LICKING COUNTY, Ohio — Intel announced a multi-year and multi-billion dollar deal with Amazon to build AI chips. Plus, a $3 billion deal with the federal government to make chips for the US military.
“It’s a great day for Ohio, and Ohio jobs,” said Steve Stiver, President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Stiver said those chips will be made in Central Ohio.
“Every time you have a new generation (of technology), you need a new generation of equipment to make that. That’s the really big hunks of metal that are driving from the Ohio River to New Albany. They’re installing that stuff,” said Ned Hill, economic development professor at the Ohio State University.
“As a retired major general of the United States Army in Ohio National Guard, I'm really excited about that. You know, at any given time, we could have Chinese chips in our military equipment right now and that's dangerous for our National Defense,” said Stiver.
Hill said these announcements put the rumors to rest about the future of the plant in New Albany.
“For Intel it was getting a first customer of size, stature that sends signal the strategy is the long-term strategy, and they are going to stick to it,” said Hill.
Stiver said these announcements are great, but said the federal government still needs to deliver on its initial promise to Intel.
“Intel has been awarded $8.5 million in Chips Act money and not a single penny has flowed to them, yet we need to get that money moving,” said Stiver. “The U.S. Department of Commerce and this administration needs to do their job and get that money moving so that they can build this plant in Columbus, Ohio and New Albany because it's important to the future of Ohio's economy and, and America's economy."
Intel’s stock has gone down significantly this year. But, in the last few days it has gone up about 12%.