IBM to Build $2.5 Bil Chip Plant in Dutchess County

EAST FISHKILL, NY-In what New York Governor George Pataki termed the largest private sector investment in New York State history, IBM will build a $2.5 billion semiconductor chip fabrication plant at Building #323 at the Hudson Valley Research Park in East Fishkill.

The project will create 1,000 permanent new jobs at the site once it reaches full production in early 2003. The new plant, which is part of IBM’s $5 billion capital investment plan to support its semiconductor business, is scheduled to begin operations during the second half of 2002, IBM officials estimate. The building totals approximately 635,000 sf of which a little more than 200,000 sf is useable.

IBM Chairman and CEO Lou Gerstner comments, “The world of e-business is driving a massive build-out of the infrastructure of computing and communications. That, in turn, drives demand for critical technical components like chips. Demand is white hot in three critical segments–chips for big servers, chips to power the explosion in Internet access devices and chips in the networking equipment that ties everything together. That’s why today’s announcement is important–important for our industry, our customers and our employees.”