SAGINAW CO., Mich. (WNEM) – State leaders are celebrating a major federal manufacturing investment in mid-Michigan.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Dan Kildee were in town talking about a proposed $325 million federal grant to help Hemlock Semiconductor build a new facility.
It would produce a critical material used in electronics and solar panels and increase Hemlock Semiconductor’s already large footprint in the market.
The proposed project calls for a new facility to be built on Hemlock Semiconductor property in Thomas Township. It will increase the company’s capacity to produce semiconductor-grade polysilicon right here in Michigan.
“This is a really important project for U.S. national security. And the government investment, proposed investment in this project to produce semiconductor-grade polysilicon is really an indication of the importance that the U.S. government sees in securing supply for producing semiconductor-grade polysilicon right here in the United States,” said Brooke Beebe, senior vice president of advocacy and engagement for Hemlock Semiconductor.
She’s glad that her company is proposed to receive up to $325 million in federal money for its new proposed project from the CHIPS and Science Act.
Beebe was part of a group that welcomed Stabenow and Kildee to Hemlock Semiconductor. The pair said they secured the federal funding for the proposed project.
“This project is early phase. We wouldn’t expect to be producing product from this project until 2028,” Beebe said.
Michigan lawmakers have already approved $40 million for the proposed project that would bring 180 jobs to mid-Michigan.
“They create the right things, the things that are important for our country right now, to get these jobs back in our country,” said state Sen. Kevin Daley (R-District 26).
“It was really important to me, as we were settling this year’s budget, that we made sure that we were bringing, as always, it’s my number one goal, more high-wage jobs into our district,” said state Sen. Kirsten McDonald Rivet (D-District 35).
As for Beebe, she said the next step moving forward is dialog with the CHIPS program office.
“We’re going to be entering the due diligence phase shortly to really talk through the details of the project with the CPO. Our hope is that we would reach an agreement to receive the full level of funding, but we’re just at the beginning of that process,” she said.
The $40 million in state money for the proposed project comes from the Make It in Michigan Competitiveness Fund.
Besides the 180 permanent jobs at the new facility, the project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs.
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