Preliminary agreement would support the construction of new Infinera semiconductor manufacturing plant in Bethlehem
Funding was made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild (D-PA-7) announced a critical first step in a major federal investment to help the semiconductor manufacturer Infinera build a new plant in Bethlehem, PA. This investment, made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act, would support the expansion and modernization of a new Advanced Test and Packaging (ATP) facility creating good-paying jobs in the Lehigh Valley and increasing Infinera’s capacity to manufacture semiconductors, which are vital to national security and American supply chain resilience.
“I fought to pass the CHIPS and Science Act to ensure that Pennsylvania workers can continue leading the world in building the technology of tomorrow. This agreement is another critical step to deliver jobs and dollars to our Commonwealth, while protecting our Nation’s national and economic security,” said Senator Casey. “Infinera is emblematic of the future of the Lehigh Valley and I will keep fighting to bring manufacturing jobs to Pennsylvania.”
“This is exactly what ‘Making Stuff Here’ in America and Pennsylvania looks like. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of the CHIPS Act, we’ll be seeing hundreds of good-paying jobs brought to Bethlehem. The Lehigh Valley has a rich history of innovation––it's where the first facility to mass-produce transistors was built. By investing in companies like Infinera, we’re standing up to global competitors and building on American legacies,” said Senator Fetterman.
“By supporting the construction of a new Advanced Test and Packaging Facility right here in Bethlehem, this grant will not only create hundreds of new jobs in our community, but it will revitalize our local semiconductor industry and address key national security concerns,” said Congresswomen Wild. “I was proud to help secure this funding for Infinera, to support our national security and intelligence communities and bolster our local economy and manufacturing ecosystem. I will continue to advocate for our community to receive federal resources, promote Made in America policies, and protect our nation from foreign adversaries.”
The preliminary agreement between the U.S. Department of Commerce and Infinera Corporation would provide major investments to Infinera plants in Pennsylvania and California. Infinera is a semiconductor and telecommunications equipment manufacturer that has operated for over 20 years. The proposed CHIPS funding would support the construction of a new Advanced Test and Packaging (ATP) facility in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and would be expected, with the California facility, to increase Infinera’s existing domestic manufacturing capacity by an estimated factor of 10.
Senator Casey and Congresswoman Wild have long advocated for semiconductor manufacturing investments in Pennsylvania. Earlier this year both Casey and Wild urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to support the construction of a new Infinera manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania., Additionally, Casey and Wild visited Infinera to see the high-tech manufacturing already happening in the Commonwealth.
Senator Casey and Congresswoman Wild are fighting to bring jobs and economic investment back to Pennsylvania. The Members worked to pass the CHIPS and Science Act to produce semiconductors in the United States, reducing the U.S. reliance on foreign adversaries, including China, for critical technology manufacturing. In addition to the CHIPS Act, Casey and Wild worked to pass Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act?and Inflation Reduction Act—two pieces of landmark legislation that have brought thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to Pennsylvania.
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