Grand Rapids Reporter

Hemlock Semiconductor’s (HSC) Thomas Township expansion project has broken ground in central Michigan.

Federal, state and local leaders were joined by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and company officials in what is expected to be a $375 million investment, according to a news release issued by the state government.

“A development of this magnitude takes many partners working together for success. Hemlock Semiconductor has been an outstanding corporate partner since the 1960’s with our community,” said Thomas Township Manager Russ Taylor in the release. “We are so pleased with the collaborative efforts of our community, Saginaw Township, Saginaw Future and the MEDC to support Hemlock Semiconductor’s continued growth and we look forward to taking this through our local process.”

The project is expected to facilitate 180 well-paying jobs in Saginaw County and is in line with the state’s objective of being a leader in the semiconductor supply chain.

“Michigan is becoming a global hub of semiconductor chip manufacturing and we will continue bringing these critical supply chains home so we can create jobs, bring billions in investment to our communities, and lead the future,” Whitmer said. 

“Hemlock Semiconductor, a Michigan-made company whose hyper-pure polysilicon is found in nearly all electronic devices in the world, is betting on Michigan once again, expanding their presence in Thomas Township with a planned investment of up to $375 million creating 170 jobs,” she added.

Whitmer added that the project was led by bipartisan economic development and state-supported improvements of critical public infrastructure.

“From my first days in the [Michigan] Legislature, Hemlock Semiconductor and Thomas Township have proven over and over again that when we invest in our communities and our industries, we make our region, our state and our nation’s supply chain more secure,” said state Sen. Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth) in the release.