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About 140 SK Siltron CSS employees will lose their jobs as the company closes its Bay City plant, but local business leaders say the workers’ specialized skills could help them find new positions quickly.
Most employees will remain on the job for 60 days following the July 16 closure announcement of the semiconductor facility. A smaller number will stay longer to help wind down operations.
Magen Samyn, president and CEO of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, believes the loss of jobs is significant, but not enough to shake the region.
“Bay County’s economy is more diversified and resilient today than it was a decade ago,” Samyn said. “Advanced manufacturing remains one of our region’s core strengths, and employers across a variety of industries continue to seek skilled talent.”
Samyn said the Chamber of Commerce and Bay Future are confident many of the SK Siltron employees will be in demand with other employers because of their highly transferable skills.
As of May, Bay County had a 5.7% unemployment rate. While that is down from 6.1% a year earlier, it still represents approximately 4,700 adults in the county.
The only other semiconductor facility in the region is Hemlock Semiconductor, which produces polysilicon, a product used to create solar panels and microchips.
As for the building itself, Bay Future and the chamber are already considering how to move forward.
“Bay Future is committed to working with SK Siltron CSS, local and state partners to identify the next opportunity for the facility,” Samyn explained. “Our focus will be on positioning the site for reinvestment and future job creation as quickly as possible.”
With the decision to close, SK Siltron will no longer operate in Michigan. The company attributed the closure to significant changes in the electric vehicle market after recording approximately $146 million in operating losses in 2025.
While SK Siltron owns the facility, the chamber has not yet received word on what it plans to do with the premises.
However, the chamber’s immediate priority is to help those impacted by the facility’s closure learn about resources available to them after losing their jobs.
One option is through Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!, which provides career transition services at no cost. Affected employees do not have to wait until the end of their employment with SK Siltron to take advantage of the assistance and are encouraged to call Ann Willman at 833-531-1945 to begin.
People can also file for unemployment through the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, which is available online and has a physical location in Saginaw.
“We will continue working to attract innovative employers, support the growth of existing businesses, and create quality jobs for our residents,” Samyn said.
SK Siltron CSS, which opened in 2022, manufactured silicon carbide wafers. Its products are used in electric vehicles and power electronics with a focus on being environmentally-friendly.
It was also previously awarded nearly $6 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to open the Monitor Township location, along with a $1.5 million grant from the Michigan Business Development Program.
Recently, the company paid off a U.S. Department of Energy expansion loan for more than $500 million.
