PHOENIX — A series of public-private initiatives, related to the semiconductor industry, will be dumping roughly $100 million into the Arizona economy over the next few years.
The initiatives were announced during a panel discussion held at Phoenix City Hall on Thursday. Much of the money comes from the America Rescue Plan, an economic stimulus law passed in 2021. Private groups are fronting $10 million in initiatives aimed at growing the workforce needed to produce semiconductors.
TSMC, the Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer with a plant opening in North Phoenix, is footing $5 million to establish a first-on-its-kind new semiconductor technician registered apprenticeship program. The program will train 80 Facility Technicians over the next 5 years. After that, apprenticeships are planned to include manufacturing technicians, process engineering technicians, and equipment technicians.
“It's an industry of the future. And that's why we're betting big on it,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.
Gallego is credited for developing partnerships between Maricopa County Community Colleges, Arizona State University, unions, and employers to train workers to enter advanced manufacturing, according to the Biden Administration.
“The type of technology that's coming to north Phoenix is not available in our country right now,” Gallego said. “It is so small and so precise that we don't have a lot of experience in that area. That's why we're investing in these apprenticeship programs so that people in our community can lead the world with the type of skills they have.”
Other initiatives announced Thursday:
- Arizona Community Foundation will create a $5 million philanthropic fund to support 1,500 “non-traditional talent and underserved residents” with training in high-demand jobs.
- South Mountain campus of the Maricopa Community College System and the Arizona Building Trades Council (AZBTC) will expand construction apprenticeship programs.
- Phoenix Union School District and the Western Maricopa Education Center will offer advanced manufacturing credits. Tuition will be covered by the state.
- Phoenix is investing $10 million in federal aid from the American Rescue Plan to offer a monthly allowance to people training at Maricopa Community Colleges.
- Arizona Commerce Authority is investing over $80 million from the President’s American Rescue Plan to expand university partnerships focused on infrastructure and workforce
- $35.5 million supporting the University of Arizona’s Micro/Nano Fabrication Center in Tucson that will drive manufacturing and research efforts involving semiconductors, computer chips, optical devices, and quantum computing systems
- BuilditAZ Apprenticeship is leading a statewide initiative to double the number of construction and trades registered apprentices by 2026 to almost 8,000.
- Future48 Workforce Accelerator is establishing a new semiconductor-focused collaboration led by the Arizona Commerce Authority with Maricopa Community College.
- Gov. Katie Hobbs, in collaboration with the Arizona Commerce Authority, Department of Economic Security, and other organizations, is conducting a child care needs study. This partnership is working to meet child care needs across industries.
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