DURHAM, NC (October 17, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), and Congressman Wiley Nickel (NC-13) announced that Durham-based Wolfspeed, Inc. has been approved to receive up to $750 million in federal funding through the CHIPS and Science Act. This investment, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America program, will support the construction of a new silicon carbide wafer manufacturing facility in Siler City, reinforcing North Carolina as a critical hub for semiconductor manufacturing.
“I’m glad to see the Biden-Harris Administration committed to securing America’s technological future through strategic investments in semiconductor manufacturing, and I’m particularly pleased this $750 million dollar federal investment is directed to Durham’s own, Wolfspeed,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “This partnership, made possible by the historic CHIPS and Science Act, will not only create thousands of good-paying jobs here in North Carolina, but will help foster innovation and growth, ensure a reliable domestic supply chain, and solidify America’s place as a leader in silicon carbide manufacturing.”
“I am very excited to see the Biden-Harris Administration invest $750 million in American manufacturing right here in North Carolina. This proposed major investment in Wolfspeed, Inc. will create thousands of new jobs, drive economic growth, and maintain America’s technological global competitiveness,” said Congresswoman Ross. “I fought to pass the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to bring needed investments like this back to North Carolina. I will continue fighting in Congress to ensure North Carolina is at the forefront of America’s manufacturing renaissance.”
“North Carolina is leading the way in semiconductor manufacturing, and I’m proud to have worked alongside Reps. Ross and Foushee to support Wolfspeed’s defense appropriations requests over the past two years,” said Congressman Nickel. “This funding will not only strengthen our national security by reducing reliance on foreign supply chains, but it will also bring thousands of good-paying jobs to our state and help support working families.”
Federal funding for Wolfspeed’s expansion will help create over 5,000 jobs, including 2,000 in manufacturing and 3,000 in construction. The new manufacturing facility will play a crucial role in securing a reliable domestic supply of semiconductors, a key component for a range of industries from clean energy to artificial intelligence. The CHIPS and Science Act has already allocated over $35 billion in proposed funding across 17 states, with Wolfspeed’s Siler City facility and expansion in Marcy, New York as flagship projects in this nationwide effort.