Semiconductor manufacturer, 'Micromize,' coming to the Chattahoochee Valley – WTVM
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) -The first ever semiconductor manufacturer is coming to Columbus, and is expected to make a positive economic impacts to our area.
The company named Micromize, will house its headquarters and manufacture facility in the Fountain City.
“This is the first company, startup company, of the semiconductor industry that will relocate here to Columbus,” said Brigadier General Retired Andrew Hilmes.
Hilmes is a member of the Executive Council for the Chattahoochee Hub for Innovation and Production of Semiconductors or Chips FOR Chips.
The coalition collaborated with Georgia Tech and the CEO and Founder of the startup company Dr. Prashant Patil to bring this here.
The company has a focus to create small energy efficient microchips for items such as wearable technology.
“In August 2022 the United States Government passed the Chips and Science Act which was designed to bring semiconductor, or microchip manufacturing back to the United States,” Hilmes said.
According to Hilmes, Dr. Patil was attracted to Columbus due to support from the community and the resources needed for the industry.
“You need land, the land needs to be seismically inactive, and you need a lot of water, and Columbus has all of those things. Plus a vibrant business climate,” he said.
The CEO of the Greater Chamber of Commerce Gerald Mitchell said it’s important for the city to nurture startup companies.
“As those companies ramp up, they spend money general contractors, they spend money with other supplies, different people in the business ecosystem,” Mitchell said.
Hilmes says the new business will be also positive for our local economy, and one of their goals for bringing the company to the city is to reduce poverty.
“We’re talking about high paying wages, again average salary of up to 150-thousand dollar in semiconductor fabrication facility, and we know too through research that for every job that is within a semiconductor related facility itself, there are seven more jobs that are created as a result. So, that’s everything from teachers, firefighters,” Hilmes said.
According to Hilmes, the company is expected be in full operation in early 2025.
He said Dr. Patil plans to hire between 15-20 people initially and could hire more as the company grows.
According to Hilmes, semiconductor manufacturing a a type advanced manufacturing that requires specialized. However, he says many of the schools and colleges in Columbus and surrounding areas offer programs to teach the skills need.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City is already working on a series of classes to prepare students to work in this high-tech industry.
“We are very excited to have the semiconductor facility come to Columbus. We would like to be in a position to support the industry by creating a new semiconductor training program here at the college. It’s going to be housed in our new state-of-the-art workforce training,” said , Dr. Beth Mulin the associate dean of Workforce Development and Technical Education for CVCCC.
According to her, the new program is expected be up and running in Fall 2024, but she encouraged those interested to apply now so they can begin their core classes and be ready to enter the program when it starts.
To apply click here.
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