(Salem, OR) -- Oregon will spend $210 million to help attract federal money from the CHIPs & Science Act for construction of semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Governor Tina Kotek signed a bipartisan bill Thursday that approves the funding.

Under SB-4, $190 million will be spent to help businesses apply for the federal money, $10 million will go to universities and community colleges to attract federal grants and $10 million will be available to help communities prepare land for the facilities. The bill also gives the Governor special authority to shift an urban growth boundary to create a location for the plant.

Governor Kotek calls it a once in a generation opportunity, "To position Oregon for continued growth in the semiconductor industry. Oregon has long been the center of the semiconductor industry in the United States. We are the Silicon Forest." Hillsboro - home of Intel and others - is often called the Silicon Forest. Kotek added, "As you know, our state holds 15% of the semiconductor workforce, nationally. Senate Bill 4 will create a whole spectrum of good paying jobs and will also support the incredible programs Oregon’s universities and community colleges are implementing, to ensure the next generation of workers are equipped to propel the semiconductor industry in Oregon."

Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) thanked his fellow lawmakers for the bipartisan effort to pass the Oregon Chips Act, "We need to embrace the future and the future is high tech and it is semiconductor. The opportunity for high paying jobs and increased investment, to the tune of billions of dollars, can occur because of this opportunity."