Micron to invest $2.17B in Manassas expansion

Semiconductor company Micron Technology will invest up to $2.17 billion to expand its Manassas manufacturing facility, creating an expected 340 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday.

Micron will modernize the plant at 9600 Godwin Drive to produce dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips for automotive, aerospace, defense and industrial markets, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Based in Idaho, the company has operated in Manassas for 22 years, and as of Dec. 10, it had 1,230 employees in Manassas.

“As the only U.S.-based manufacturer of memory, Micron is uniquely positioned to bring state-of-the-present memory manufacturing to the U.S., strengthening the country’s technology leadership and fostering advanced innovation,” Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said in a statement.

The company is set to receive up to $275 million in federal funding to expand its Manassas manufacturing facility, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced Dec. 10, and Micron will move its manufacturing of DRAM chips for automobiles from Taiwan to Virginia.

In terms of state incentives, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Manassas and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission to secure the project. Micron will be eligible to receive an MEI Commission-approved special appropriation of up to $70 million, based on the more than $2.1 billion investment and 340 new jobs, subject to approval by the General Assembly.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the state repackaged a $70 million economic development incentive package awarded to Micron in 2018 to provide $46 million in unspent financial incentives for the expansion of the Manassas plant.

“Micron’s investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, supported by the bipartisan CHIPS Act and the incentives offered by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Manassas, will help drive economic growth and ensure that the U.S. remains at the forefront of technological advancements,” Mehrotra said in a statement.

VEDP will support Micron through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program. Created by VEDP in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System, the program provides free customizable workforce recruitment and training services to qualified new and expanding companies.

“Micron  Technology’s historic $2.17 billion investment in Manassas reinforces Virginia’s position as a leader in advanced semiconductor manufacturing,” Youngkin said in a statement. “For more than two decades, Micron has demonstrated that Virginia’s skilled workforce, strategic location and pro-business climate create an ideal environment for innovation.”

With a presence in 18 countries, Micron has 11 manufacturing sites, 13 customer labs and 21 design center locations. The tech company has more than 50,000 employees.

The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Micron up to $6.165 billion in direct funding to expand DRAM production in Idaho and New York, creating approximately 20,000 jobs and helping the U.S. grow its share of advanced memory manufacturing from less than 2% now to about 10% by 2035, according to the Biden administration.

Micron reported fiscal 2024 revenue of $25.11 billion, up from $15.54 billion in fiscal 2023.