Peoria to build new semiconductor facility

The Peoria City Council voted unanimously to approve the building of the nation’s largest semiconductor packaging and testing facility. Construction is said to begin in 2025 and end in 2027.

Amkor Technology is building the campus on 56 acres of land. The chips at the plant would be used in cell phones, cars, and national defense systems.

The campus is expected to bring at least 2,000 jobs to the area over the next decade.

We spoke to the mayor of the Cite of Peoria Jason Beck to learn more.

What is a semiconductor packaging and testing facility?

Once corporations such as TSMC or Intel produce wafer fabs, the technology is sent to a packaging and testing facility to run a beta test to see if the chips work. Followed by the packaging of the chips for cell phone companies. According to Mayor Beck, many iPhone chips will be produced in the city of Peoria.

Water is another factor that will play into the infrastructure of the campus. According to Mayor Beck, at the plant’s max capacity, 978,000 gallons of water a day will be reclaimed water.

“I think it’s important to listen to every citizen, but at the same time, I was elected to bring in change in the City of Peoria, and I was elected to focus on economic development, public safety, and infrastructure, and that’s what we’re doing,” said Mayor Beck when asked about the reaction of the Peoria community.

Mayor Beck explained the new semiconductor facility would change the U.S.’ national defense and security platforms and bring manufacturing jobs to America.