Maricopa colleges to benefit from $250M chip sector job training investment
The White House is investing $250 million over 10 years to establish a national semiconductor workforce training center, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Wednesday.
The National Semiconductor Technology Center’s Workforce Center of Excellence will bring together officials from the private sector, nonprofits, academia, government and labor organizations to accelerate industry best practices as well as strengthen recruitment and training for the next generation of semiconductor researchers, engineers and technicians, according to a Department of Commerce release.
The National Semiconductor Technology Center is a public-private consortium dedicated to semiconductor research and development.
“With the Department’s proposed investments of over $500 million in workforce efforts, this announcement is a critical milestone in our strategy to build a robust workforce in the semiconductor industry to help fulfill the mission set forth by the CHIPS and Science Act,” Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, said in a statement.
As part of the announcement, Natcast, a nonprofit consortium that operates the NSTC, is awarding a total of $11.5 million to seven institutions — including Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) — to support workforce development efforts.
MCCCD will use its $1.8 million award to expand semiconductor technician training offerings and launch the Maricopa Accelerated Semiconductor Training program, building on the success of its Quick Start program.
The expanded programming will prepare an additional 300 workers in the Valley for careers as semiconductor technicians, according to the Department of Commerce.
“MCCCD plays a critical role in advancing Arizona’s position as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing,” Leah Palmer, executive director of the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute at Maricopa Community Colleges, said in a statement. “The Quick Start program and the proposed Maricopa Accelerated Semiconductor Training initiative represent our deep commitment to fulfilling immediate industry demands and building a sustainable talent pipeline for the future.”
Other institutions that received federal funding include: American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation; Idaho Technology Council; Rochester Institute of Technology; Texas A&M University; University of California, Los Angeles; and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
MCCCD’s semiconductor training programs are among several initiatives intended to ensure a pipeline for skilled workers in the Valley. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in April launched a facility technician apprenticeship program, which is expected to train 80 apprentices over five years. Meanwhile, Arizona State University is offering stackable micro credential “pathways” to prepare undergraduate students for internships and careers in the semiconductor industry.
What’s more, the Arizona Education Economic Commission launched several industry workgroups, including for semiconductors, to discuss Arizona workforce development and identify academic programs for the most in-demand jobs.
Site selection underway for NSTC facilities
The Workforce Center of Excellence will serve as the anchor institution where industry officials will converge to find solutions to workforce-related challenges in the semiconductor sector.
It will oversee three programs to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers, including the amplifier program, which will focus on scaling workforce development practices, while the signals program will leverage data and research to monitor workforce trends, and evaluate program progress and outcomes. The connections program will facilitate member services and events.
The Department of Commerce declined to share additional details about a potential location for the Workforce Center of Excellence.
In July, however, the Department of Commerce and Natcast announced a site selection process was underway for a prototyping and advanced packaging piloting facility, an extreme ultraviolet center and an administrative and design facility, which is expected be operational in 2025 and house programming for the Workforce Center of Excellence.
To support the Workforce Center of Excellence, Natcast is accepting nominations through Nov. 1 for an advisory board consisting of members from the private sector, government, nonprofits, academia and labor organizations. The board will offer input on national and regional workforce strategies.