Last week, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Defense to award Osceola County a five-year Cornerstone award with an initial funding allocation of $3.65 million and a spending ceiling of $120 million. This positions Osceola County at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to produce next-generation microchips for the U.S. military, simultaneously transforming the lives and fortunes of the community. Notably, the contract offers options for an additional $169 million, potentially resulting in a total award of $289 million.
“In FL-09, we are leading the way to develop next generation aerospace microchips, create new high-paying jobs, and defend our nation. We are proud to see Osceola County receive a Cornerstone award by U.S. Department of Defense contract to help our nation continue moving towards a strong, secure domestic semiconductor industry. Through their public-private partnership with SkyWater and BRIDG, the county will have the opportunity to expand their state-of-the-art semiconductor packaging capabilities at NeoCity and establish Central Florida as a hub for this technology,” said Soto. “As work begins on projects funded through this contract, numerous high-quality jobs in research, development, manufacturing, and more will become available to Central Floridians and help keep our local economy strong.”
NeoCity serves as the conduit for changing lives in Osceola County and the region as whole, which is why there has been united support from the business community, academia, and everyday citizens. NeoCity acts as the engine for cultivating a highly skilled workforce, capable of claiming high-paying careers that are being created. This, in turn, augments the tax base and empowers the county to enact essential infrastructure enhancements while improving the overall quality of life.
Nearly a decade ago, Osceola County embarked on a mission to redefine its economic destiny. This mission entailed forging partnerships spanning the local and global landscape, involving leaders in the high-tech industry, academia, and influential figures in federal and state government, as well as numerous community partners. This collective endeavor gave rise to NeoCity, a master-planned 500-acre technology campus.
BRIDG and SkyWater Technology are important partners in the journey, including the recent DoD award. The organizations’ leadership is key in the development of NeoCity as a center attracting investment, researchers, and manufacturers from around the world.
With this award, the county’s campus will spearhead the nation’s semiconductor advanced packaging manufacturing – a key component of the United States’ efforts to base next generation microchip manufacturing on the U.S mainland. This award includes components to develop the needed workforce for production and will ultimately lead to more jobs for Osceola County and Central Florida.
The substantial, and strategic, investment of hundreds of millions at NeoCity is yielding tangible results. Just last year, Osceola County and its partners were recipients of a substantial $50.8 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Furthermore, the County-led coalition has emerged as finalists for a prestigious and lucrative National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines grant.
The DoD’s Cornerstone award carries the potential to infuse Osceola County job creation efforts, heralding a profound community transformation. This shift marks a departure from a historical reliance on agriculture and tourism, charting a path toward a more diversified and prosperous future.
The county and its partners continue to expand capabilities. The coalition behind last year’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant known as Building Central Florida’s Semiconductor Cluster for Broad-Based Prosperity continues plans for workforce development, job creation and improvements to the fabrication facility. County Manager Don Fisher is chairman of the coalition.
The federal government has called for a stronger, more secure domestic semiconductor industry. In response to such a critical national need, Osceola County, in collaboration with BRIDG and SkyWater Technology, put forth a groundbreaking and comprehensive set of proposals aimed at establishing cutting-edge capabilities in wafer preparation and advanced packaging in its application for the Cornerstone award.
Osceola County will contract with BRIDG and SkyWater to implement the award. The BRIDG-led activities focus on chip design and processes while the Osceola County and SkyWater-led activities will focus on offering domestic advanced packaging services. Both of these capabilities are required for the advanced packaging of microchips. Additional details about SkyWater’s program and the technology being developed at the Center for Neovation will be released upon the fully executed contract with the county.
These proposals continue to establish the infrastructure for Osceola County and the Center for Neovation to grow its leadership position in semiconductor microchip packaging and integration — providing for enhanced functionality and improved operating characteristics.Nearly a decade into its vision for NeoCity, Osceola County and its partners will continue to reap the rewards of its vision and investment.
In its announcement, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) DoD note that the award is part of Re-shore Ecosystem for Secure Heterogeneous Advanced Packaged Electronics (RESHAPE) efforts, and directly supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s initiatives to strengthen America’s supply chains as outlined in Executive Order 14017, America’s Supply Chains.
Community partners shared their support.
SkyWater CEO Thomas Sonderman said, “The DoD’s collaboration with Osceola County, SkyWater Florida and BRIDG signifies a unique public-private partnership that supports domestic advanced packaging and helps to secure the U.S. semiconductor supply chain. The county and SkyWater will enter into an agreement for SkyWater to execute all aspects of the initial award of up to $120 million and stand up our fan-out wafer level packaging capabilities. We are pleased this partnership continues to fortify the efforts of the County to build a thriving community in Central Florida designed for advancing the next generation of technologies here in the U.S.”
BRIDG Chief Technical Officer Dr. John Allgair said, “Recognizing the strategic importance of growing and maintaining U.S. owned microelectronics advanced packaging capabilities, BRIDG has been working with Osceola County, SkyWater, the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment team and additional partners to establish an exemplary regional manufacturing capability key to multiple industries, along with the supporting workforce development, This investment will complete the equipment buildout for the Center for Neovation, positioning the center and its current and future partners to drive sustainable, exemplary and inclusive regional economic development in these critical manufacturing fields.”
BRIDG President Jim Vandevere said, “BRIDG joins our partners in celebrating this momentous award that leverages an established and growing semiconductor ecosystem at NeoCity. With little to none of the critical advance packaging activities currently taking place in the U.S., BRIDG is proud to help fill a role in this vital sector to address economic and national security vulnerabilities.”
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