Technology giant Samsung Electronics Co. is considering multiple sites in the Valley, along with sites in New York and Texas, for a $17 billion semiconductor plant, the Wall Street Journal first reported.
A source familiar with the site search confirmed to the Business Journal that Samsung is eyeing sites in the Valley, including a 1,100-acre site in Goodyear that the city recently designated a foreign trade zone. According to city documents, a site in the city, bounded by Indian School Road to the north, Perryville Road to the west, Citrus Road to the east and McDowell Road to the south is being considered for an economic development project. The city documents do not identify the potential user but do say it is a known user.
According to Goodyear city documents, in order to qualify as a user-driven foreign trade zone in the city, a capital expenditure of at least $25 million must be made in the development of a project, manufacturing operations must be carried out in at least 75,000 square feet of a building, the employer must agree to employ a minimum of 75 people with more than half paid at least 125% of the median annual wage and full-time employees must be offered 75% of health insurance premium paid by the employer.
According to city documents, the proposed project for that site would meet or exceed all the criteria.
Sources with knowledge of the search also told the Business Journal a 1,000-acre site recently annexed into the town of Queen Creek is another potential landing spot for Samsung.
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