IBM/Toshiba Joint Venture Open for Business in The Silicon Dominion
Manassas - Governor George Allen today announced the grand opening of Dominion Semiconductor, the $1.7 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility jointly announced by IBM and Toshiba America Electronic Components in August 1995. Dominion Semiconductor currently employs over 500 people, with total employment expected to exceed 1,200 by year-end 1998. Governor Allen originally announced this joint venture on August 8, 1995.
"All Virginians are honored to have Dominion Semiconductor in Virginia. IBM and Toshiba are well respected and internationally competitive champions, whose major investment here is catapulting Virginia to the forefront in the fierce, international competition for jobs and prosperity," said Governor Allen. "Economically, technologically, educationally and intellectually, today's grand opening of Dominion Semiconductor celebrates the confirmation of Virginia's emergence as the Silicon Dominion."
Dominion Semiconductor will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, producing 64 megabit dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. These chips are used in computers and other advanced information processing equipment.
Construction of Dominion's state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing facility and an adjoining utility plant began in November 1995 and was completed in December 1996. Installation of the tools used in fabricating the semiconductor wafers was completed in mid-1997. Production of commercial wafer lots will begin by the fourth quarter of 1997 expanding to 1,000 wafer starts per day when full production is reached in 1998. The site allows for construction of two additional wafer fabrication facilities which, if fully developed, could employ an additional 2,800 people.
"We are here to acknowledge the debt we at Dominion Semiconductor owe to our friends and neighbors. You promised us your support and you kept your promise," said Alex Graham, president and general manager of Dominion Semiconductor. "You have welcomed us -- all of us -- to the community and reinforced our decision to locate in Virginia."
Governor Allen presented a Virginia Flag and an historic share of stock in "The Virginia Companie" to Alex Graham to thank Dominion Semiconductor for investing in Virginia. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the City of Manassas and the Prince William County Office of Economic Development assisted the company with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance is providing workforce training services.
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