Public gets a first look at new chip plant

MALTA, N.Y. -- Despite a sometimes drenching rain, dozens of people turned out for a first look at construction on the $5 billion GlobalFoundries plant in Malta.

The community event was the first put on since construction began in July. Since then, more than 300 construction workers have been pouring 27,000 cubic yards of concrete, laying water lines and building the foundation of the plant.

A spokesperson for M+W, which is in charge of building the plant, said more than 90 percent of the workers are from the Capital Region.

GlobalFoundries is building its plant on more than 200 acres at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in the Saratoga County town of Malta, 20 miles north of Albany.

The facility is expected to cost more than $4 billion dollars to build and will cover more than 1 million square feet when it's completed in two years.

The facility is expected to create about 2,000 construction jobs, plus another 1,500 new jobs when it reaches full capacity.

Construction will continue through the winter, though a spokesperson said that extremely cold weather could slow things down.