Newsletter: How Intel’s federal funding has ripple effects across the state

While construction was well underway for a pair of semiconductor factories in Licking County east of Columbus, Intel had warned that the $28 billion project would be delayed as it awaited federal CHIPS Act funding.

That funding has come through, although it isn’t as much as Intel wanted.

The Biden administration has reduced Intel’s preliminary $8.5 billion grant to less than $8 billion.

The reduction took into account a $3 billion contract Intel had been offered to make chips for the Pentagon, according to reports.

“I do think Intel was merited the full amount, and it was unfortunate to see that it did not get that,” Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted told the Columbus Dispatch. “But we’re moving forward.”

CHIPS Act funding released to Intel for Ohio plants, jobs

An aerial view from February 2024 shows construction progress at Intel's Ohio One campus in New Albany, Ohio. The company is investing $28 billion to build two semiconductor fabrication plants on the site, which spans nearly 1,000 acres. The company broke ground in September 2022. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

Credit: Intel Corporation

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Credit: Intel Corporation

What happened: Intel is getting the federal funding the company says it needs to build Columbus-area semiconductor fabrication plants.

The Biden administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Intel up to $7.865 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS incentives program for commercial fabrication facilities.

Why it matters: The award will support Intel’s expected Columbus-area investment of nearly $90 billion by the end of the decade, which is part of the company’s overall $100+ billion expansion plan, the administration said.

Read the latest story.

Read about one example of the project’s local impact.

Local philanthropist makes multi-million dollar donation to Dayton Children’s

Randy Gunlock a local philanthropist and businessman made a large donation to Dayton Children's new mental health building. MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF

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Local real estate investor and philanthropist Randy Gunlock’s multimillion-dollar donation to Dayton Children’s Hospital’s new mental health facility is more than a gift, as he sees it.

He’s making an investment in young people across the region.

Greener pastures: “Any time we make contributions to nonprofits, we consider it an investment. An investment in the facility and an investment in the community,” Gunlock said in an exclusive interview with the Dayton Daily News.

Gunlock and his family’s foundation, known as the Greener Pastures Foundation at the Dayton Foundation, announced a $3 million unrestricted grant to Dayton Children’s.

Read the story.

CareSource awarded TRICARE contract to provide benefits to the military

CareSource has its eye on going from a regional health insurance company to a small national plan. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Credit: Jim Noelker

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Credit: Jim Noelker

What happened: The Defense Health Agency will turn to CareSource through testing implementation of new health support services through TRICARE, the massive health care program for uniformed military members, retirees and their families.

Why it matters: TRICARE as a whole is huge, serving some 9.5 million beneficiaries. CareSource Military & Veterans has been awarded the TRICARE Competitive Plans Demonstration contracts for the Atlanta and Tampa, Fla. regions, the company said.

Read the story.

Multimillion-dollar computer data center project proposed for Springfield

The possible location of a new data center Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

What could happen: A large data center facility may be coming to Springfield after a Canadian company purchased a building at the city’s southeastern edge.

A tax abatement document approved by the Clark-Shawnee school board indicates that 5C Data Centers USA, Inc. is seeking a property tax abatement linked to the purchase of an existing facility at 601 Benjamin Drive — across from the Dole plant in the PrimeOhio corporate park.

Why it matters: “When this gets implemented and goes into place, it’ll be some of the most cutting-edge technology in the U.S.,” said Clark-Shawnee Superintendent Brian Kuhn.

Read the story.

Dayton electric company AES Ohio files for higher distribution rates

AES held a ribbon cutting on it's newly renovated, Smart Operations Center,  Monday October 25, 2021. AES spent $20 million to renovate the old Dayton Power & Light building and move AES into the future. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Credit: JIM NOELKER

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Credit: JIM NOELKER

Dayton electric utility AES Ohio filed its application for higher electric distribution rates with Ohio regulators Friday.

The company said it filed its request for a distribution rate review with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to increase its base electric distribution rates.

How much? The utility gave regulators a heads-up the application was coming. The proposed numbers at work here: AES seeks a rate increase that would raise monthly electric bills by $21.75, a more than 14% increase for customers using a certain amount of electricity.

Read the story.

Contact me: As always, my thanks to you for reading this newsletter. You can reach me at tom.gnau@coxinc.com. I’m also on X, LinkedIn, and you can find more of our business reporting at Dayton Business.

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Local social services are struggling: The current situation.

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