The $4.2 billion dollar facility is expected to be an economic boom for the Saratoga County region, putting it on the cutting edge of technology. Today, the community that is at the center of it all was invited to see the progress.
"It's one of the largest construction projects in the country, it's estimated to take about 5 million man hours to complete," said Travis Bullard, Communications Manager for Globalfoundries.
Those hours are expected to create an estimated 2,000 jobs as the plant is built, then another 1,200 to 1,400 once it is up and running. Many of those jobs will be local, making today's open house an unplanned job fair.
"I came out to see how the facility was coming along and I'm hoping my wife can find employment out here when the fab actually starts running up," said Robert Tait from Niskayuna.
Bullard said that neighborhood meetings and a construction hotline are creating open communication with the community. The line received 80 calls this morning alone. One was a noise complaint, the rest were people looking for a job or asking questions, he said. Today they could see the site up close and get their questions answered. There was a buzz of excitement as the region looked toward the future.
"Success breeds success. If this fab goes well I expect that it's going to grow in the Capital Region," said Tait.
One father brought his son to see a new era from the beginning.
"Maybe he'll work here someday," said Michael Urbaetis, from Stillwater.
His 7-year-old son Ben said that'd be just fine, saying he'd love a job where he could make computer chips and computers.
Construction at the site will continue through the winter and Bullard said it is on track to be done in 2012. From there, full production is expected by 2014.
