MCGREGOR, TEXAS — EFC Gases & Advanced Materials has announced plans for a $210 million semiconductor manufacturing plant in McGregor, a city located about 15 miles southwest of Waco in Central Texas.
Massachusetts-based EFC has purchased 195 acres within McGregor Industrial Park to serve as the site of the plant. According to the McGregor Chamber of Commerce, the park spans a little over 2,000 acres and is home to a development and test facility for SpaceX, the rocket and spacecraft company owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The EFC facility will feature a central laboratory, a logistics hub and an administrative building in addition to specialty areas for chemical synthesis operations and gas transfill activities. The City of McGregor has committed to funding infrastructure improvements at the site, including the extension of water and wastewater lines, and assisting in the construction of an industrial rail spur to enhance operational efficiency.
The project, a construction timeline for which was not announced, is expected to result in the creation of at least 120 new jobs, according to EFC.
EFC’s decision to invest in Texas aligns with the state’s preexisting semiconductor manufacturing operations, which include Samsung’s $17 billion plant in Taylor (metro Austin) and Texas Instruments’ $2.2 billion plant in Sherman (metro Dallas).
According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, since the enactment of the CHIPS & Science Act in 2022, more than 83 semiconductor projects valued at roughly $447 billion have been announced, with $88 billion of that capital investment concentrated in Texas. Samsung most recently received $6.4 billion in funding under the act for its Taylor project.
“The new facility will play a crucial role in onshoring essential materials for semiconductor fabs [fabrications], aligning seamlessly with Texas’ thriving semiconductor industry,” says Pavel Perlov, president and CEO of EFC.
— Taylor Williams