Osceola County Awarded $50.8 Million Build Back Better Regional C...
Published on September 02, 2022
PR22-74
Osceola County Awarded $50.8 Million Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant for NeoCity
The White House announced on Friday that the United States’ first major investment in our nation’s microchip renaissance will be made in Osceola County.
Osceola County, Florida – Osceola County is part of an elite group of 21 coalitions that the Biden Administration is backing to boost the nation’s economic recovery and rebuild American communities.
Osceola and its Coalition partners will receive $50.8 million from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to develop Central Florida’s semiconductor and microelectronics industry cluster. Out of 529 original submissions, the Osceola-led Central Florida Coalition was one of 60 finalists -- and the only one in Florida to make it to the final round.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce believe the local vision and detailed plan hold the opportunity to transform the Central Florida region. NeoCity stands out as one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing research centers in the Western Hemisphere, specializing in a form of semiconductor manufacturing called advanced packaging, which greatly reduces a microchip’s size, weight, and energy consumption. Funds from this award will expand the fabrication lab and its manufacturing capabilities, creating opportunities for many new, high-wage jobs in the technology field.
“Not only is this the first major federal semiconductor investment in the United States, but the site they selected for this historical investment was right here in NeoCity. This is a significant validation of Osceola County’s grand vision to create high-wage, high-tech jobs at NeoCity,” said Osceola County Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington. “The federal government’s investment accelerates our focused efforts to create more economic opportunities at a higher level than ever before.”
Osceola commissioners have made NeoCity the centerpiece of their plan to diversify the economy, which has traditionally leaned mostly on tourism and agriculture. Leading the Coalition, the County – along with its partners – the Orlando Economic Partnership (the Partnership), the University of Central Florida (UCF), BRIDG, the Florida High Tech Corridor (the Corridor), SkyWater Technology, and the Osceola Chamber say this once-in-a-generation investment will fund the expansion of facilities at NeoCity, develop a robust semiconductor talent pipeline, and a governance structure for the cluster, as well as leverage new, high-demand production processes vital for success in the competitive micro-electronics field that will propel Central Florida into a leadership role for semiconductor research, development and manufacturing.
“Our Coalition has worked very hard to make NeoCity successful and this grant affirms the wisdom of our investment and strategies to diversify the economy,” said Osceola County Manager Don Fisher. “As we carve out a unique place in our region’s innovation ecosystem, we will leverage the federal government’s support to make NeoCity a regional hub for semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing.”
“The future of NeoCity innovation is now! This Build Back Better Innovation Grant will help address the microchip shortage, lower costs and boost local high paying jobs,” said Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09). “What a historic day for Osceola County. Thank you President Biden and Secretary Raimondo for your support!”
In December, the regional Coalition was awarded $500,000 in Phase 1 funding through the EDA’s $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge, which aims to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters across the country while embracing economic equity, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness globally. The Coalition utilized the technical assistance funding to develop its Phase 2 proposal.
For the Phase 2 proposal, Coalition members collaborated on a collective vision for semiconductor manufacturing at NeoCity and how it would benefit communities historically excluded from economic prosperity by increasing access to high-wage, high-skill jobs. The final proposal, submitted in March, included multiple individual component project proposals aligned to boost the reshoring of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and the industry’s future in Osceola County.
Contributions from leaders at Lockheed Martin, Siemens, Valencia College, the Osceola School District, as well as from a bipartisan Congressional coalition comprised of 13 members from Florida’s Congressional delegation, were instrumental in garnering support from key regional partners and, ultimately, the success of the Coalition’s Phase 2 application.
“The EDA’s choice to invest in the Osceola County’s vision for semiconductor manufacturing is a testament to the power of partnerships and our region’s collaborative spirit,” said Tim Giuliani, President and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership. “This only happens through a decade-long collective effort by regional partners centered around a vision to transform the Orlando region’s innovation ecosystem and create a future where high wage jobs are accessible to everyone.”
As the region continues to advocate for bold investments in our nation’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity, including the recently approved CHIPS Act, Osceola finds itself leading the region’s high-tech ambitions, embracing its tagline “be first to what’s next.”
To learn more about NeoCity, visit NeoCityFL.com.
Condado Osceola Recibe Subvención del Desafío Regional Build Back Better de $50.8 Millones para NeoCity
La Casa Blanca anunció el viernes que la primera gran inversión de Estados Unidos en el renacimiento de los microchips de nuestra nación se realizará en el condado de Osceola.
Condado Osceola, Florida – El Condado Osceola es parte de un grupo élite de 21 coaliciones que la Administración Biden respalda para impulsar la recuperación económica de la nación y reconstruir las comunidades estadounidenses.
Osceola y sus socios de la Coalición recibirán $50.8 millones de la Administración de Desarrollo Económico (EDA) del Departamento de Comercio para desarrollar el clúster de la industria de semiconductores y microelectrónica de la Florida Central. De las 529 presentaciones originales, la Coalición de Florida Central liderada por Osceola fue una de las 60 finalistas, y la única en Florida en llegar a la ronda final.
Los funcionarios del Departamento de Comercio de los Estados Unidos creen que la visión local y el plan detallado tienen la oportunidad de transformar la región de la Florida Central. NeoCity se destaca como uno de los centros de investigación de fabricación tecnológicamente más avanzados del hemisferio occidental, especializado en una forma de fabricación de semiconductores llamada empaque avanzado, que reduce en gran medida el tamaño, el peso y el consumo de energía de un microchip. Los fondos de este premio ampliarán el laboratorio de fabricación y sus capacidades de fabricación, creando oportunidades para muchos empleos nuevos y bien remunerados en el campo de la tecnología.
"No solo es la primera gran inversión federal en semiconductores en los Estados Unidos, sino que el sitio que seleccionaron para esta inversión histórica fue aquí en NeoCity. Esta es una validación significativa de la gran visión del Condado Osceola de crear empleos de alta tecnología y altos salarios en NeoCity," dijo el presidente de la Comisión del Condado Osceola, Brandon Arrington. "La inversión del gobierno federal acelera nuestros esfuerzos enfocados en crear más oportunidades económicas a un nivel más alto que nunca."
Los comisionados de Osceola han hecho de NeoCity la pieza ce