Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger announced that the project timeline to produce microchips in Ohio has been pushed back.
While speaking to analysts at a conference in late August, Gelsinger said the company will shift its focus to a two-fab expansion in Chandler, Ariz.
Intel promises that the work in Ohio will still happen. The New Albany Intel site is officially the largest construction project in the history of Ohio.
This project will create a record-breaking amount of jobs for union construction workers including members of Sheet Metal Workers 24.
Overall, the chip manufacturer will invest roughly $100 billion in this project and has paid or has committed $3 billion so far.
Mike Knisley, Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council Secretary-Treasurer reported that roughly 500 tradesmen and tradeswomen are currently onsite in New Albany.
Union construction leaders stressed the project is still on and work remains ongoing at the site.
“I’ve not lost faith in Intel in this project,” said Knisley. “They are not giving me any reason to doubt their sincerity or commitment to make this a go.”
“All our unions are geared up and ready to go,” said Dorsey Hager, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer. “We’re prepared to make the Intel job a success.”
Gelsinger explained it was easier for Intel to pivot to expansion work at the established Chandler site rather than the New Albany project, where everything is being built from scratch.
It makes sense to change the focus to Chandler because it will take less time with existing infrastructure already in place, Knisley said.
There is an opportunity to have up to 10,000 building trades members onsite, including Sheet Metal Workers 24 members.
Though the Intel project was slower to begin than they thought, both Knisley and Hager feel this will allow tradesmen and tradeswomen more time to prepare for when thousands of workers will be onsite.
According to a Bechtel press release, the first phase spans 2.5 million square feet.
16,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured through late September, according to a WSYX-TV report.
Intel has completed excavation and preparation work for both Phase 1 fabs, as well as most of its stormwater management system since the official groundbreaking ceremony last year.
Intel engineers told WSYX that two of the world’s largest cranes will be brought onsite to help erect the building next summer.
The Dispatch reported that on Sept. 25, the state awarded $600 million in incentives as part of the roughly $2 billion total state and local incentives package promised to Intel for selecting Ohio.
The work will be performed under a National Construction Agreement.