On January 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Sumika signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $52.1 million in proposed direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. The proposed investment would support the construction of a greenfield factory in Baytown, Texas.
- The proposed CHIPS funding would support the manufacturing of ultra-high purity (UHP) isopropyl alcohol (IPA) used in advanced logic and memory chip production.
- Through this proposed investment, Sumika, a subsidiary of the largest global producer of high-purity chemicals in the semiconductor industry, Sumitomo Chemical Co., LTD, would help strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain by ensuring a domestic supply of these key semiconductor manufacturing components and reduce the risk involved in shipping UHP IPA across the globe.
- To advance its local workforce efforts, Sumika has partnered with the Lee College Center for Workforce and Community Development and San Jacinto College to educate and train students in high-purity chemical processing.
- The proposed project is expected to create 43 manufacturing jobs and 250 construction jobs.