Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2024)
January 10, 2024 Page 17 Martin Luther King Jr. 2024 Special Edition Computer Chip Factory to Expand in Oregon The investments will enable Microchip Technology Inc. AP- The Biden administration is providing $162 million to Mi- crochip Technology to support the domestic production of computer chips — the second funding an- nouncement tied to a 2022 law designed to revive U.S. semicon- ductor manufacturing. The incentives announced Thursday include $90 million to improve a plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and $72 mil- lion to expand a factory in Gresh- am, Oregon, the Commerce De- partment said. The investments would enable Microchip Technol- ogy Inc., which is based in Chan- dler, Arizona, to triple its domestic production and reduce its depen- dence on foreign factories. Much of the money would fund the making of microcontrollers, which are used by the military as well as in autos, household appli- ances and medical devices. Gov- ernment officials said they expect- President Joe Biden (Evan Vucci) ed the investments to create 700 construction and manufacturing jobs over the next decade. Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Eco- nomic Council, emphasized that the funding would help to tame inflation. "Semiconductors are the key in- put in so many goods that are vital to our economy,” said Brainard, adding that greater U.S. produc- tion of chips would have reduced the supply problems that caused the cost of autos and washing ma- chines, among other goods, to rise as the country emerged from the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. The inflation rate has since eased, but the scars caused by the sudden price increases have damaged President Joe Biden's public approval. In August 2022, the Democratic president signed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which provides more than $52 billion to boost the develop- ment and manufacturing of semi- conductors in the United States. In December, the Commerce Department announced the first grants by saying it reached an agreement to provide $35 million to BAE Systems, which plans to expand a New Hampshire factory making chips for military aircraft, including F-15 and F-35 jets. Government officials expect to make additional funding commit- ments this year. WHEN: Sunday January 14 04 5 00 p m , , : . . WHERE: Allen Temple CME Church 4236 NE 8th Avenue , Portland , OR 97211 SPONSORED BY: ALBINA MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE PRESIDENT: DR. LEROY HAYNES, JR.
