Chandler tech campus lands major expansion as semiconductor supplier adds new manufacturing line

Intel announced a $20 billion expansion of its semiconductor manufacturing operations at its Ocotillo Campus in Chandler, Arizona, on Tuesday. According to city officials, the project included two new fabrication facilities and was expected to create more than 3,000 high-tech jobs, marking the largest private investment in Arizona’s history.

The expansion will include the construction of two new fabrication facilities, or “fabs,” at Intel’s Ocotillo Campus in Chandler, city officials said. Intel officials said the project is expected to create more than 3,000 high-tech, high-wage jobs directly in Chandler. Additionally, the company projected that the expansion will support 15,000 indirect jobs in the region, while construction of the new fabs is expected to employ about 3,000 workers.

The City of Chandler described the $20 billion project as the largest private investment in Arizona’s history at the time of the announcement.

Intel also indicated that once the new facilities are operational, Chandler will be home to more than 15,000 Intel employees, further solidifying the city’s role as a major hub for semiconductor manufacturing. Construction is slated to begin later this year, according to the City of Chandler’s official news release, which was published on the city’s news center and included contacts Matt Burdick, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, and Stephanie Romero, Public Information Officer.

The announcement builds on Chandler’s existing semiconductor manufacturing base, where Intel has maintained a long-standing presence. The city’s economic development materials highlight Chandler as a community with more than 50 years of high-tech manufacturing history and emphasize its position as a center for innovation and advanced manufacturing. The expansion is expected to contribute significantly to Arizona’s semiconductor workforce and broader economy, city officials said.

This project aligns with broader statewide efforts to develop Arizona’s semiconductor ecosystem. The Arizona Commerce Authority has allocated $17.5 million to Arizona State University to expand semiconductor research and training capabilities, while the University of Arizona recently launched a $35.5 million semiconductor technology center to support education and industry collaboration. These initiatives include advanced packaging, gallium nitride research, and cleanroom-based training programs aimed at building a pipeline of skilled workers and fostering innovation in the semiconductor sector.

Chandler has attracted other semiconductor-related investments in recent years. Applied Materials announced plans for a $200 million advanced manufacturing facility in Chandler, which local and company-linked reports say could create up to 200 jobs over five years. This expansion is part of broader efforts to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain. The city’s economic development materials note that Applied Materials’ project and Intel’s expansion reinforce Chandler’s status as a growing cluster for semiconductor manufacturing and supporting industries.

Records from the City of Chandler’s economic development webpage confirm the city’s long-standing concentration of high-tech manufacturing employers. Local and regional sources have noted that workforce development in semiconductor manufacturing remains a key focus in Chandler and across Arizona. The Intel expansion fits within a larger pattern of semiconductor investment in the state, with Chandler serving as one of the primary manufacturing locations.

Intel’s announcement and the City of Chandler’s official statements mark a significant milestone in the region’s industrial development. The project’s timeline calls for construction to commence later this year, with the new fabs expected to come online in the coming years, further expanding Chandler’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain.