ALL HANDS ON DECK
Leading technology manufacturers Applied Materials, Texas Instruments and Apple have joined forces to enhance the nation’s domestic semiconductor supply chain. A breakdown of the partnership will see Applied Materials’ Austin facility, the company’s largest, directly supplying Texas Instruments’ U.S. facilities with chipmaking equipment to manufacture foundational semiconductors designed for Apple products. “TI is uniquely positioned to deliver dependable, low-cost 300mm manufacturing capacity at scale for foundational analog and embedded processing semiconductors,” said Texas Instruments Senior Vice President of Technology and Manufacturing Mohammad Yunus. “We are proud to work with companies like Applied Materials to manufacture semiconductors that are vital for nearly every type of electronic system.” In addition, Applied Materials will establish a $200 million advanced manufacturing facility in Chandler, Arizona, that will focus on production of critical semiconductor equipment components and parts, creating 200 new jobs in the region by 2030.
RIVIAN DOUBLES DOWN IN GEORGIA
By late 2025, Rivian will begin running its East Coast headquarters operations out of Atlanta, Georgia. The new office is located adjacent to the Eastside Trail of the 22-mile Atlanta Beltline, a site the company plans to begin expansion on in the coming year as construction ramps back up at Rivian’s manufacturing facility about 45 miles east of Atlanta in the city of Social Circle, where the company plans to create 7,500 jobs. The HQ will house an initial 100 employees, growing to 500 once expansions are complete. “Atlanta continues to lead in EV innovation and technology integration, and Rivian’s growing presence here reinforces our city’s role in shaping our future economy. The opening of this new office and event space reflects how Atlanta continues to engage the community in bold, creative ways,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
Photo courtesy of QTS Data Centers
RAPID DATA ARRIVES
An investment that will mark the largest economic development project in Iowa’s history was announced last week by QTS Data Centers. The $10 billion data center project is set to be constructed in the city of Cedar Rapids on 612 acres of the Big Cedar Industrial Center. “We chose Cedar Rapids for its strong infrastructure, skilled workforce and forward-thinking community. As AI continues to transform industries, the need for secure and scalable infrastructure has never been more critical,” said QTS Co-CEOs Tag Greason and David Robey. “This project reflects Iowa’s leadership in embracing the future of technology, and we’re proud to invest in a state that prioritizes innovation, sustainability and community partnership.” QTS will deliver seven data center buildings on the new site in partnership with Alliant Energy, which is set to help deliver sustainable energy to the project. In addition, incorporation of the company’s water-free cooling system in each facility will conserve approximately 4 billion gallons of water annually compared to data centers using evaporative cooling, the company said.
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
