Live updates: President Joe Biden at Intel event: 'Made in Ohio' no longer just a slogan
President Joe Biden told the crowd at the groundbreaking of Intel's semiconductor factories in Licking County on Friday that "Intel is going to build the workforce of the future right here in Ohio."
"It's time to bury the label Rust Belt," Biden told the crowd, which started gathering early in the morning for the event. "Made in Ohio and made in America is not just a slogan. It's happening,"
Biden celebrated Intel's investment in the factories as a sign of the return of American manufacturing in general, and semiconductor production in particular.
"We need to make these chips right here in America," he said. "America's back. ... The future of the chip industry is going to be made in America, made in America."
Ceremony began at 10 a.m.
Biden arrived on the site shortly before 11:30 a.m., about 90 minutes after events began with the Ohio State University marching band and former Columbus newscaster Jerry Revish, who introduced Keyvan Esfarjani, Intel's executive vice president and chief global operations officer.
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Esfarjani welcomed the crowd to the "Silicon Heartland," a phrase repeated throughout the day's events.
"I want to welcome Ohio to Intel's family," he said, before playing a video about Intel's Ohio presence. "This is state-of-the-art-manufacturing."
Esfarjani was followed on the stage by a variety of political and economic leaders who touted the development, including Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, JobsOhio President J.P. Nauseef, Intel's Chief People Officer Christy Pambianchi, COSI Columbus CEO Frederic Bertley, U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, and 8-year-old Finn Ashby, hailed by Gelsinger as "Intel's next CEO."
“The Rust Belt is dead, the silicon heartland begins," Gelsinger said. "Because we want to build stuff, the welcome we’ve received since we began these discussions is nothing less than tremendous."
Gelsinger and others proceeded with the shovels-in-the-ground ceremony while waiting for Biden and others in his entourage, including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.
An hour later, events resumed with Revish introducing Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
"It's a great day in Ohio and the best is yet to come," DeWine told the crowd.
"What a great day, what a great day," DeWine said. "By choosing Ohio over 39 other states – think of it – (Intel) put your faith in Ohio. Let me say to you, we will not let you down."
Biden meets with workers
Prior to delivering remarks, Biden met with a group of workers who are members of local unions, according to the White House.
"These workers include pipefitters, electricians, excavators, ironworkers, safety managers, shift supervisors and more. They will share with the President what their jobs entail and how this new facility - which will create over 7,000 constructions and 3,000 full time jobs producing leading edge chips - will make a difference for them and their families," the White House said in a statement.
Early morning start
Members of the media and other visitors started setting up at the crack of dawn Friday in anticipation of Biden's visit.
Biden was scheduled to arrive on the site around 10:45 a.m. to kick off Intel's $20 billion project, the biggest economic development project in the state's history that will employ 3,000 workers and create 7,000 construction jobs.
Politicians, business and union leaders, and economic development officials were among hundreds of people at the site, along with members of the Ohio State University band in a sun-splashed late summer morning.
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Hundreds of chairs and a makeshift stage were set up Friday on the site, at the southwest corner of Green Chapel Road and Mink Street, where Intel began groundwork a few months ago for the factories.
In a giant tent near where the stage is set up, Intel held demonstrations of its technology, including a nod to the state's rich agricultural history where a self-driving tractor was on display. The tractor can help farmers boost production by determining, for example, how much fertilizer should be applied to a certain area and providing farmers with data about their fields.
Small group of protestors
About a dozen protestors, including a group of Proud Boys, were at the Duchess convenience store on Beech Road and Rt. 161 early Friday morning for Biden's visit. The protestors, who appeared to be opposed to Biden and not the Intel operation, marched a bit on Beech Road but did not disrupt events.
Intel donating $17.7 million to Ohio colleges
In anticipation of the ground-breaking, Intel announced Friday morning that it is donating $17.7 million to Ohio colleges for technology research and education. The donation is the first phase of what is expected to be about $100 for the effort.
"Today marks a pivotal moment in the journey to build a more geographically balanced and resilient semiconductor supply chain." Gelsinger said in a Friday news release. "The establishment of the Silicon Heartland is testament to the power of government incentives to unlock private investment, create thousands of high-paying jobs, and benefit U.S. economic and national security."
Ohio Republican Party says Democrats trying to take credit for Intel
In a statement released just hours before President Biden is set to attend the Intel groundbreaking, Ohio Republicans said Democrats are trying to take credit for the project.
"Joe Biden and Tim Ryan are trying to take a victory lap on the historic work of Mike DeWine, Jon Husted, and the Republican Legislature. This project could have gone anywhere in the United States, but Republicans' sound policies and strong leadership are the only reason we are celebrating this groundbreaking in Ohio today," Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Paduchik said.
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