Intel to Invest $20 Billion in New Ohio Chip Factories

The investment aims to establish a new epicenter for advanced chipmaking in the Midwest.

Jan. 21, 2022

2 min read

Intel recently announced plans for an initial investment of more than $20 billion in the construction of two new leading-edge chip factories in Licking County, Ohio. This move aims to boost production to meet the surging demand for advanced semiconductors.

To support development of the new site, Intel pledged an additional $100 million toward partnerships with educational institutions that seeks to build a pipeline of talent and bolster research programs in the region.

According to the press release, Intel’s investment will be the largest single private-sector investment in Ohio history. The initial phase of the project is expected to create 3,000 Intel jobs and 7,000 construction jobs over the course of the build. When you consider that electrical contractors typically account for 13% of all construction jobs, according to research from Electrical Wholesaling magazine, a sister publication to EC&M, this project would require an estimated 900-plus electrical workers.

A rendering of Intel's new processor factories in Licking County, Ohio. The $20 billion project spans nearly 1,000 acres.

Spanning nearly 1,000 acres in Licking County, located just outside of Columbus, the “mega-site” is expected to accommodate a total of eight chip factories as well as support operations and ecosystem partners. In fact, at full buildout, “the total investment in the site could grow to as much as $100 billion over the next decade, making it one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing sites in the world.”

Planning for the first two factories will start immediately, with construction expected to begin in late 2022. Production is expected to come online in 2025. The recent announcement will make Ohio home to Intel’s first new manufacturing site location in 40 years.

For more information, visit Intel in Ohio’s web page.