Congressman Andy Biggs has sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, asking the department to reaffirm Arizona as the location for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) Prototyping and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility.
Arizona was chosen for this facility in January, highlighting its position in semiconductor development and manufacturing. The proposed site is at Arizona State University’s Research Park, where university research programs are expected to help drive development. In August, the Department of Commerce announced that the National Institute of Standards and Technology would manage NSTC, resulting in delays for advancing the facility in Arizona.
“Arizona is the ideal choice for the co-located prototyping and packaging facility. We have the fastest growing semiconductor ecosystem in the country and can support every aspect, from research to manufacturing, packaging, and workforce development. There have been billions of dollars of private investment put into the industry in Arizona, presenting a unique opportunity to leverage that investment and secure our nation’s semiconductor future. Arizona is committed to building this critical supply chain. I look forward to NSTC’s affirmation of Arizona as the home for the pilot facility,” said Congressman Biggs.
“Arizona State University has the resources and has done the groundwork to support this national lab which will be a critical piece of the semiconductor supply chain that serves the nation with research and development, manufacturing and workforce development,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “This work is essential to U.S. economic stability, defense security, and it begins with building new expanded national hubs for advanced training and technology development.”
The letter was also signed by Congressmen Eli Crane (AZ-02), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), and Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08).
Andy Biggs currently represents Arizona’s 5th congressional district in Congress. He took office in 2017 after serving four years in the Arizona Senate. Biggs was born in Tucson in 1958, lives in Gilbert, graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in 1982, and earned his JD from the University of Arizona in 1984.
