JOHNSTOWN — Intel has indefinitely delayed the groundbreaking ceremony for the multibillion-dollar semiconductor manufacturer facility, near Johnstown, until the CHIPS Act is passed in Congress. 

The CHIPS Act would provide millions of dollars toward funding domestic chip factories, which would be a boom for Ohio’s upcoming manufacturing hub. 

“Every day we waste by not passing the CHIPS Act funding is another day we fall further behind in our competition with China,” Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) said in a statement. “This partisan gridlock has now caused a delay of a $20 billion economic shot in the arm for Ohio.

“It’s time our leaders in Washington find the courage to put aside their differences and ensure our country has a fighting chance at dominating the industries of the future.” 

Intel released this statement about the delay: 

“We are excited to begin construction on a new leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing plant in Ohio and grateful for the support of Governor (Mike) DeWine, the state government and all our partners in Ohio. As we said in our January announcement, the scope and pace of our expansion in Ohio will depend heavily on funding from the CHIPS Act.

“Unfortunately, CHIPS Act funding has moved more slowly than we expected and we still don’t know when it will get done. It is time for Congress to act so we can move forward at the speed and scale we have long envisioned for Ohio and our other projects to help restore U.S. semiconductor manufacturing leadership and build a more resilient semiconductor supply chain.” 

Dan Tierney, a spokesman for DeWine, said the state was not ready to announce a groundbreaking date publicly before Intel’s decision to delay, according to a Cleveland.com report.