TI recently announced the site selection for our next major semiconductor manufacturing plant –– a 300–millimeter wafer fab facility at Renner Road in Richardson, Texas. This is exciting news for our employees, customers and the community. Groundbreaking is expected to begin by the end of 2005 and, when fully operational, the facility is expected to employ up to 1000 people.

Although our announcement today is only site selection and the expected groundbreaking is almost two years out, we want you to know that TI is fully committed to using minority and woman–owned suppliers where appropriate during all phases of building and operating our new facility. Our existing partnerships with ethnic chambers and councils are crucial in helping us to identify appropriate qualified MWBE suppliers for this venture.

As we get closer to the planning phases of this project we will share more specific information with you so that we can work together to maximize opportunities for engagement.