Austin Community College District (ACC) hosted U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (TX-10) on Friday, August 19, as they discussed highlights of  the new CHIPS for America Act. 

In a joint press conference, they shared details about the act including benefits to Texas, workforce development, and the growing semiconductor industry in Central Texas.

“ACC is proud to be a key player in the workforce ecosystem by providing high-quality education and training professionals to take high-wage, high-demand careers in the semiconductor industry,” says Dr. Monique Umphrey, ACC provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs. “This legislation was for additional investment in the local economy and ACC is poised to help the residents enter this rewarding profession.”

What is CHIPS & Science Act

The legislation was signed into law in August. It provides $200 million to support workforce development programs, like ACC’s, for the domestic semiconductor industry. The bill also provides $39 billion to build, expand, or modernize U.S. chipmaking plants and $11 billion for semiconductor research and development to shore up domestic semiconductor production and manufacturing.

“This is going to be a transformative moment for semiconductors in the United States,” says Jon Taylor, Samsung corporate vice president of Fab Engineering & Public Affairs. “Workforce development is the next phase we have to talk about. Samsung has been partnering with Austin Community College for a number of years. We have some very good training programs that help us provide the resources we need to provide the workforce. In fact, if you look at our Austin workforce, nearly one-third of technicians and hiring from the last few years have come from Austin Community College.”

The Senator and Congressman toured the college’s Manufacturing Academy, which offers high school students the opportunity to complete Dual Credit courses leading to an industry certificate with hands-on industry experience, including semiconductor manufacturing careers. After high school graduation, Manufacturing Academy students are able to enter the workforce directly and/or continue their education at ACC or through a partner university. 

Manufacturing Pathways at ACC

ACC remains committed to meeting demands as more companies move to the region. The college offers multiple pathways, from certifications like the Certified Production Technician, which can be completed in as little as 8 weeks, to multiple associate degree tracks, all the way to the new Bachelor’s of Applied Technology (BAT) in Manufacturing Engineering Technology, which launches fall 2022.

For more information on ACC’s manufacturing programs, visit austincc.edu/manufacturing.