On January 14th, the U.S. Department of Commerce signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) with MACOM Technology Solutions Inc. (“MACOM”) to provide up to $70 million in proposed direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. The proposed CHIPS funding would support the expansion and modernization of MACOM’s facility in Durham, North Carolina.
- This proposed CHIPS funding would be split across two projects in Durham, NC and Lowell, MA:
- Expanding and modernizing MACOM's North Carolina facility would increase the production of 100mm Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) semiconductor fabrication and introduce the production of 150mm GaN.
- MACOM’s facilities that would be supported by the proposed CHIPS investment are Category 1A Trusted Foundries with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and produce compound semiconductors used for defense systems operating at high frequencies, including airborne and ground-based radar systems, as well as commercial applications such as telecommunications.
- The proposed projects would create up to 350 manufacturing jobs and nearly 60 construction jobs across both states and allow MACOM to expand workforce development programs across manufacturing and other technical positions through internship opportunities and collaboration with leading technical universities and colleges.