In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted unanticipated global supply chain challenges. Solutions emerged, including onshoring and nearshoring of manufacturing in North America. This promoted groups such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Labor to come together to invest in advanced manufacturing and create workforce development programs to support the companies in this sector. Over $100 billion has been invested in advanced manufacturing with over $400 billion committed to future investments. These commitments have allowed companies in various industries to expand and improve our economy. 250,000 jobs and millions of square feet in industrial development and leasing have also been created due to the movement to expand advanced manufacturing in the U.S.
The question that would arise locally then would be; How does this affect Utah, and who are the advanced manufacturers here? For starters, Utah is home to an impressive list of advanced manufacturers who are proud to run their operations here. The newest, monumental move is the Texas Instruments $11 billion facility, located in Lehi. This facility will focus on 300-millimeter semiconductor wafer fabrication, the wafers are used for logic/memory chips that are placed in analog devices. This new plant will bring over 800 jobs to the state, and the company plans to invest $9 million in student opportunities and outcomes here in Utah. Copper Crossing Industrial Park in Salt Lake City is also home to two manufacturing giants, Northrop Grumman and Holcim, who occupy a combined 965,000 square feet in the park. Advanced materials, Aerospace, and Life Sciences are three other major industries that Utah houses for advanced manufacturing. Boeing, Black Diamond, and Edwards Lifesciences are among some of the incredible companies that occupy industrial space here in Utah. These companies and industries alone provide well over 100,000 jobs for Utahns and stimulate our robust economy in many different ways.
Manufacturing will continue to support local economies, provide new quality jobs to Americans, and change the future of technology. The movement to bring advanced manufacturers back to the United States will strengthen our nation in ways that we have never seen before; it is certainly an industry to keep an eye on in the near future.
