Sen. Mark Kelly touts Arizona opportunities to rake in CHIPS Act funding

By Ben Giles
Published: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 11:17am
Updated: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 11:18am

Mark Kelly
Gage Skidmore/CC BY 2.0
Mark Kelly

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly says Arizona is “well-positioned” to take advantage of new funding available via the CHIPS and Science Act, which includes $52 billion dedicated to boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing. 

Kelly and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimando toured an Arizona State University research and development facility before hosting a roundtable discussion with local business leaders, including those from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, which is already constructing a fabrication plant in Arizona.

ASU leaders said they’re poised to educate the next generation of engineers and manufacturers necessary to fill jobs in the burgeoning industry — but Raimondo said the competition for funds will be fierce.

“Every state ought to put their best foot forward. And so every governor, every state legislature, every president of public universities in every state ought to be now putting their plan of attack together,” Raimondo said. “This is a race. It’ll be competitive. It’ll be transparent, and I hope every state competes.”

“And we’re well-positioned to compete,” Kelly said of Arizona.

Kelly said investments from the CHIPS Act could bring thousands of manufacturing jobs to Arizona, on top of jobs needed and fabrication plants already under construction. 

→ The CHIPS Act promises more microchip production. Does Arizona have enough water to support it?

BusinessPolitics Science