JMA Wireless wins $44 million CHIPS Act grant for Syracuse expansion, Schumer says
JMA Wireless is set to enhance its research and manufacturing operations in Syracuse following the awarding of a nearly $44 million federal grant from the CHIPS and Science Act, as announced by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.
This expansion is expected to create 30 new jobs initially, with significant growth anticipated as JMA prepares for full-scale production of its 5G wireless equipment.
According to JMA Wireless officials, the CHIPS Act grant will facilitate a total investment of $75 million, enabling the opening of a new production line and the expansion of testing capabilities at their facility in Syracuse’s South Side, which commenced operations in 2022.
It is noteworthy that JMA Wireless is the only American-owned manufacturing facility producing 5G wireless communications equipment utilized by major cellphone providers such as Verizon and AT&T.
Schumer, a Democrat from New York, has emphasized that the inclusion of a Wireless Innovation Fund in the CHIPS and Science Act aims to bolster U.S. companies in competing with China and firms like Huawei in the emerging 5G wireless sector.
“We need the future of America’s 5G technology built in Central New York, not China,” Schumer remarked in a statement. “Investments like this demonstrate that the federal government is committed to reclaiming control over critical technologies like 5G and ensuring that the future of broadband and wireless technology carries the label ‘Made in America,’ with JMA at the forefront.”
With the federal funding, JMA intends to expedite the production process of its 5G open radio access network (ORAN) technology, which will be integrated into their new Syracuse facility alongside their testing laboratories.
The company has set an ambitious objective to manufacture and sell over 12,000 advanced 5G ORAN radios annually from its Syracuse campus.
The CHIPS and Science Act has allocated $1.5 billion for the Wireless Innovation Fund, which is aimed at enhancing U.S. technological prowess in high-speed internet and fortifying domestic supply chains.
This segment of the legislation is less widely recognized as the majority of its $52 billion funding is dedicated to attracting computer chip manufacturers back to the United States.
In a related development, Micron Technology recently forged an agreement with the federal government to secure $6.1 billion in CHIPS Act grants for establishing new chip manufacturing facilities in Central New York and Idaho. Of this funding, approximately $4.6 billion will be earmarked to construct the initial two of four manufacturing plants at White Pine Commerce Park off Route 31 in Clay. Micron has committed to investing $100 billion in Clay over a span of 20 years, which is expected to generate 9,000 direct jobs and nearly 40,000 additional jobs through spinoff opportunities.
Founded in 2012, JMA Wireless specializes in the design and manufacturing of 5G wireless platforms in Central New York. The company launched a factory dedicated to 5G components in 2022, situated on the border of downtown Syracuse in one of the city’s most economically challenged and overlooked neighborhoods.
Initially costing $50 million, the plant was projected to employ approximately 200 individuals, with plans for further expansion into the community, ultimately establishing a comprehensive research and manufacturing campus in the years to come.
In addition to its Syracuse operations, JMA runs a manufacturing facility in Clay, Onondaga County, which specializes in wireless equipment production.
Currently, JMA Wireless boasts over 500 employees in the local area and around 1,000 employees worldwide, along with research and development offices located in states such as Colorado, Texas, Illinois, and Virginia, as well as in Italy.
