Hemlock Semiconductor has been awarded $325 million in direct funding by the Department of Commerce for the construction of a hyper-pure polysilicon manufacturing facility.
The Commerce Department said Tuesday the investment, made under the CHIPS Incentives Program’s Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication facilities, is meant to boost the country’s supply chain resilience and generate jobs.
CHIPS Award
Through the CHIPS award, HSC will build a new manufacturing facility in Hemlock, Michigan. The project is aimed at increasing the production of hyper-pure polysilicon and creating more than 1,000 and 180 jobs in construction and manufacturing, respectively.
HSC stands as the only U.S.-owned company that manufactures hyper-pure polysilicon. It’s also one of five manufacturers in the world capable of producing polysilicon with a purity level required by the leading-edge semiconductor market.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo remarked, “CHIPS for America’s investment in HSC will help advance supply chain security by ensuring the U.S. has a reliable, domestic supply of polysilicon – the bedrock of semiconductors. Establishing a domestic source of these materials is important for the development of leading-edge chip applications, which helps bolster our economic and national security.
AB Ghosh, chairman and CEO of HSC, added, “This agreement is a key milestone in enhancing our manufacturing capabilities as we continue to serve the leading-edge semiconductor market with high-quality and sustainably made polysilicon. The new facility will play a crucial role in strengthening the semiconductor supply chain in the United States.”
