Apple makes multi-billion-dollar commitment to Phoenix manufacturing
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Apple on Monday morning announced plans to invest more than $500 billion in the U.S. and hire 20,000 people over the next four years, with expansion and construction planned from coast to coast.
Zoom in: This includes a multibillion-dollar commitment to produce advanced silicon at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company plant in north Phoenix and expanded operations at Apple's Mesa facility.
The big picture: The new jobs will focus on research and development, silicon engineering, software development, and AI and machine learning.
- Apple plans to greatly expand chip and server manufacturing in the U.S., plus skills development for students and workers across the country.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said in the announcement: "We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we're proud to build on our longstanding U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country's future."
- "From doubling our Advanced Manufacturing Fund [from $5 billion to $10 billion], to building advanced technology in Texas, we're thrilled to expand our support for American manufacturing," Cook added. "And we'll keep working with people and companies across this country to help write an extraordinary new chapter in the history of American innovation."
The backstory: President Trump met with Cook on Thursday in the Oval Office. Then Trump got so excited that he revealed the plans prematurely, saying on-camera while meeting with governors that Cook is "investing hundreds of billions of dollars. I hope he's announced it — I hope I didn't announce it, but what the hell? All I do is tell the truth — that's what he told me. Now he has to do it, right?"
The big picture: Apple says it now supports nearly 3 million jobs across the U.S. through direct employment, work with suppliers and manufacturers, and developer jobs in the iOS app economy.
- Apple already works with thousands of suppliers across all 50 states, including 24 factories in 12 states.
- Apple's U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund has supported projects in 13 states, helping build local businesses and train workers.
Reality check: Apple made a similar announcement four years ago. In 2021, Apple committed $430 billion in U.S. investments and 20,000 new jobs across the country over five years — including a new campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, where development was paused last year.
- Apple says it has worked with North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) and the North Carolina Department of Commerce to extend the project's timeline. Apple says it continues to grow its teams in the Tar Heel State — both at corporate offices in Raleigh and at a data center in Catawba, where the company has exceeded planned investments.