Over the last five years, Bruce Armstrong has walked thousands of miles through the corridors of an empty manufacturing plant in Sherman, Texas, keeping the lights on. Since the plant closed in 2012, he’s been its caretaker, always holding out hope it would come alive again. Thanks to new business from Apple, that hope is about to become a reality.
Finisar is the latest recipient of an award from Apple’s $1 billion Advanced Manufacturing Fund to support innovation and job creation by American manufacturers. The $390 million will allow Finisar to increase the production of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), which power some of Apple’s most popular new features. Face ID, Portrait mode selfies and Animoji all use VCSEL technology.
The 700,000-square-foot plant expects to begin shipping in the second half of 2018, and its output will make Sherman the VCSEL capital of the US. Finisar will soon start hiring 500 highly skilled workers and Armstrong, born and raised there, is busy getting the building ready.
“It will be great to see people come back through the door,” he says. “This means a lot for the Sherman area.”
Finisar is a company committed to creating jobs and has a long history of championing its people and their communities — something machine operator Jerrod Wright knows firsthand. Before Wright was hired in 2014, he was homeless, sleeping inside a car wash at night. During his last four years at Finisar, Wright has married and bought a home.
“This company changed my life,” he says. The new Apple business is something he’s proud of. “Finisar is like a family so this means a lot.”
One hundred percent of the VCSELs sold to Apple from Finisar will be made in Texas. Consistent with Apple’s commitment to the environment, the company intends to procure enough renewable energy to cover all of its Apple manufacturing in the US.
Cicely Brown has lived in North Texas for decades and was the first female technician Finisar hired in the state, in 1998. Over twenty years she’s seen the company grow and become more diverse — and thinks the relationship with Apple will only add to that.
She has some advice for young women who want to go into science and technology: “Keep your head up. Stay strong. Learn as much as you can. Take it all in and then grow from it.”
Bruce Armstrong thinks this growth with Apple will mark a new beginning and a better future for his hometown. “Down the road, we used to have Johnson & Johnson — we were the dental floss capital of the world. But that’s since closed. What defines Sherman now? This new facility. It’s just that significant.”
He won’t be walking those corridors alone for long. And that suits him just fine.
In the US, Apple now supports 2 million jobs across all 50 states, including 450,000 jobs attributable to Apple’s spend and investment with US-based suppliers. Last year alone, Apple spent over $50 billion with more than 9,000 domestic suppliers and manufacturers.
Source: Apple Inc.
MacDailyNews Take: Congratulations, again to Finisar and Sherman, Texas and surrounding area!
SEE ALSO:
Apple awards $390 million to VCSEL-maker Finisar; award will create 500 high-skill jobs at Sherman, Texas facility – December 13, 2017
Apple awards Corning $200 million in first Advanced Manufacturing Fund investment – May 12, 2017
Apple’s billion-dollar advanced manufacturing investment is a blueprint for U.S. job growth – May 4, 2017
Apple: We are one of the biggest job creators in the U.S., responsible for two million jobs in all 50 states – May 4, 2017
Apple to invest $1 billion to promote manufacturing jobs in the U.S. – May 4, 2017
Apple’s top manufacturing partner to meet with U.S. President Trump today – April 27, 2017
Apple could help Westinghouse in completing new nuclear plants – April 17, 2017
Apple supplier Sharp may begin building $7 billion U.S. plant in within months as Japan PM meets President Trump – February 8, 2017
Foxconn-Sharp considering LCD plant in USA, plans in response to President-elect Trump’s ‘Make in America’ call – January 13, 2017
With President Trump soon to take office, Apple looks to boost its ‘Made in America’ credentials – January 10, 2017
Make America Insanely Great Again: Apple seeks to expand Made in USA manufacturing – January 9, 2017
Apple invests $1 billion in SoftBank’s massive tech fund; may help company get in President Trump’s good graces – January 4, 2017
Softbank to invest $50 billion in the U.S., create 50,000 new tech jobs after meeting with President-elect Trump – and Apple supplier Foxconn is in on the deal – December 6, 2016
President-elect Trump invites tech leaders to roundtable in Manhattan next week – December 6, 2016
President-elect Trump tells Apple CEO Tim Cook that he’d like to see Apple make products in the U.S. – November 23, 2016
President-elect Trump says Apple CEO Tim Cook called him after election victory – November 22, 2016
Apple could make iPhones in the U.S.A. under President Trump, sources say – November 17, 2016
It’s interesting to see how Apple cropped out Jerrod’s cap.
I wonder why?
You’re welcome.
#MAGA
Well done Apple. (The award, not the hat thing.). Congratulations to Finisar. Hang in there Sherman!
the factory “action shots.” Nothing like a worker doing a move on their locker. I’ve got a lot of practicing ahead of me.
What does Trump have to do with this?
Everything.
I asking about facts, not personal beliefs.
This would not be happening without President Trump. Period.
Silicon Valley is getting into the game as tech leaders maneuver to stay on the president’s good side… The latest multinational to get into the game is Apple, which currently stands to save billions if Trump’s vision for a territorial tax system makes it into the final draft of the White House’s tax reform plan.
Apple C.E.O. Tim Cook appeared on CNBC Wednesday to announce the creation of a $1 billion fund, which will promote advanced manufacturing jobs in the United States. “By doing that, we can be the ripple in the pond,” Cook said. “Because if we can create many manufacturing jobs around, those manufacturing jobs create more jobs around them because you have a service industry that builds up around them.” — Maya Kosoff, Vanity Fair, May 4, 2017
The GOP tax bill
– Taxes will go up on anyone making less than $75K
– Tax brackets will go from 7 to 3. The poor will pay taxes.
– Elimination of the death tax which benefits the wealthy.
– The corporate tax rate goes from 35% to 20%. Isn’t that special. The effective corporate tax rate in the US in around 13%. Look it up.
– The wealthy have their taxes cut.
– Students who have their education debt wiped out by working in local communities will have that debt taxed.
– Many deductions go away.
“unemployment is now at a 17 year low”
When the unemployment rate was coming down under the black guy, all the GOP and Trump would say is look at those are phony numbers.
Trump enters and the jobs rate keeps going down but now Trump is responsible when all hes done since taking office is sign executive orders that end up in the courts.
What major legislative bill has Trump signed?
Laws are not a prerequisite for improving the economy. Policies such as getting out of the way and cutting burdensome regulations, as President Trump has done exceedingly well, improve the economy.
When was the last time Obama enjoyed 3% GDP growth? And did it happen yet under Trump? Take your time …
And how many stock market records have been broken in the last 10+ months? Take your time …
BJ, the prez currently in office gets the credit and blame for occurrences during the term. Remember that, or are your “personal beliefs” (distain) preventing acknowledgement of this fact learned in HS? Oh, that’s right, you only remember the blame part when it pertains to Don.
MAGA! Trump-Pence 2020!
Considering Apple makes everything overseas, what sort of benefits package did Finisar and Apple receive form the city and state?
“Considering Apple makes everything overseas…”
“In the US, Apple now supports 2 million jobs across all 50 states, including 450,000 jobs attributable to Apple’s spend and investment with US-based suppliers. Last year alone, Apple spent over $50 billion with more than 9,000 domestic suppliers and manufacturers.”
Yes Apple has Apple stores in all states. They’re retail jobs. So do all the mobile carries also have retail stores. How many temporary construction jobs built several data centers? I hear they’re building another one in Iowa. How many temporary construction jobs are building the two Apple Spaceship campuses?
Re “Benefits package”
I have been trying to find an exact description of what was agreed to in the final deal. Finisar was one of four or five bidders for this property and all of them had demanded a blend of federal, state, county, city, and even school district benefits. The following describes what was available:
http://sedco.org/incentives/