Corning (New York)

Project Summary

The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded Corning up to $32 million in direct funding to support the company’s expansion of its existing manufacturing facility in Canton, New York.  

Economic and National Security Impact

The CHIPS investment will enable Corning to increase production of High Purity Fused Silica (HPFS) and EXTREME ULE Glass (Ultra Low Expansion Glass) and scale of novel technology manufacturing process in Canton. HFPS and ULE materials are key components of deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines and photomasks, which are important for the manufacturing of leading-edge semiconductors, and this new technology would improve EUV performance with a lower carbon footprint. The investment in Corning is expected to enable a reliable domestic supply of these important components in the United States and help advance U.S. technology leadership in the lithography supply chain.  

Workforce and Community Impact

Corning’s project is expected to create approximately 130 manufacturing jobs and 175 construction jobs.  

To recruit, train, and retain the workforce needed for this project, Corning will implement a robust workforce strategy informed by the Biden-Harris Administration's Good Jobs Principles.  

To advance its manufacturing workforce efforts:

• Corning will develop local talent by investing in local workforce development efforts through partnerships with the St. Lawrence Industrial Development Agency, the St. Lawrence Workforce Development Board, Canton Central School District, and SUNY Potsdam.
• Corning plans to work with the St. Lawrence County IDA and BOCES of New York State to set up an Adult Education and Workforce Development Center to provide a dedicated on-site training area for current and future employees.
• Corning will continue to partner with the United Steelworkers Local 1026, who represent Corning’s glass-making workforce at the Canton facility and will represent applicable new manufacturing workers to recruit and retain workers. As part of this effort, Corning will partner with the union to establish hands-on registered apprenticeship programs for individuals exploring technician roles within the semiconductor industry, with tuition, books and fees for students provided for by Corning.
• Corning will provide support to help its workforce procure semiconductor certifications, onsite training, and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees.  
• Corning will make community investments over the course of the project into initiatives, such as internships, transportation, housing, tuition reimbursement, onsite training, and parental leave. 

To advance its construction workforce efforts:

• Corning will partner with Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and other union partners to recruit and retain its construction workforce. Corning has committed to ensuring that all construction labor is quoted as union unless there is no union for specific trade.
• Corning will, consistent with the statutory requirements of the CHIPS Act, include terms in its construction contracts requiring all construction contractors and subcontractors to comply with Davis Bacon and Related Acts. In addition, the Department of Commerce is building a robust Davis Bacon compliance program to ensure that recipients of CHIPS funding comply with the law.

In addition to these commitments, to support both the company’s workforce and the broader community’s childcare infrastructure, Corning is working with the Department of Commerce to invest $300,000 per year for the duration of the proposed project to support the St. Lawrence County Childcare Training Program, which would help build and stabilize the child care workforce and increase child care supply for the community.

Environmental and Worker Safety Commitments

In connection with the CHIPS award, Corning is committing to the following environmental responsibility and worker safety measures in its operations. As is required for all CHIPS projects, the Corning project will comply with all applicable environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Protection Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.  

Corning is making the following environmental commitments:

• Carbon-Free Electricity: Corning will invest in renewable and alternative electricity sources in the state of New York through onsite generation, power purchase agreements and/or renewable energy credits to meet 50% of their facility electricity use by 2039.  
• Water Reduction: Corning will undertake efforts to implement water conservation and restoration strategies and achieve a Net Positive Water Impact for the Canton facility by no later than 2039.  
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Abatement: Corning will use commercially reasonable efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its facility through, for example, process improvement, source reductions, or the use of alternative or substitute chemicals.  
• Public Reporting: Within a year of starting commercial operations, Corning will publicly disclose on its Sustainability webpage its environmental responsibility goals for carbon-free electricity, water conservation, and water recycling for this project and will annually report on the progress of these goals with appropriate metrics.  

Corning has also committed to the following workers' safety measures:  

• Worker Safety Committee: Corning will establish or maintain a workplace safety committee comprised of workers and management that meets regularly and is authorized to raise any worker health and safety concerns.  
• Adoption of Protective Occupational Exposure Limits: Corning has committed to developing its safety procedures by incorporating the most protective occupational exposure limit (OEL) among the published health and safety standards of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit values and biological exposure indices and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OEL Standards”) for chemicals used in the project facility operations into each newly issued or revised company safety procedure for the facility.  

Financial and Commercial Terms

As stated in the CHIPS Notice of Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities, CHIPS for America will disburse direct funding to the company for capital expenditures spent on the projects based on the completion of construction, technology, production, and commercial milestones. The CHIPS Program Office will track the performance of each CHIPS Incentives Award via financial and programmatic reports, in accordance with the award terms and conditions.  

All CHIPS funding recipients are required to adhere to restrictions pursuant to the CHIPS Act and NOFO regarding stock buybacks and national security guardrails, which limit the sharing of intellectual property. Corning Incorporated retains the ability to engage in stock buybacks, with certain restrictions, consistent with Corning’s agreement with the Department.