The U.S. is on the cusp of a manufacturing boom.

A major expansion of America's chip production with Intel announcing a new $20 billion chip

factory in Ohio.

Micron, planning to build the largest U.S. semiconductor factory ever.

Taiwan semiconductor announced a tripling of its spending here, $40 billion on two chip

plants in Phoenix.

All of these factories are building semiconductor chips, technology that's become the lifeblood

of the modern economy.

Chips power every electronic system, from cell phones and toasters, to cars, and weapons

for the military.

It's been driven by a promise of billions of federal dollars, and one of the most significant

acts of government intervention since World War II.

But who gets that money?

It is largely the responsibility of one government agency, the Department of Commerce under Secretary

Gina Remundo.

Folks, the stakes couldn't be higher, could not be higher, which is why we have to win.

And the department has turned to a surprising group of people to help decide who gets the

funds.

Welcome to the journal, our show about money, business, and power.

I'm Jessica Mendoza.

It's Monday, August 21st.

Coming up on the show, with billions of dollars of funding available, can the US revive

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