The U.S. Commerce Dept. launched first funding opportunity for semiconductor chip producers seeking to build, expand or modernize plants using money from the Chips and Science Act. 

Manufacturing companies continue to choose sites in Arizona for new facilities.

The project will support roughly 7,000 construction jobs, according to Intel. 

Manufacturers have responded to the global semiconductor chip shortage with plans to boost domestic production.

Work on project to build two computer chip manufacturing plants near Columbus, Ohio, is slated to start this year.

Previous projects at Intel facility required special construction considerations to deal with the heat.