Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that Temple College will receive a $9.8 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) to support the creation of the Central Texas Chips Hub in Taylor. This is the second TSIF grant awarded to a higher education institution in Texas.
“Texas is where the next generation of innovation and technology is building, thanks to our skilled and growing workforce,” said Governor Abbott. “Through hands-on workforce training, Temple College opened doors to high-demand, good-paying careers for students throughout its nearly 100-year history. By establishing the Central Texas Chips Hub in Taylor, Temple College will expand skills training opportunities and create a continuous talent pipeline to meet employer demands in our leading semiconductor manufacturing industry. Together with our higher education partners, we will connect more Texans to better jobs and bigger paycheck opportunities that we provide in Texas.”
Temple College is collaborating with Texas A&M University‒Central Texas (TAMUCT) on the Chips Hub project. The new facility aims to offer training programs in semiconductor manufacturing for veterans and other local residents. Students will have access to various credentials including short-term certifications, associate degrees, and an onsite applied bachelor’s degree focused on manufacturing and semiconductor technology. Programs are available for both high school students through dual credit or Early College High School initiatives and adults seeking career advancement.
Temple College President Dr. Christy Ponce expressed gratitude for the support: “We are grateful to the Governor’s Office and the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee for their investment in Temple College’s Central Texas Chips Hub in partnership with TAMUCT. By investing in education and workforce development, we are not only preparing our community for successful careers in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing but also supporting the economic growth of Central Texas. The program will equip students and professionals with the essential skills needed to thrive in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the nation.”
Senator Charles Schwertner commented on Central Texas’ growing importance within the industry: “Central Texas is quickly becoming one of the most important semiconductor corridors in the nation, securing both our economic future and national security. Supporting the Chips Hub at Temple College ensures Texans, not overseas competitors, will power the next generation of technological innovation.”
Representative Caroline Harris Davila highlighted local impact: “I’m grateful to Governor Abbott for announcing this important investment in our community. This $9.8 million grant will help Temple College and Texas A&M University‒Central Texas move the Central Texas Chips Hub from a vision to a reality. It’s a major win for our students across Williamson County, and it strengthens the semiconductor industry that is driving so much of Texas’ economic future. Together, we’re building a stronger future for our students, our workforce, and every family in Williamson County. I look forward to the new jobs and opportunities it will create throughout our communities.”
DeDe Griffith, Vice President of Workforce Development at Temple College, detailed what participants can expect: “The new Temple College and TAMUCT co-designed and co-delivered semiconductor and advanced manufacturing pathway will include industry-recognized credentials, short-term workforce training, dual credit, a military transition training program, stackable credentials, an associate degree, and a bachelor of applied science all focused on semiconductor manufacturing and beyond. The hub will also serve as a testbed for research. The complete training system and the new degree pathways will be available at Temple College’s main campus in Temple and at the Temple College campus in Taylor, just a few miles from Samsung.”
In 2023 Governor Abbott signed into law the Texas CHIPS Act, which established TSIF as part of ongoing efforts by state agencies like the Governor’s Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office to maintain leadership within America’s semiconductor sector by investing further into research capacity at local colleges.
