Well, I don't have an FSII announcement for you Sparky but here's an interesting article that may make you feel better - 50 microchip plants are expected to be built in the US in the next 5 years at a cost of $1 billion a plant, plus equipment needs to be changed out every three years. Someone's going to have to sell these guys some semiconductor equipment (also, get a load of this, Florida as the next Silicon Valley):
Copyright 1997 Sentinel Communications Co.
THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
September 21, 1997 Sunday, METRO
SEMICONDUCTOR QUEST IS ON FLORIDA CAN BECOME BIGGER CHIP ON THE BLOCK, MOST ANALYSTS SAY
By Gene Yasuda of The Sentinel Staff
Florida's dreams of becoming the next Silicon Valley may be far-fetched, but its chances of recruiting a microchip maker aren't. Just take a look at the odds.
In the next five years, nearly 50 microchip plants are expected to be built in the United States, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. With industry strongholds such as northern California and Texas getting crowded, many microchip companies are looking for new homes that can offer qualified labor, research universities, low taxes and an attractive quality of life.
Microchip executives and analysts say about 20 states meet such basic criteria. Florida is one of them. And, according to an industry analyst's study, metro Orlando is the best bet in the state.
Eager to court an industry that spends $1 billion and creates 1,000 high-paying jobs for every new plant, state and local leaders have forged new initiatives - from tax incentives to training programs. . . .
Sales-tax refund on certain purchases. Semiconductor companies are exempt from paying sales tax on replacement equipment. For an industry that turns over $1 billion of machinery every three years, the exemption would be a major cost savings. It also gives microchip makers the option to divert some of their tax refund to a university to finance research projects. If the university agrees to accept the money, it matches the sum.
"Whether these changes allow us to win or not remains to be seen, but we think they'll get us in the hunt," said Steve Mayberry, Enterprise Florida's vice president of business expansion and retention.
Industry leaders are taking note.
"We're an industry of engineers. If the numbers don't make sense, we don't do it," said Howard High, a spokesman for microchip giant Intel Corp. The fast-growing company, which builds a new plant every nine months, has aggressively branched out from its California roots, where it used to pay $80 million in sales tax on replacement equipment. California has since reduced but not eliminated the levy. . . .
Best - Joe |
