Officials: Intel chip plant 'a great win for all of central Ohio'

LANCASTER — The computer chip plant Intel announced it is building in Ohio will be in Licking County, but local officials said the benefits will be felt here, nonetheless.

Fairfield County Economic Development Director Rick Szabrak called the news "a great win for all of central Ohio."

"If you look at the whole region, quite frankly, it's going to continue to grow," he said. "There's been talk that the Columbus region and central Ohio would grow by 500,000 to 1 million people by 2050. It's a whole new industry helping central Ohio become a tech hub."

Intel last week announced its plans to build two computer chip plants in Jersey Township near New Albany in what is a $20 billion investment.

The plants will employ 3,000 workers at an average salary of $135,000 per year. The project is expected to create 7,000 construction jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs. Construction is expected to start this year, with the first chips being produced by 2025.

Szabrak said there will be more training opportunities and job opportunities for Fairfield County residents since the plants will be only about 45 minutes or so away.

MORE: Intel picks Columbus area for largest chip factory in the world

Szabrak said the county workforce center in Carroll is expanding its engineering technology programs, which could also lead to county residents learning the skills needed for Intel jobs.

"I feel that will dovetail into all manufacturing jobs," he said. "We've got a lot of robotics here. As we look at more automation we're going to be able to train for jobs not just at Intel, but for the future of manufacturing jobs in general."

Szabrak also talked about the construction jobs the Intel plants will bring that could go to county residents. He said the workforce center will have 48 students graduating in the spring in construction trades. Szabrak said the Intel plants may keep young people from leaving the state if they can get a plant or construction job.

"Ultimately, It's going to increase land value everywhere," he said. "It's going to increase the amount of housing that's needed and, hopefully, the amount of workers that we have here."

Canal Winchester Development Director Lucas Haire agreed with Szabrak that the plants will have a big impact on central Ohio.

"With that many new jobs being created and that amount of investment I'm not sure that anyone knows the full impact of that," he said. "But they'll be impacts on the Laborshed, the labor supply. They'll be impacts on housing and all those things that we need to think about.

"Then the potential for other investments of folks that are supplying Intel and supplying products to Intel looking to locate in close proximity. There will definitely be opportunities for additional growth as well."

Haire also said there will be a need for additional housing.

Your support helps keep the lights on at the Eagle Gazette. Stay connected with our daily stories, in-depth reporting and more by

clicking Subscribe

Fairfield County Commissioner Dave Levacy said even though the plants will be in Licking County, their impact will also be regional and statewide and even beyond.

"I think it's going to have broad-based effects that throughout not only the state but the nation," he said. "I think it's probably one of the biggest things that's happened. When we see a tech company like this coming into this area, normally you see it out in California or various other places. But not here. I think this is just going to be the beginning of more to come."

Levacy also said the announcement will make the county workforce center an important factor for the future.

"We're going to focus on what jobs are available and try to provide those job skills and especially focusing on high-paying jobs," he said.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-304-9296

Twitter: @JeffDBarron

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Officials: Intel chip plant 'a great win for all of central Ohio'