Intel in Ohio: What this means for the country’s national security, state’s economic future

National and state leaders are about to celebrate the largest private sector investment ever in Ohio with a groundbreaking for the Intel semiconductor plant outside Columbus.

The energy generated by a $20 billion investment is already creating momentum for more investment and more jobs.

>> RELATED: Giant Intel semiconductor plant in Ohio to create economic ripple that will reach the Miami Valley

News Center 7′s Mike Campbell dug into what this means for the country’s national security and our state’s economic future.

Leaders of the Intel Corporation joined Gov. Mike DeWine in January to mark a surprise announcement that sent shock waves across the state, the United States, even the world.

The giant company would build a $20 billion complex on farmland outside Columbus and that would include two semiconductor, or chip, manufacturing plants.

One U.S. senator says this is a huge step to turn around decades of decline in U.S. manufacturing.

>> RELATED: Wanted - 7,000 construction workers for Intel chip plants

“Semiconductors were invested in the U.S., with a lot of tax dollars, because government invests in research, now 90 percent of those chips are made overseas,” Sen. Sherrod Brown said.

Brown told News Center 7 that the Intel plant will bring 3,000 good paying jobs to Ohio. It will also have a huge ripple impact, felt here, and throughout the state.

“Suppliers, supply companies in Dayton, Youngstown, Toledo, Cleveland, so it is going to be good overall for the state,” Brown said.

This Intel project may be one of the few things sparking bi-partisan agreement in Washington or Ohio.

“This is an instance where we are going to take jobs that would be overseas and bring them back to the United States, not just that but right here in Ohio,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner.

The Dayton congressman pointed out that this is good for Ohio now and for years to come.

Semiconductors, or chips, are used in phones, computers, cars and all kinds of electronics. Industries such as aerospace, aviation, defense, and health care also rely heavily on them.

“Chips are in everything we have, their use and need is only going to grow and we are making them right here in Ohio,” Turner said.

There’s no telling how many Dayton-area companies may benefit from all the new projects coming into the state.

Officials with one Beavercreek company already announced that they are a supplier to one of Intel’s suppliers. It makes it more important that Dayton-area companies have workers with the skills to make a successful transition to this new economy.

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