Intel Announces Multi-Billion-Dollar Investment On The Westside

In what is believed to be the largest construction project undertaken anywhere in the U.S. in the past three years by any private sector company, Intel confirmed this morning its plans to invest $6-8 billion dollars in manufacturing facilities located in Hillsboro and in Chandler, Arizona.

The company plans to upgrade four production facilities - two here on the Westside (known as D1C and D1D) and two in Chandler (Fab 12 and Fab 32), and build a complete new fab plant to be named “D1X” at its Ronler Acres campus in Hillsboro.

This stunning new investment will focus on Intel’s 22-nanometer technology, which will boost the company’s presence in mobile and embedded devices.  It also will assist in higher product performance and longer battery life.

This investment is expected to create 6,000-8,000 construction jobs in the near term and 800-1,000 new permanent highly skilled and high wage jobs at the new facility when it becomes operational in 2013. 

Intel’s corporate affairs manager Jill Eiland said these high tech jobs currently average $120,000 in annual salary.  By this measure, the additional Intel jobs will add about $100 million annually to Oregon’s payroll earnings.

Bill Holt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Intel, said the company currently produces 10 billion transistors per second.  “America is where Intel’s next big investment will be,” said Holt.  Intel makes 75 percent of its products here in the U.S., while 75 percent of its sales are abroad, serving customers in 120 countries around the world.

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski greeted today’s announcement and said,  “There’s a lesson to be learned for Oregon in what Intel has done.  One is they’re smart - smart in terms of recognizing where innovation and  technology come together and trying to find ways for us to do things better, smarter and faster,” the Governor added,  “That’s how we compete.”

The Governor said it’s not all about today’s economic benefit, but a vision for 20-30 years. 

“This company has shown faith in us,” Kulongoski said, “This is the best place in this world to live and work and raise our families.  That’s what this message is today for me.  It is an investment in Oregon, but also an investment in the citizens of this state.”