Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined company officials and federal, state, and local leaders to break ground on Hemlock Semiconductor’s (HSC) new expansion project at the company’s Thomas Township operations. Governor Whitmer announced the project in September, bringing a planned investment of $375 million and creation of 170 high-wage jobs to Saginaw County and strengthening Michigan’s leadership position in the semiconductor supply chain.
“Michigan is becoming a global hub of semiconductor chip manufacturing and we will continue bringing these critical supply chains home so we can create jobs, bring billions in investment to our communities, and lead the future,” said Governor Whitmer. “Hemlock Semiconductor, a Michigan-made company whose hyper-pure polysilicon is found in nearly all electronic devices in the world, is betting on Michigan once again, expanding their presence in Thomas Township with a planned investment of up to $375 million creating 170 jobs. Powered by bipartisan economic development and state-supported improvements of critical public infrastructure, Hemlock’s planned investment will foster economic opportunity for Michiganders for generations to come.”
Announced in September, HSC’s expansion is the result of planned projects the company is undertaking to serve increasing demand in the semiconductor and solar industries. In order for HSC to construct these new investments, Thomas Township, in coordination with Saginaw Township, will significantly and rapidly expand sanitary sewer capacity in support of the HSC site. The expansions will include the construction of two new lift stations and five miles of sewer mains. In support of these needed expansions, Thomas Township received Michigan Strategic Fund approval of a $27 million Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) performance-based grant, ensuring HSC’s expansion in Michigan. The SSRP grant will be funded through the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund.
These projects will further boost Michigan’s leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and will ensure a strong supply chain for potential additional growth. The projects will also bring high-wage jobs to the Saginaw region with one of the longest operating manufacturers of polysilicon in the world.
In addition, it is anticipated that the influx of 170 direct jobs will result in spin-off investments and redevelopment opportunities. More than $364 million in new personal income is expected to be generated by the direct, indirect, and induced jobs that this opportunity will create over 10 years. The project will also support small businesses in the community and will help spur demand to redevelop underutilized properties in the community and the state.
“Our investment simply would not be possible without the strong support of federal, state and local government leaders,” said HSC chairman and CEO AB Ghosh. “We couldn’t ask for more effective advocates who clearly understand the critical role our cutting-edge technologies will play in building out a robust domestic supply chain for semiconductors and in strengthening HSC’s competitive position on a global scale.”
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