Intel Corporation today announced plans for a new research and development facility in Chandler. KJZZ’s Al Macias reports construction is already under way.

The new facility is next to an existing Intel plant on east Chandler Boulevard. Intel says it plans to invest $300 million in the new plant.

Company officials say the facility will create several hundred Intel jobs and nearly a thousand construction jobs.  Ground was broken earlier this summer and construction should be completed by the second half of next year.

The plant will expand the company’s packaging operations. The company’s microchips are placed in cases that connect to electronic devices that use the Intel chips.

Intel will begin hiring over the next 18 months.The company says about half the jobs will go to people with advanced engineering degrees. The rest will go to applicants with technical degrees or relevant experience.

Intel also is scheduled to complete construction of Fab 42 manufacturing operation in south Chandler. Intel says its investment is the two Chandler facilities will be more than $5.3 billion when completed.