MICRO Act could bring chip manufacturing to Illinois

State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, just lately sponsored the MICRO Act, which stands for the Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Actual Alternative Act. MICRO units up new tax incentives for producers of eligible semiconductors and microchips, which have been in very brief provide through the COVID-19 pandemic. Officers are working in any respect ranges of presidency to search out methods to deal with shortages in chip manufacturing, which principally takes place in China and Taiwan. The measure was included and signed into legislation as a part of subsequent yr’s state price range package deal.

Halpin labored carefully with the Illinois Producers’ Affiliation on this system, and its members are praising the mission. Tek Pak President and CEO Tony Beyer mentioned his enterprise, which offers specialised packaging for microchips, might see nice alternatives for development if these producers construct in Illinois.

“We now look ahead to seeing the state of Illinois develop as an financial powerhouse and a world heart for microchip manufacturing and tech innovation,” Beyer wrote in a latest letter in a suburban Chicago newspaper.

Halpin been involved about firms delivery jobs abroad for years. As a staffer for former congressman Lane Evans, “I’ve seen what occurred when Maytag left Galesburg. This pandemic has uncovered the vulnerability of our provide chains, and it’s previous time to deliver these jobs again to the U.S.”

“Chip shortages have affected all of us, from the automobiles we can’t purchase to the electronics we can’t use. We all know now we can’t be so depending on this know-how coming from one other a part of the world,” Halpin mentioned. “The MICRO Act ought to incentivize producers to noticeably contemplate finding and increasing in Illinois, and I do know the Quad Cities, Galesburg, Macomb and different communities right here in west-central and northwest Illinois would welcome them.”