GlobalWafers Co., Ltd. will receive up to $400 million in federal CHIPS Act funding that will go towards nearly $4 billion in capital investments at two U.S. manufacturing facilities, including MEMC, LLC, an O'Fallon-based subsidiary. MEMC produces silicon wafers, a critical component of semiconductor chips found in everything from cars to cell phones.
The O'Fallon portion of the project is expected to generate 500 construction jobs and 130 in manufacturing once complete.
According to U.S. Department of Commerce, approximately 90% of silicon wafers are currently made in East Asia. In an interview with the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Karla Chaney, general site manager for the O’Fallon facility, said that there is significan demand for American-made silicon wafers, and MEMC fills that gap.
“This gives them the choice,” Chaney said. “In fact, they desire it comes from the U.S. … Before, it wasn’t even an option.”