On August 9, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law, investing more than $50 billion into research and manufacturing of semiconductor chips in the United States. Semiconductor chips are in, well, everything nowadays – computers, iPhones, medical devices, cars, and more. Currently, American companies only produce about 10% of the world’s semiconductor chips and none of the world’s most advanced, according to whitehouse.gov. The legislation is intended to spur and incentivize domestic manufacturing – and it could have an impact in Buffalo Niagara soon.
“The Green CHIPS Act is the most aggressive investment program in the U.S. Green CHIPS will accelerate the growth of the semiconductor industry and supply chain throughout the State of New York, attracting billions in new investment and creating good-paying jobs and economic opportunity for generations of New Yorkers. We applaud Governor Hochul, Senator Cooney, and Assemblyman Stirpe for their bold investment in our future,” said Ryan Silva, Executive Director of NYSEDC.
The Buffalo Niagara region is well-prepared to capture the impending opportunity and welcome new semiconductor chip manufacturers to our region. As every state in the the U.S. begins to compete for these semiconductor production facilities, the Western New York community has a competitive edge with sites and infrastructure that can accommodate these operations as well as a deep bench of industrial know-how and access to low-cost hydropower. The region boasts redundant and reliable power sources and UpState NY has the cleanest electric power profile in the country, according to eGRID data.
Buffalo Niagara has long been at the forefront of innovations in manufacturing. Our community still boasts incredible blue collar talent and community partners continue to rally around the industry with initiatives like Northland Workforce Training Center, which is creating a pipeline of advanced manufacturing talent. Buffalo Niagara’s network of 21 colleges and universities also graduates over 25,000 students annually, many within engineering disciplines vital to the industry.
Our region’s strategic location next to the Canadian border and within a ten-hour drive of 60 percent of the North American population will allow for easier access to necessary raw materials and movement of semiconductors to their end user.
STAMP, a mega-site in Genesee County (located between Buffalo and Rochester), is perfectly positioned to capture semiconductor opportunities. 1,250 acres of land with access to hydropower sits perfectly poised to capture the next wave of manufacturing in the U.S. Only a 45 minute drive from the Peace Bridge, Canadian companies involved in the semiconductor industry both directly and indirectly may want to take advantage of this growing cluster in our region.
“With our region’s unmatched technician and engineering talent, reliable and renewable low-cost power, established supply chain, and a shovel-ready mega site developed for semiconductor manufacturing, STAMP and Buffalo-Niagara are truly the ideal place for companies spurred by the Chips and Science Bill and New York’s Green CHIPS incentives to invest,” said Steve Hyde, President & CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center.
Overall, Buffalo Niagara possesses everything that a semiconductor manufacturer would desire in a new business location – from the plentiful supply chain and strategic location to the skilled talent and reliable infrastructure, and even more in between.