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| Advantages for Microelectronics Companies |
- Greater Richmond has created a comprehensive "Region Ready" business climate tailored to the needs of semiconductor and related microelectronic manufacturing.
- The region is strategically located in a major U.S. Technology Corridor extending from Boston to the north to Research Triangle, North Carolina to the south.
- Qimonda has invested $2 billion in a 200mm semiconductor fabrication facility and 300mm shell and employs 1,750. In April 2004, the company announced it would invest an additional $1 billion to equip the shell and add 800 to 1,200 workers to produce 300mm wafers.
- Over 70 local semiconductor suppliers and vendors are in place in the region to support the industry.
- As part of the cluster of fabs in eastern Virginia, Dominion Semiconductor (Micron) is located just 75 miles north of Richmond in Manassas, Virginia. Virginia Semiconductor is located 45 miles north of Greater Richmond.
- A proven, productive, and skilled labor force is comfortable with 24/7 operations and experienced in working with hazardous and volatile materials.
- Area community colleges offer occupational training, including programs for the semiconductor industry which were developed in conjunction with Sematech.
- Virginia Commonwealth University's $50 million School of Engineering offers degrees in biomedical, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and computer engineering and in computer science. The facility includes 7,500 square feet of Class 1000 clean room.
- Virginia offers strong state and local government support, including production-based performance incentive grants. Virginia created the nation's first cabinet level Secretary of Technology in 1998.
- Ready-to-go sites with zoning, water and sewer, environmental permits, transportation access, and competitive incentives are available throughout the region.
- Additional information for semiconductor manufacturers is included in "Greater Richmond, Virginia – A 'Region Ready' Plan for Semiconductor Investment" Future Fab International, Issue 12 and Richmond, Virginia: Semiconductor Site Assessment and Benchmarking Study, AngelouEconomics and M and W Zander, 2002. Technology in Greater Richmond details the labor, education, and special infrastructure support available for all of the region’s technology industries.
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