麻州33%、波士頓市20.8%選民已投票 11月5日出席投票率估計破紀錄

波士頓市長吳弭鼓勵選民出席投票。

             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 11月5日就是美國總統大選日了，民主、共和兩黨候選人的民調極其接近，催票態勢極為緊張，麻州州務卿辦公室表示，整個麻州已有170萬人，約33.6%的已登記選民投了票，波士頓市則是已收回9萬1214張選票，約為5分之1，20.8%的已登記選民投了票。

               麻州州務卿威廉蓋文 (William Galvin)估計，最後的出席投票率將打破2020年有370萬人投票的紀錄。他認為總統候選人賀錦麗 (Kamala Harris)和川普 (Donald Trump)之間的競爭激烈，會激發選民出席投票。

波士頓選務局局長Eneida Tavares說明選務近況。

               11月5日的大選投票日這天，從早上7點到晚上8點，波士頓的選民，可以親自到275個投票站投下選票。麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 已公佈，她將攜同第一夫人Joanna Lydgate在5日的早上9點，到阿靈頓鎮的Hardy小學去投票。波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)  經由她的競選團隊透露，5日早上8點半，將到羅森岱爾的Phineas Bates 小學投票。

美國各州選舉人票分佈。

               美國的總統大選結果由538張選舉人票來決定。美國的50州，各有不同數目的選舉人票，在除了緬因州和內布拉斯加州之外，在其他任何一1州中贏得選舉者，可獲得該州所有的選舉人票，一旦贏得的選舉人票數超過270張，就贏了選舉。

               加州是美國人口最多，州民3950萬人的州，有54張選舉人票，在2020年後增加了2張選舉人票的德州其次，有40張，佛羅里達州30張，紐約州28張。麻州11張。在2024年中，失去一張選舉人票的州有加州、伊利諾州、俄亥俄州、密西根州，紐約州、賓州，以及西維琴尼亞州。

               麻州的親自出席提早投票為期2週，從10月19日至11月1日，共有59萬6938人已經投了票。截至10月29日，共有113萬3166人索取了郵寄投票表格。波士頓市則有12萬6778人索取了郵寄選票。

               波士頓市長吳弭率市府選舉局等人，4日舉行了一場記者會，匯報波士頓的已登記選民，約有五分之一已經投了票。其中在提早親自投票的2星期中，有29,309人投了票，另有41,607人以郵寄方式投了票，把選票丟進收選票箱的有20,297，加起來波士頓市政府已經收到91,213張選票，在波士頓的已登記選民中佔了20.8%。

               波士頓選務局局長Eneida Tavares說明今年有2300名投票站工作人員，其中400多人能在英語以外，說一種以上其他語言，也接受了在有需要時，或者選民要求時撥打士府的語言協助熱線等訓練。

               親自投票或丟進收票箱 (dropbox)的選票，必須在選舉日當天的晚上8點前投出。郵寄選票必須蓋有11月5日下午5點前寄出的郵戳，但收受選票要額外多3天時間。在美國境外郵寄的選票，也必須蓋有選舉日當天郵戳，但將等到11月15日的下午5點後才收受。

               波士頓市今年索要郵寄選票的人比2020年總統大選時的192,050人要少些。2022年有87,402人，今年則有126,778人。

               提早親自出席投票的人，2024年也微降。2020年有55,716人，2022年有9,061人，今年有29,309人。

               美國的選舉採選舉人制，50 州各有不同數目的選舉人，除了緬因州和內布拉斯加州之外，在一州選舉中贏得選舉的總統候選人，可獲得該州所有選舉人的選票。50州共528張選票，總統候選人只需贏得270張選舉人票，就可當選。

MAYOR WU AND IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT ANNOUNCE OPENING OF FOURTH ROUND OF “WEAVING WELL-BEING” GRANTS AT INAUGURAL IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT FORUM

MAYOR WU AND IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT ANNOUNCE OPENING OF FOURTH ROUND OF “WEAVING WELL-BEING” GRANTS AT INAUGURAL IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT FORUM  Applications for grants are open now through January 16; $200,000 available to nonprofits for community-led initiatives supporting mental health and well-being

BOSTON - Monday, November 4, 2024 – Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) today announced the opening of the fourth round of Weaving Well-Being grants. This was announced at MOIA’s first-ever Immigrant Advancement Forum: Our Future Now, held on October 26. This forum is a new annual, family-friendly convening launched to enhance Boston and the region's capacity to welcome, support, and uplift immigrant and refugee residents across neighborhoods. Local immigrant-serving nonprofits are encouraged to apply to the current round of Weaving Well-Being grants with $200,000 in funding available for the 2025-2026 program cycle. Applications are open until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2025.  MOIA’s Weaving Well-Being initiative cultivates a stronger network of immigrant-led and-serving organizations seeking to promote Boston immigrant residents, destigmatize mental health in immigrant communities through non-clinical, culturally, and linguistically sensitive interventions, and shift power to communities. “Immigrant communities often face barriers in accessing mental health services,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Our community nonprofit partners are providing vital support networks and building systems of care through innovative ways to help people heal. I’m thrilled that the City can support their efforts and look forward to their ongoing work to ensure Boston is a home for all.” MOIA formally launched the Weaving Well-Being initiative in 2022, providing $70,000 in mini-grants to seven nonprofits that year. Since then, the program has grown significantly, with 18 partners in 2023, 21 partners in 2024, and $400,000 in grants to date. The complete list of 2024 participating community partners is available on the Weaving Well-Being website. These awarded grants were funded by the City of Boston’s FY24 operating budget and are being used through January 2025. "Chinese Progressive Association is grateful for the partnership with the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement,” said Baolian Kuang, CPA’s Community Organizer who leads resident-focused programs. “With this grant, residents had the opportunity to connect with and support each other, develop in-depth friendships, and collectively learn about the history and context of our neighborhood and beyond! Residents also get to participate, engage in community processes, and visit other neighborhoods in the languages they are most comfortable in.” “We are thrilled with the recent funding from the City of Boston and other partners in recognition of the stressors that immigrants face and Casserly House's connective role,” said Donna Stiglmeier, Director of Casserly House. “Sociedad Latina is excited to be partnering with the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement to offer greater opportunities for Latine youth to foster positive physical and mental health by exploring outdoor adventure, movement activities, and mindfulness,” said Alex Oliver-Dávila, Executive Director of Sociedad Latina. Hundreds of participants attended the inaugural Immigrant Advancement forum, which included Weaving Well-Being workshops hosted by community-based organizations. Attendees also got to participate in various speaking sessions and featured remarks from Mayor Michelle Wu, members of the Boston City Council, and community leaders. Weaving Well-Being workshops were led by the Brazilian Worker Center (Aromatherapy), Mutual Aid Eastie (Therapeutic Crafts), and EHR Boston Communities (Yoga). Speaking sessions included Activating Immigrant Voting Power: Your Voice, Your Vote; Unlocking Education: College Access for Undocumented Youth; Weaving Well-being: Building a Movement for Immigrant Community-Driven Wellness; The Power of Your Story: Public Narrative for Immigrant Leaders; and Cooperative Solutions for Community Needs: Empowering Boston's Immigrant Communities “The theme of this inaugural forum is ‘Our Future Now’. This is not just a catchy phrase; it’s an imperative—a call to action for every immigrant, every child of immigrants, and every ally,” said Monique Tú Nguyen, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement. “The immigrant community is not just a part of this city's and nation’s future—it is its future—and that future is now.” To complement the Weaving Well-Being programming efforts, MOIA also partnered with the Leah Zallman Center for Immigrant Health Research to learn how community-embedded practices improve mental health resources for immigrants. These evaluation efforts help guide the City’s future investments and empower residents to speak on the importance of these initiatives in addressing the social determinants of health. To learn more about the reports, please visit these links to learn more: 2022-2023 report and 2023-2024 report. To explore additional funding opportunities offered by the City of Boston, visit www.boston.gov/grants. For questions regarding City of Boston grant programs, please email grants@boston.gov. For interviews and footage from the forum, contact Bessie King at bessie.king@boston.gov.

麻州長Healey呼籲民眾戶外活動注意防火

Governor Healey Joins Fire Officials in Urging Outdoor Fire Safety 

Elevated Fire Weather Continues; No Relief Expected in Days Ahead 

BOSTON -- Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey today joined Massachusetts fire service leaders asking residents to refrain from any outdoor activity that could cause or contribute to brush and wildland fires. 

“As we confront an unprecedented fall fire season, I’m asking all our residents to protect themselves, their neighbors, and their communities by refraining from any outdoor activities that involve open flames, sparks and embers, or other heat sources,” said Governor Healey. “I especially want to thank the firefighters who have been battling these fires, very often for days at a time and across the state from their homes and families. We have seen truly remarkable efforts from our fire service. Let’s support them by using caution and common sense out there.” 

“This situation requires all of us to make safe, responsible choices,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “The scope of these fires and the tireless efforts of our fire service underscore the serious risks posed by the current conditions. By taking simple steps—like postponing outdoor fires and using caution with equipment—we can support our firefighters, help prevent further strain on our resources and protect our communities.” 

“Massachusetts’ Statewide Fire Mobilization Plan has been activated more than a dozen times since October 1,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “The Mobilization Plan coordinates the delivery of firefighting resources across Massachusetts to support local departments and mutual aid so that communities aren’t overwhelmed by a large-scale or long-term event.”  

The Department of Fire services has been supporting local and regional firefighters with Incident Support Units, which provide mobile communications, conferencing, and mapping capabilities; Rehab units, which support firefighter health and safety on the fireground; drones; and utility terrain vehicles. Local coordinators from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency are in contact with public safety officials experiencing large wildfires and are prepared to support needs as they arise. The Massachusetts Air National Guard has repeatedly mobilized helicopters to conduct water drop operations. The Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry is assisting local fire departments with monitoring all active incidents, DCR fire towers are on full alert, and a temporary ban has been implemented on all open flame and charcoal fires at Massachusetts state parks. 

Even with coordinated personnel, apparatus, and state agencies lending assistance, however, battling brush and wildland fires is labor-intensive, time-consuming, resource-heavy work. Dead and compromised trees, off-road apparatus, and drought-induced fire behavior all present additional hazards to the firefighters at these scenes. 

Citing that ongoing danger to firefighters and residents, the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts yesterday recommended that all local fire chiefs deny any fire-related permit requests and collaborate with local officials to prohibit any recreational fire activity. Fire Chiefs have the authority to prohibit the use of open flames and other ignition sources in hazardous conditions under Section 10.10.2 of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code. 

“Given the current and expected weather conditions, the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts’ Board of Directors strongly recommends that all our members temporarily deny all fire permit requests and work with municipal officials to impose outdoor fire bans in every city and town in Massachusetts at least through Friday, Nov. 8, 2024,” wrote Foxborough Fire Chief Michel Kelleher, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. “The number and nature of these incidents pose a grave risk to our personnel and the communities we serve. Beyond the direct hazard posed by an out-of-control wildland fire, every firefighter battling a preventable outdoor fire is a firefighter who cannot respond to an unrelated structure fire, motor vehicle crash, medical call, or other emergency.” 

As of last night, 87 brush and wildland fires had been reported in the preceding seven days, burning about 483 acres. This tally includes four new fires reported in the previous 24 hours. 

Some of the significant fires include: 

• Cain Hill (Salem/Lynn): 140 acres, 50% contained 

• Middleton Pond (Middleton): 188 acres, 70% contained 

• Pappas (Canton): 33 acres, 90% contained  

• Wolcott Hill / Blue Hills Reservation (Milton): 4 acres, 70% contained 

• Curry 24 (Devens): 100 acres, 99% contained 

• Maple Meadow (Wilmington): 10 acres, 70% contained 

• Mt. Laurel (Holden): 6 acres, 95% contained 

• Traders Way (Salem): 15 acres, 50% contained 

• Old Forest Road (North Andover): 5 acres, 50% contained 

• Bradway (Monson): 44 acres, 90% contained 

• Castle Rock (Saugus): 22 acres, 80% contained 

• Pond South (Middleton): 4 acres, 60% contained 

• Fitzgerald (Northampton): 55 acres, 85% contained 

• Moose Meadow (Montgomery): 60 acres, 20% contained 

• Howe (Spencer): 9 acres, 80% contained 

With no precipitation, winds of 5 to 10 mph, fresh leaf litter, and direct sunlight on surface fuels, the outdoor fire risk remains very high today – and because about 45% of Massachusetts homes are in or near wooded areas, any of these fires could put people and property in danger. This is a time to exercise extreme caution with any activity involving sparks, flames, or heat sources outside: 

• Remember that open burning is prohibited statewide through January and in many communities year-round. 

• Refrain from outdoor cooking and heating. Sparks and embers from chimineas, fire pits, and grills can easily ignite dry vegetation, debris, and overhanging branches. 

• Use caution with lawnmowers, leaf blowers, all-terrain vehicles, and other power equipment. Hot engines, sparks, and spilled gasoline can ignite dry leaves and grass. 

• Dispose of ashes from fireplaces and wood stoves in a metal can, douse them with water, and cover them with a tight-fitting lid. These ashes can remain hot enough to ignite combustibles long after the fire goes out: never dump them outdoors or in the trash. 

• Extinguish smoking materials in a sturdy ashtray with water or sand. Never toss cigarette butts, matches, or other smoking materials over the edge of a balcony, stub them out on stairs or railings, or toss them in dry vegetation or debris. 

Motorists may encounter moderate to heavy smoke near some of the bigger fires and should exercise caution in the event of limited visibility. Poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke can also make allergies worse and cause respiratory infections especially for people with heart disease, asthma, and other lung diseases. The Department of Public Health has posted a fact sheet with helpful information.  

四波士頓市議員11月7日為波士頓公校校巴問題開公聽會

                (Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市4名市議員將於11月7日(週四)下午2點，在市府大樓的Iannella室，舉行 公聽會，討論波士頓公校自今年開學以來所面對，非常需要改善的校巴遲到，甚至不到的載送學生問題。

               波士頓市議員愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn)表示，他和市議員Erin Murphy，以及Julia Meija在市議會內提出改善波士頓公校的校巴問題議案。市議會的交通委員會主席Henry Santana也將出席公聽會。

               愛德華費聯議員在宣佈將舉辦公聽會的新聞稿中指出，波士頓公校有大約2萬2千名學生，每天學校都要派出校巴在市內的9個分區內載送他們。今年，在本學年開學第一天，就出現每3輛校巴有2輛遲到。這是從2015年以來最糟糕的情況。儘管現在情況已經有改善，但仍未達到95%準時的比率。許多家長繼續為了校巴嚴重遲到，以及未事先通知就改變路線，打電話給市政府。

               波士頓公校給家長及家人用的應用程式Zum不穩定，也加重了校巴問題。許多家長寫信給市議員抱怨，校巴在接送小孩上學、放學上嚴重遲到，甚至不到，他們經常必須自己開車接送小孩，又或者應用程式失靈了，小孩得自己告訴巴士司機怎麼走。

               議員們表示，鑒於波士頓市府投資了大約1億7千萬元進波士頓公校交通系統，波士頓市有責任要達到和麻州中小學教育局 (DESE)所簽署備忘錄 (MOU)中訂定的標準。

Dear neighbors, Please note that Boston City Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy and I will hold a hearing on Boston Public Schools (BPS) transportation challenges next Thursday, November 7th, at 2:00PM in the Iannella Chamber at Boston City Hall. This will also act as a joint hearing to discuss BPS transportation issues involving student athletes, also co-sponsored by Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia. We have invited BPS administrators to testify. This is both a public safety and quality of life issue that continues to negatively impact students, students with disabilities, student athletes, parents, teachers, and school administrators. We cannot normalize the disruption for all that comes with students being picked up or dropped off a half hour or an hour late, or sometimes not at all. Please see my press release below for more information. If you would like to provide in-person, virtual, or written testimony, please reach out to Karishma.Chouhan@Boston.gov. The hearing will also be live streamed at boston.gov/city-council-tv and televised on Xfinity 8/RCN 82/Fios 964.  Thank you, Ed Councilors Flynn and Murphy to Hold a Hearing on BPS Transportation Challenges BOSTON - Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn and Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy will hold a hearing to discuss Boston Public School (BPS) transportation challenges on Thursday, November 7th, at 2:00pm. The hearing will address the critical need to improve the transportation system for BPS families, which has been plagued with delays and no-shows since the beginning of the school year. BPS Transportation serves approximately 22,000 students and transports them across the city’s nine different districts every day. On the first day of school, two out of every three buses were late to school, the worst reported since 2015. Though there has been improvement on the accuracy of school bus arrivals, BPS transportation still has not reached the 95% on-time arrival rate. Many parents continue to contact the city regarding excessive delays and changes in their child’s bus route, many of which had not been communicated with in advance.  Moreover, the unsteady debut of the Zum app for BPS parents and families has seemingly exacerbated these issues. Many parents have written to city officials and their elected representatives about excessive delays for pick up and drop off, having to consistently drive their children due to buses failing to show up at all, the app becoming unavailable, or children having to provide directions to bus drivers. “It is wholly unacceptable that, for months, BPS children and families, including students with disabilities, have had to endure the uncertainty as to whether their bus would arrive a half hour late, an hour late, or if it would arrive at all,” said Councilor Flynn. “We cannot ignore or normalize the disruption this has caused for students, parents, teachers and administrators. We cannot continue to provide tone deaf answers to parents worried about the safety of their children, or blatantly disregard how this affects their quality of life.” “I have reached out to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Superintendent Skipper, and the Boston School Committee for leadership and collaboration with us on this important issue. Parents, teachers, and students continue to express their frustrations, and we receive numerous calls daily from concerned families. The impact of these delays goes beyond inconvenience; it disrupts the learning environment and disproportionately affects our most vulnerable students,” said Councilor At-Large Murphy. “Given that we invest approximately $170 million in our transportation system for around 22,000 students, including many with special educational needs, it is imperative that we hold ourselves accountable to the standards set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DESE. Our students, and their families, deserve that.” For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.

Newbury 街 12月1日、8日將再成無車區

                (Boston Orange 摘譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)11月1日宣佈，12月1日、8日這2個週日，將推出「開放紐百利: 假日漫步 (Open Newbury: Holiday Stroll)」，以在後灣區慶祝假期來臨，宣傳冬季購物季節。

               11月1日及8日這2天的早上10點至晚上6點，Newbury這條街將和從2016年起，在夏天時舉辦的「開放紐百利」一樣，從伯克利街 (Berkeley)到麻州大道 (Massachusetts Ave.)的長約1英里，8個段落街道，將變成無車區。讓人群享受沿路的食物，買東西和用餐。如果天氣有變化，將以12月15日替代。

               鑒於吳弭市長的鼓吹重新想像波士頓市公共空間，2024年波士頓市在6個鄰里舉辦「街道開放日」活動，這也是鄰里無車區，把街道還給人民的第3個年頭。

               查詢「開放紐百利」的相關資訊，可上網https://www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/open-newbury-street。

姜森與何瑞恩:聯合國2758號決議文無關台灣主權地位

哈佛甘迺迪政府學院研討會請姜森(前左)、何瑞恩(螢幕)講壇，余文琪主持。
(翻攝自網路)

           (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 1971年發表的聯合國2758號決議文到底該怎麼詮釋? 在53年後的今日，竟然又成熱議話題。哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院10月30日也為此特地舉辦了一場「「再思聯大第2758號決議與台灣的國際參與（Rethinking UN Resolution 2758 and Taiwan’s International Participation）研討會」。

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏出席。(經文處提供)

               哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院的這場研討會，邀請了中華民國駐美代表處公使姜森和布魯金斯研究院 (Brookings Institution)中國研究中心主任何瑞恩 (Ryan Hass)主講，由TVBS國際新聞評論員余文琦主持。包括波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏，現場約有70人。

研討會現場約70人。(經文處提供)

               聯合國2758號決議文很短，全文不過182字，重點是”回顧聯合國憲章原則”，"修復” People’s Republic of China (中華人民共和國)”的合法權利，認可中華人民共和國的政府代表是聯合國唯一合法的中國代表….並立即驅逐蔣介石的代表。

布魯金斯研究院 (Brookings Institution)中國研究中心主任何瑞恩 (Ryan Hass)。
(翻攝自研討會視頻)

               在這2758號決議文簽署了53年之後的今天，人們又再熱議，姜森認為，主要是因為中華人民共和國近來越來越多次的濫用、錯誤解讀這2758號決議文，以合理化他們對台灣的主權的主張，藉以把台灣排除在國際組織之外。於是掀起右一波的澄清2758號決議文涵意的努力，以支持台灣有意義的參與國際社區。

何瑞恩講談結論。

               姜森指出，2758號決議文並未解決台灣的地位問題。中華人民共和國的錯誤解讀很危險，也增加了軍事衝突風險。台灣想要對國際社會有貢獻，尤其是在公共衛生、科技及經濟等領域。在台灣，人們普遍認為2758號決議文不公平的把台灣排除在國際組織之外，不過國民黨和民進黨等政黨在如何處理這議題上有不同看法。他說台灣有兩岸對話的意願，但中華人民共和國拒絕和台灣內的所有政黨洽談，形成了對話障礙。

               曾任白宮國家安全理事會中國、台灣及蒙古事務主任的何瑞恩認為，2758號決議文並未支持或反對中華人民共和國對台灣主權的主張。在對抗來自中華人民共和國的壓力上，台灣的參與國際組織很重重要。他認為台灣積極展示在科技、經濟、公共衛生等全世界都面對著挑戰的領域中，可對世界有所貢獻，會比用邏輯來爭論更有效。美國可以藉由促使世界注意到台灣對全球經濟的重要性，提供國際參與平台，強調台灣海峽穩定性的重要等來支持台灣。目前美國關於台灣採取模糊不清策略的政策，已在拜登政府任內漸轉變成更為清晰。

               與會眾人提了不少問題，也有人談到香港觀點，提及一國兩制，問台灣為什麼不根據聯合國憲章來民主自決，台灣的主權是否基於蒙地卡羅會議?政策制定者怎麼看儘管越來越多人把自己認定為台灣人，仍有一批人兼任自己是中國人等等。

               有意思的是，1945年聯合國成立時，在51個創辦會員國之中的中國，明明是Republic of China (中華民國)，大多數人在討論2758號決議文時，卻都沒有質問，這決議文否定中華民國會籍，”修復”中華人民共和國合法權益的合法性。

美國選定「紐約創造」為首個晶片研發旗艦廠 安置8.25億元規模的EUV加速器

Biden-Harris Administration Announces NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex as the first CHIPS for America R&D Flagship Facility and Planned Site for the estimated $825 Million CHIPS for America EUV Accelerator

New York Facility Will be Key Part of the NSTC and Expected to Drive Innovation in EUV Technology and Strengthen U.S. Semiconductor Leadership

October 31, 2024 – Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of Commerce and Natcast, the operator of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), announced the expected location for the first CHIPS for America research and development (R&D) flagship facility. The CHIPS for America Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Accelerator, an NSTC facility (EUV Accelerator), is expected to operate within NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex in Albany, New York, supported by a proposed federal investment of an estimated $825 million. The EUV Accelerator will focus on advancing state of the art EUV technology and the R&D that relies on it.

As a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, CHIPS for America is driven by the growing need to bolster the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, accelerate U.S. leading-edge R&D, and create good quality jobs around the country. This proposed facility will bring together NSTC members from across the ecosystem to accelerate semiconductor R&D and innovation by providing NSTC members access to technologies, capabilities, and critical resources.

“With this first proposed flagship facility, CHIPS for America is providing access to cutting-edge research and tools to the NSTC and its launch represents a key milestone in ensuring the United States remains a global leader in innovation and semiconductor research and development,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The research and development component of the CHIPS and Science Act is fundamental to our long-term national security and ensuring the U.S. remains the most technologically competitive place on earth. Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are not just producing the world’s most advanced semiconductors; we are building a resilient ecosystem that will power everything from smartphones to advanced AI, safeguarding U.S. national security and keeping America competitive for decades to come.”

"This $825 million investment from the Biden-Harris Administration will cement Albany's leadership as a world class hub for entrepreneurs, researchers, and engineers in semiconductor innovation and R&D” said National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard. 

EUV Lithography is essential for manufacturing smaller, faster, and more efficient microchips. As the semiconductor industry pushes the limits of Moore’s Law, EUV lithography has emerged as a critical technology to enable the high-volume production of transistors beyond 7nm, previously unattainable. As the NSTC develops capabilities and programs, access to EUV lithography R&D is essential to meet its three primary goals 1) extend U.S. technology leadership, 2) reduce the time and cost to prototype, and 3) build and sustain a semiconductor workforce ecosystem.

“With two decades of proven experience fostering effective public-private partnerships and more than $25 billion invested in semiconductor R&D, manufacturing, and workforce development since its founding, NY CREATES is uniquely positioned to support the NSTC’s mission to provide an open environment to accelerate research, reduce time to commercialization, and grow a sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in the U.S.,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology Director Laurie E. Locascio.

“The CHIPS for America EUV Accelerator underscores our commitment to developing and advancing next-generation semiconductor technologies here in the U.S.,” said Deirdre Hanford, Natcast CEO. “Through this collaboration with NY CREATES, Natcast and NSTC members will have access to essential EUV lithography tools and processes to facilitate a wider range of research and accelerate commercialization of the technologies of tomorrow.”

Natcast and NY CREATES, a non-profit advancing semiconductor R&D and workforce development that operates the Albany NanoTech Complex, expect to establish the EUV Accelerator for NSTC members to conduct next-generation semiconductor research and development activities. The EUV Accelerator, which will have initial operations available in 2025, will allow Natcast, NY CREATES, and NSTC members to work collaboratively to conduct research and development activities essential to enabling faster commercialization of innovative semiconductor technology and strengthening the U.S.’s technology leadership. Key capabilities at the EUV Accelerator are expected to include:

• Access to cutting-edge EUV lithography tools and next generation R&D capabilities, including high numerical aperture (NA) EUV systems, with standard NA EUV expected by 2025 and High NA EUV in 2026.
• Convening and spurring collaboration with industry, academic and government partners to advance technological innovation.
• Dedicated NSTC on-site offices to support Natcast and NSTC member researchers.
• Support for programs that provide, foster, and grow a talented workforce.
• Efforts to grow NSTC membership and engagement while fostering an open, collaborative R&D environment with all NSTC facilities.

The CHIPS for America NSTC Prototyping and National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility, and CHIPS for America Administrative and Design Facility are still forthcoming. The Department and Natcast expect to announce information in the coming months about the process for selecting affiliated technical centers.

Natcast and NY CREATES have signed a nonbinding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and expect the final contract to have an expected term of 10 years. The final contract is subject to due diligence, continued negotiations, and refinement of certain terms. The terms contained in the final contract may differ from the terms of the MOU being announced today. Learn more about the CHIPS for America R&D facilities here.

Learn more about the NSTC, membership, and how to join, at natcast.org/NSTCmembership.

Read the NSTC Strategic Plan here.