GENESEE COUNTY, N.Y. (WKBW) — Samsung Electronics Co. is eyeing a $17 billion chip-making factory in Genesee County according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
According to the Journal's report, which used documents and people familiar with the company's plans for the story, Samsung is scouting Phoenix, AZ, Austin, TX, or Genesee County as possible locations.
The proposed plant would employ up to 1,900 people and be operational by October of 2022. It is dependent on incentives from the federal government to offset cheaper costs in foreign countries.
In Genesee County, the Western NY Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (WNY STAMP) is already built for such a use. The site is 1,250 acres waiting for a nanotech-oriented manufacturing company to move in. The Genesee County Economic Development Center, who operates the site, would not confirm the Wall Street Journal report.
"Many, many companies large and small are looking at that site, (R) Assemblyman Stephen Hawley of Batavia said, "it's build ready."
"All of Western New York needs a shot in the arm and this STAMP location can really help," Town of Alabama Supervisor Robert Crossen said, "we're not talking just the Town of Alabama or Genesee county, it will help everyone."
When asked for comment, the GCEDC said "Coupled with the many attributes of STAMP, including being strategically located between the Buffalo Niagara and Rochester Finger Lakes metropolitan regions, a well-educated and productive workforce, access to low-cost electricity due to the support of the New York Power Authority and many others have enabled STAMP to compete globally for large scale economic development projects in the semi-conductor, advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors."
7 Eyewitness News has reached out to Empire State Development, and Samsung for comment and are waiting to hear back.
