webcast later today according to the The New York TimesThe New York Times. However, as Time reports, we already know the initial details regarding what Intel has planned.
The facility will be located on a 1,000-acre site in New Albany, on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio. At a minimum, two semiconductor fabrication plants are to be constructed in order to produce Intel's most advanced processors. The most surprising detail about this new build is Intel's intention to have it operational as soon as 2025, with construction starting later this year.
The decision to build a massive new chip manufacturing facility is good news for Ohio as Intel believes it will create at least 3,000 new jobs in the area. These jobs will not be limited purely to manufacturing, though, as Intel intends to also use the new facilities for research and development.
The 1,000-acre development may just be the start of this new endeavor, with Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger confirming to Time that the company has the option to expand the site to 2,000 acres. With that amount of space available, up to eight fabrication plants can be constructed. Gelsinger made Intel's intentions clear by stating, "Our expectation is that this becomes the largest silicon manufacturing location on the planet."