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On The Heels Of Delivering Historic Federal Investments For Microchip Manufacturing And Innovation, Schumer Visits Corning Incorporated’s Canton Facility

Government and Politics

August 30, 2022


On The Heels Of Delivering Historic Federal Investments For Microchip Manufacturing And Innovation, Schumer Visits Corning Incorporated’s Canton Facility To Break Down How His Bill Will Keep Corning Growing And Help One Of The North Country’s Major Employers Reach New Heights

Semiconductor Chips Are Integral To Everyday Life From Cars To Refrigerators, But Most Are Not Made In The U.S. Threatening National Security, Worsening Inflation and Increasing Costs For Families, & Weakening U.S. Competitiveness

Schumer’s Historic Billions In Fed Investment For R&D, Innovation, and American Microchip Manufacturing Will Boost NY Companies Like Corning Incorporated, Especially Facilities Like Canton’s Which Makes Specialized Glass Components Essential For Semiconductor Manufacturing

Schumer: My Bipartisan CHIPS & Science Bill Will Be A Rocket-chip For Corning Incorporated In Canton To Reach New Heights

After years of relentless advocacy, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer’s historic bipartisan CHIPS and Science bill was signed into law this month delivering the largest federal investment in manufacturing and innovation in decades and helping bring jobs back from overseas to places like the North Country and Upstate New York. Standing with Corning Incorporated leaders and United Steelworkers, Schumer explained how his bill will help keep the U.S. on the cutting-edge of innovation, train a new generation of tech and manufacturing workers, lower costs for families, address inflation, strengthen national security, and specifically boost facilities like Canton’s, which makes specialized glass components for the semiconductor industry that will be in greater demand with Schumer’s bill fueling a major expansion of microchip manufacturing in the U.S. Schumer said that as the U.S. begins to rapidly expand domestic chip manufacturing, Canton will play an integral role within that growth, helping to lead and support the future of American manufacturing and tech leadership.

“Corning’s Canton location has been a linchpin of the North Country’s economy for over 50 years and my Chips and Science Bill that was just signed into law will power the facility with good-paying jobs now and into the future. This is the largest investment in decades in the future of American microchip innovation and manufacturing and that surge in new domestic production will need the highly sophisticated glass made here with North Country workers’ hands,” said Senator Schumer. “The North Country’s workforce is ready to build the future of American manufacturing, and Corning Incorporated is leading the way to make that happen. The investments from my bill will lay the foundation to create more economic opportunity here in the North Country, strengthen U.S. supply chains, and boost the country’s manufacturing for years to come with North Country workers benefitting every step of the way.”

"We're grateful for Majority Leader Schumer’s leadership in passing this bipartisan legislation to strengthen semiconductor manufacturing in the United States. Corning’s advanced optics materials and products – made at our facilities in Fairport and Canton, New York –and research at Sullivan Park in Corning are supporting the growing semiconductor industry. Coupled with continued investments in the industry, we believe the passage of this critical legislation will further increase the resilience of the U.S. semiconductor supply chain,” said Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and CEO, Corning Incorporated.

“Through the CHIPS and Science Act, Senator Chuck Schumer and our elected representatives have set the trajectory for American manufacturing competitiveness for the rest of this century,” said Marc P. Christensen, President of Clarkson University.  “This is especially true for New Yorkers and its talented workforce.  Clarkson University and our NYS-designated Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP) faculty have the proven track record of delivering relevant research, manufacturing expertise, and industrial partnerships that matter to the semiconductor and high-technology sectors of our economy.  We thank  Senator Schumer for his leadership and perseverance to obtain bipartisan support for the investments in research, technology innovation and STEM education that positively impact all Americans in the products they buy as well as adding more rewarding jobs in the technology sector.”

Corning is one of the largest employers in New York, with over 7,000 employees across the state, including over 300 in St. Lawrence County. Schumer explained that anticipation of federal investment in his bill and the tremendous impact it will have on the tech industry have already spurred growth for Corning Incorporated. Just last month, Schumer helped announce a $139M, 270 job expansion in Monroe County by Corning Incorporated to support optic technology, which is critical in the microchip manufacturing industry. Schumer said that with further expansion of domestic semiconductor production, more and more companies will be relying on Corning Incorporated for their expertise in innovation, glass, and specialty tech to support their growth. Corning’s Canton location leverages its expertise in glass science to make some of the world’s purest glass. The plant has become a world leader in production of specialized glasses ideal for advanced microchip production.

In addition, Schumer said the bill’s increased investment for National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research and Development Programs, including through a new technology directorate as proposed in Schumer’s original bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, and STEM education and training programs will help support new innovation and train the next generation of Corning’s workforce in the North Country. Schumer said that research and technical training schools like Clarkson University, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton and Potsdam and Jefferson Community College are in a strong position to compete for this investment which will boost a series of new programs, including programs for high-tech research, STEM education for underrepresented populations, including for rural communities like the North Country, and skilled technical education to prepare workers for tech and manufacturing jobs like those at Corning Incorporated.