SEMI Foundation Awarded $1.5M Grant to Bolster Michigan’s Semiconductor Industry Talent Pipeline
May 27, 2022 | SEMIEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
SEMI and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that the SEMI Foundation has been awarded $1.5 million in funding to design and develop the SEMI Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) in Michigan. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CARES Act funding will support semiconductor industry job training in Michigan.
“As global demand for semiconductors continues to grow, Michigan is poised to be a solution provider for semiconductor shortages and puts companies in the heart of semiconductor and battery R&D efforts nationwide,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Michigan is one of only three states that will be launching planning work to define curricula to support employers in the semiconductor industry. With this new apprenticeship program, along with our global manufacturing and automotive R&D leadership, we are leading the charge in addressing the universal industry demand for semiconductors while creating good jobs for Michigan workers.”
Long a key semiconductor industry market, Michigan is home to nearly one-fifth of U.S. auto production – more than any other state in the nation – and headquarters or technology centers of 26 original equipment manufacturers (OEMS), the greatest concentration in the country.
“SCAN will provide critical job training to Michigan residents while helping the U.S. microelectronics industry address its talent shortage,” said Shari Liss, Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation. “We are thrilled to work in partnership with Michigan’s workforce development agencies and ecosystem to offer registered apprenticeships, a proven pathway to better jobs and greater economic mobility and opportunity.”
The SEMI Foundation will drive the SCAN program planning and development in Michigan in two phases: In phase one, the SEMI Foundation will engage key microelectronics employers, players in the automotive and manufacturing industries, and educational and workforce development providers. In phase two, the SEMI Foundation will conduct focus groups and work with employers to identify jobs in the greatest demand as well as the skills and competencies needed for a skilled, diverse workforce.
The funding comes three months after Liss testified before the Science Research and Technology Subcommittee, one of five subcommittees of the United States House on Science, Space, and Technology, as it discussed the U.S. semiconductor industry’s workforce needs. Liss stressed the need for increased industry visibility, more investment in K-12 STEM education and a stronger focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. Liss also pointed to the importance of programs like SCAN in re-skilling and up-skilling workers, particularly historically underrepresented wage earners in the industry and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as earn-and-learn programs such as apprenticeships.
Suggested Items
SMTXTRA USA Joins Forces with Precision Tool Group as Its Representative from Virginia to Maine
03/15/2024 | SMTXTRA USASMTXTRA USA, a renowned leader in Surface Mount Technology (SMT) equipment services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Performance Technologies Group (PTG) as its representative for the region spanning from Virginia to Maine.
ROCKA Solutions Expands into Brazil
03/15/2024 | ROCKA SolutionsROCKA Solutions is thrilled to announce its expansion into Brazil. With a commitment to serving the growing needs of the Brazilian electronics manufacturing market, ROCKA has established new distribution and manufacturing services in the region.
PAWR Announces 5G Open RAN Testing with Mavenir at POWDER Testbed
03/15/2024 | BUSINESS WIREThe Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) Project Office announces a collaboration between PAWR platform POWDER and industry innovator Mavenir to test a first-of-its-kind O-RAN 5G SA network deployment with millimeter Wave (mmWave) spectrum.
Altium to Exhibit Latest Innovations at Embedded World 2024
03/15/2024 | AltiumAltium (ASX: ALU), a global leader in electronics design systems, will be at Embedded World 2024 to reveal its latest innovations across its ecosystem, spanning Altium Designer,
Intel Appoints Stacy Smith to Board of Directors
03/14/2024 | BUSINESS WIREIntel Corporation announced that Stacy Smith, executive chairman of Kioxia Corporation, formerly Toshiba Memory Corporation, and chair of Autodesk Inc., was appointed to Intel’s board of directors, effective immediately. Smith will serve as an independent director and join the board’s Audit & Finance Committee.