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BAY CITY, Mich. — SK Siltron’s Bay City-area semiconductor operation is preparing to close, eliminating roughly 140 jobs and sparking a debate over what led to the shutdown and what it means for Michigan’s manufacturing future.
The facility was built to manufacture silicon-carbide wafers, components used in power electronics and semiconductor applications. The investment was viewed as part of an effort to expand Michigan’s footprint in advanced manufacturing.
Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet said the closure affects more than the workers who will lose their jobs.
“When we talk about what’s happening at SK Siltron, I want us to remember that this isn’t just a business. This is our communities. These are how our families feed their kids,” Rivet said.
SK Siltron has said changing market conditions are behind the decision to close. Rivet, however, argues federal policies contributed to those conditions.
“The things that led to SK closing were not an accident. The market conditions were set by policy, really bad policy from this administration,” she said.
Rivet pointed to tariffs, energy policy and changes to federal incentives as factors creating instability for businesses.
Senator Elissa Slotkin also argued that uncertainty can make it harder for companies to make long-term investments.
“When you create these really volatile conditions, when you don’t know what’s going to be tariff or how much you’re going to have to spend as a company, to bring in source materials, it is really hard to make investments,” Slotkin said.
But Monitor Township Supervisor Terry Spencer said the closure cannot be blamed entirely on federal policy. He said changing electric vehicle market conditions were affecting the industry before the current administration, along with other business factors.
“In this circumstance, there’s a lot of other situations and things that involve the situation that had to do with just business closing, not just policy change. The market trends, absolutely,” Spencer said.
Spencer said the township is working with economic development groups to find another manufacturer for the site.
“We’re very hopeful that we’ll get somebody else in there,” he said.
For Rivet, the concern extends beyond finding a new company to fill the facility. She said Michigan needs to continue building a pipeline of advanced manufacturing jobs for future generations.
“I am very concerned about our ability to equip our kids and our community with 21st century advanced manufacturing jobs,” Rivet said.
The closure leaves local leaders looking for new opportunities for the site while raising broader questions about Michigan’s ability to attract and retain advanced manufacturing jobs.
