Intel employees and retirees in Arizona volunteered 100,000 hours at schools and nonprofits last year, refurbishing computers, coaching student robotics’ teams, reading stories about technology and science in the classroom, and more.

Now, a $10 match for every hour they volunteered is being given to those same schools and organizations to help Arizona students succeed. A total $1 million is being matched by the technology manufacturing giant’s nonprofit Intel Foundation. 

More than 300 schools and nonprofit organizations statewide are starting to receive the funding, said Linda Qian, communications manager for the that operates one of its largest global manufacturing sites in Chandler.  

Grants range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars, Qian said about the annual fundraising effort. This year, about a third of the company’s 12,000 Arizona employees participated. 

“Many nonprofits from around the state truly depend on the funding and the volunteering to support their efforts to help our students,” she said. 

Chandler schools, nonprofits among top recipients

Among the top recipients of the grants are the Chandler Unified School District, Chandler Service Club, Education Empowers, Joe Jackson Foundation, Si Se Puede Foundation, AZStRUT, and Arizona State University Foundation.   

Several recipients said they plan to use the grants for technology, equipment and other tools to help students succeed, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math. 

With many students working from home during the pandemic, there is greater need for technology, they said.   

Need for technology for schools and youth organizations  

Grant recipient AZStRUT, which refurbishes donated technology for public schools and other nonprofits, has seen a significant rise in requests, Executive Director Tom Mehlert said.

“This year, our efforts are focused on refurbishing laptops going to Title I schools and their families. These funds will be used to purchase replacement parts for these computers,” he said.

Another recipient, Education Empowers, which promotes STEM education for children through robotics and activities, is using the funding to purchase robotics equipment and parts, said Anna Prakash, a senior engineer at Intel who founded the organization. 

“We have programs at more than 50 locations, including free workshops for Girl Scouts, so students all across the Phoenix metro-area will benefit from this funding,” Prakash said. 

Dr. Camille Casteel, superintendent of the Chandler school district, said that the timing of the grants is particularly critical right now.  

“It takes the strength of the entire community to educate and empower our students. We are thrilled to have the support of many Intel employee and retiree volunteers, as well as this grant, to further our mission,” Casteel said. 

Forty years of innovation and economic impact 

Intel first established operations in Chandler 40 years ago. Today, Intel’s operations in Arizona are some of the company’s most diverse. The Ocotillo fabrication facility manufactures on 22nm, 14nm, and 10nm technology, some of the world’s most advanced manufacturing processes.

Year after year, the corporation is ranked at or near the top as the largest semiconductor vendor in the world. In Arizona, Intel delivers an annual economic impact of $8.3 billion.

As part of its stated purpose, the corporation supports global education and sustainability. For more information, go to: . 

Intel by the numbers in Arizona  

• 12,000 employees

• $8.3 billion annual economic impact

• $23 billion in capital investments

• $4.5 billion annual spend with Arizona-based organizations

• 690 million gallons of water to be restored annually through

community-based projects

• $33.8 million in donations to Arizona schools and nonprofits since 2015

• More than 700,000 employee volunteer hours at schools and nonprofits since 2015

(Source: ASU, W.P. Carey School of Business, Seidman Research Institute, 2019)

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Northrop Grumman and Phoenix-based general contractor Willmeng Construction Inc. hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the aerospace and defense company’s new Chandler campus last week.

The 633,000-square-foot office and manufacturing facility will provide a home for Northrop Grumman’s launch vehicle business, supporting defense and aerospace development.

“We have a rich heritage here in Arizona that spans more than three decades, and our business here continues to grow rapidly,” said Blake Larson, president of Innovation Systems at Northrop Grumman, at the ribbon-cutting. “This beautiful new facility will provide an improved work environment for our employees, provide a clean slate to work from to improve our efficiencies and give us more room for growth. I extend my gratitude to this incredible team who came together for mission success.”

Northrop Grumman has 2,500 employees at its Chandler campus and more than 3,500 employees across that state, with more than $30 million in payroll and benefits, according to the Office of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey.

“Northrop Grumman has helped make Arizona a national leader in defense and aerospace manufacturing — and this expansion will only further add to that reputation,” Ducey said at the ribbon-cutting event. “My thanks goes out to Northrop Grumman for continuing to invest in Arizona, and to everyone who worked to make this announcement possible.”

Northrop Grumman will build equipment at the new campus to support the United States missile defense program, including interceptors and targets. It will also help with satellite launches for the U.S. Air Force, National Reconnaissance Office, NASA and commercial customers.

The campus is located in the 180-acre Park Place Business Plaza developed by the Douglas Allred Company and brought to life by Willmeng Construction, Balmer Architectural Group and more than 300 subcontractors. The facility was built and delivered in only 17 months.

“The facility is a reflection of the vision that the team at the Douglas Allred Company has to strategically create appealing and unique campus environments,” said James Murphy, president and CEO of Willmeng Construction. “We were proud to take on the challenge of building this facility at a speed that is truly unparalleled in the market, achieving the unachievable to ensure there was no disruption to the important work accomplished at Northrop Grumman. We were truly working to support a launch schedule.”

Park Place is estimated to generate an annual economic impact of $1.4 billion once completed, according to Elliott D. Pollack & Company. It will also create more than 2,000 construction jobs during the initial build and another 9,691 during the subsequent build-out.

“Northrop Grumman’s investment in our ‘Community of Innovation’ will continue the city’s trajectory of economic competitiveness for years to come,” Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said. “I commend Douglas Allred Company’s vision to develop the Park Place Campus, and Willmeng Construction for their professionalism and efforts to get a project of this magnitude completed on time.”

The Price Road Corridor of businesses, which runs along the Loop 101 Price Freeway through Chandler, Tempe and Mesa, is one of the fastest-growing labor bases in Metro Phoenix.

The new Northrop Grumman campus is located at 1575 S. Price Road.

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