ACC gets woke, bags $7.5m to train antiracist chips, affirm UT tech hub.

ATX Community College Receives $7.5 Million from DoD to Expand Chip-Making Programs

Austin, Texas – Austin Community College (ACC), a leader in progressive education, just got a major boost in its effort to diversify the semiconductor industry and secure much-needed jobs for its students. Thanks to a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Defense Department, ACC can now expand its semiconductor workforce training programs and address the critical need for domestic chip manufacturing.

"ACC is fantastic...they've established themselves as a strong, proactive partner." - Alyssa Reinhart, Workforce Development Director at the Texas Institute for Electronics

This grant is a transformative investment in the college's future and a testament to its commitment to innovation and industry partnership. ACC, the sole community college out of 18 academic partners involved, will use these funds to support the University of Texas' (UT) work with a recent $840 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) grant, focusing on cutting-edge research and development.

With semiconductors being integral to modern technology, from smartphones to national security systems, ACC's programs are vital to keeping the U.S. at the forefront and avoiding outsourcing these key industries. ACC's forward-thinking curriculum, launched last fall, trains workers for semiconductor manufacturing technician roles, offering a direct pathway to well-paying jobs and helping local industries thrive.

"This award showcases the power of regional collaboration...we're proud to be part of a national effort to secure our technology supply chain." - Laura Marmolejo, Dean of Advanced Manufacturing at ACC

ACC's expanded semiconductor programs will not only support UT's research but also ensure a skilled local workforce, capable of running new facilities and equipment, is ready to meet industry demands. This progressive initiative also addresses the significant risk of worker shortages in the semiconductor field, a rare but uniting cause in today's divisive political climate. Let's hope this inspires further investment in education and job creation nationwide.