From Ohio’s chip megasite to Michigan’s EV battery surge, the Midwest’s “Silicon Heartland” transformation is now a national movement. Driven by the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, the region is leading America’s tech resurgence across multiple sectors. A dynamic summary of the Midwest’s tech boom – major projects in semiconductors, electric vehicles, clean energy, cloud infrastructure, and AgTech are reshaping the economy from Ohio to Indiana and beyond. Here are the biggest developments to watch:
Semiconductors
Intel Ohio One Mega-Fab (New Albany, OH): Intel is building what could become the world’s largest semiconductor campus in Ohio, a potential $100B site. Two fabs are already underway, creating 3,000 permanent jobs. Controversy exists over tax incentives and water usage.
SK hynix Packaging Plant (West Lafayette, IN): South Korea’s SK hynix is investing $3.9B to build the nation’s first high-bandwidth memory packaging facility at Purdue University, adding 800 jobs with strong academic alignment and little opposition.
SkyWater/Purdue Proposal: A $1.8B public-private chip R&D fab proposal is paused due to CHIPS Act funding delays. Superseded by SK hynix, the stalled plan highlights the competitive nature of federal grants.
Electric Vehicles & Batteries
Gotion Michigan Cathode Plant: A $2.4B project promising 2,300 jobs has faced backlash over Chinese ownership ties. Local lawsuits and political scrutiny make it highly controversial despite its scale.
Ford BlueOval (Marshall, MI): Ford’s $3.5B battery plant using CATL tech sparked controversy over Chinese partnerships. Project paused but later resumed with scaled-back support.
Ultium Cells (Lordstown, OH): A GM-LG Energy JV creating EV battery jobs with labor disputes over UAW coverage now resolved. Viewed as a union win and moderate success.
Honda-LG JV (Jeffersonville, OH): A $4.4B battery gigafactory welcomed with broad support. 2,200 jobs expected, controversy low thanks to trusted partners.
Stellantis-Samsung SDI (Kokomo, IN): Twin $2.5B+ battery plants bring 2,800 jobs. Minimal controversy; community support strong.
Foxconn Lordstown: A complex story of GM exit, Lordstown Motors bankruptcy, and Foxconn’s future ambitions. A tale of risks and reinvention.
Clean Energy
First Solar Expansion (Lake Township, OH): A $680M plant boosts domestic solar panel production. Few controversies; a climate and economic win.
Siemens Gamesa & TPI Blade Plants (IA): Closed wind turbine factories are reopening with IRA incentives. Local job creation welcomed; low risk.
Hydrogen Hubs (MachH2 & ARCH2): DOE-funded regional clean hydrogen projects with up to $1B in funding each. Blue hydrogen plans face environmental pushback.
CO2 Pipelines (IA, IL, MN): Carbon capture transport plans are under fire from farmers and landowners. Eminent domain and safety fears make this sector’s most polarizing proposal.
Advanced Nuclear/Grid Innovation: Midwest players like Dow and Illinois explore small modular reactors and transmission modernization. Early stages, low controversy.
Data Infrastructure
Meta, Google, AWS in Ohio: Columbus leads with $10B+ in hyperscale data centers. Power and water use controversies exist but offset by strong tax and tech infrastructure benefits.
Regional Expansion (IA, IN, IL, NE): Secondary cities now host major facilities. Debates center on jobs vs. energy demands.
AgTech & Biosciences
AgriNovus Indiana & Corteva/Elanco (IN): Indiana leads AgTech growth with biotech HQs and incubators. Low controversy; high upside.
University-Driven Smart Farms: OSU, Purdue, and Illinois lead innovations in AI-farming, drone scouting, and bioengineering. Tech adoption met with enthusiasm.
Indoor Farming (80 Acres Farms): Ohio-based vertical farms offer local produce year-round. Energy use raises minor concerns.
Land Use & Data Rights: Automation fears and foreign land ownership spark debate; states begin legislating farm data privacy.
Summary Impact
The Silicon Heartland is redefining the American Midwest. With over $100B in cumulative investments and thousands of jobs created, the region is fast becoming a national innovation engine. This report highlights the transformative power of technology when aligned with smart policy, academic strength, and regional pride.
