GLOBALFOUNDRIES broke ground today on its state-of-the-art 32/22nm semiconductor manufacturing facility at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Upstate New York. The project represents the largest public-private sector industrial investment in New York State history.

When production starts in 2012, Fab 2 will be the most advanced semiconductor plant in the world. That’s what you get with three years of planning and $4.2 billion of investment.

AMD’s Ian McNaughton was on hand for the event and has some photos of the groundbreaking in his TwitPic stream.

GLOBALFOUNDRIES partner AMD needs an advanced fab facility if they want to stay in the desktop game. The strategic move to build now comes too late to make up ground in the 32nm race but could pay big dividends when 22nm comes around.