Corning invests $1.5B to expand solar component manufacturing facility in Michigan
Corning Incorporated has announced plans to expand its advanced manufacturing operations in Saginaw County, Michigan. The company, which produces high-purity materials and technologies including hyper-pure polysilicon for solar applications, has invested $1.5 billion into the project and will add 400 high-paying manufacturing jobs.
Corning’s new facility will increase its capacity to supply high-quality solar wafers to support the growing demand for U.S.-sourced solar components. The facility will build on Corning’s existing capabilities through its ownership of Hemlock Semiconductor, a leader in hyper-pure polysilicon production. The company aims to strengthen the domestic solar supply chain and support solar module manufacturing entirely within the U.S., in collaboration with partners Suniva and Heliene.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Wendell P. Weeks, chairman and chief executive officer, Corning Incorporated, said, “We are proud to meet the increasing demand for U.S.-sourced solar products by accelerating the ramp of our advanced manufacturing assets and support the nation’s priority of domestic energy security.
Corning has a long, proud history in Michigan, and we’re excited to expand our footprint here by increasing our investment and creating more advanced manufacturing jobs that pay significantly above the regional median.”
Manufacturers investing in Michigan
ElectroCraft expands motor control manufacturing plant in Michigan
The expansion will improve operational performance, enable faster turnaround times and produce more reliable supply for customers across multiple industries.
Daimler Truck invests $285M to upgrade automotive manufacturing plant in Michigan
The funds will be invested in DTNA’s internal combustion engine (ICE) platform and research and development facilities.
Hemlock Semiconductor receives $325 million from CHIPS Act to increase production of hyper-pure polysilicon in Michigan
According to the company, the project will generate 180 new jobs for the surrounding area.
Investing in American manufacturing in 2025
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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