Nvidia, Corning to Build 3 U.S. Optics Plants; Momentum ETFs Rise

Nvidia and glassmaker Corning announced Wednesday plans to build three optical manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas. Corning said the sites will boost its U.S. optical connectivity capacity tenfold, increase U.S. optical fiber production by more than 50% and create over 3,000 jobs.

The firms described the plants as expansions of Corning’s domestic production of optical components used in data centers and telecommunications. The companies did not provide detailed production schedules, annual output targets, construction timelines or capital expenditure totals.

Nvidia will partner with Corning to develop advanced optical technologies intended for large-scale computing and AI infrastructure. Industry engineers describe a design called co-packaged optics, in which optical components sit closer to processing chips instead of relying on copper cabling. That design can reduce power use and shorten signal paths in high-bandwidth systems.

In a statement, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wrote, “AI is driving the largest infrastructure buildout of our time — and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate American manufacturing and supply chains. Together with Corning, we are inventing the future of computing with advanced optical technologies — building the foundation for AI infrastructure where intelligence moves at the speed of light while advancing the proud tradition of Made in America.”

The announcement included no county-by-county job breakdown for the North Carolina and Texas sites. Corning has expanded manufacturing before in collaboration with large technology customers, and both states have been locations for recent data-center and semiconductor investment.

The deal has relevance for investment funds focused on high-momentum large-cap stocks. The Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO) follows an index that selects S&P 500 companies with the largest price gains over the prior year; Nvidia was the fund’s largest holding as of May 5, 2026. SPMO’s net asset value had risen 42.79% year-to-date as of April 30, 2026.

Investors and industry observers said they will watch for further company filings and announcements that outline the construction schedule, employment plans and the specific products to be manufactured at each site.