WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Tina Smith (D-MN) and the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that SkyWater Technology will receive up to $16 million in federal funding as part of the CHIPS and Science Act to upgrade their facility, increasing overall production capacity by approximately 30 percent.
“If we want to continue leading the global economy, we must be a country that makes stuff, invents things, and exports to the world. This significant investment in SkyWater Technology will transform domestic semiconductor manufacturing,” said Klobuchar. “I’m proud to have worked with SkyWater Technology to secure the resources needed to ensure Minnesota remains at the forefront of technological innovation. This is good for our state’s workers and businesses.”
“Modern life depends on semiconductor chips. Whether it’s your car, your coffeemaker, your medical devices, or the equipment that our National Guard members rely on,” said Senator Smith. “This investment in SkyWater will make sure these chips aren’t just made in America, it’ll make sure they’re made right here in Minnesota.”
This federal funding will invest in cutting-edge technology to modernize and expand SkyWater’s Bloomington facility, improve its cybersecurity by upgrading its IT systems, and create new jobs in high-demand fields like engineering and manufacturing.
Klobuchar and Smith voted to pass the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen domestic semiconductor production and boost American competitiveness and innovation. The CHIPS and Science Act is providing significant resources to:
- Help companies build, expand, or modernize domestic facilities and equipment for semiconductor production;
- Kickstart development of the domestic semiconductor workforce and address near-term labor shortages;
- Make the largest five-year investment in public research and development in the nation’s history, including in critical technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, as well as boosting STEM education and regional technology hubs.
In June 2023, Klobuchar hosted a roundtable discussion and press conference at Normandale Community College in Bloomington with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to discuss the CHIPS and Science Act and how it can benefit Minnesota companies and workers. Skywater Technology President and CEO Thomas Sonderman attended the roundtable.
In August 2022, Klobuchar held a press conference in Bloomington with executives from leading U.S.-based semiconductor designers and manufacturers with operations or headquarters in Minnesota to highlight how the CHIPS and Science Act will strengthen American economic competitiveness and spur innovation.
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