Temple College Awarded $9.8M for Semiconductor Training Hub

Temple College will receive $9.8 million from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) to establish a new workforce training center in Taylor focused on semiconductor manufacturing.

The grant, announced by Gov. Greg Abbott on Dec. 4, is the second TSIF award granted to a higher education institution in the state.

The new Central Texas Chips Hub will serve as a regional training center for students, veterans and working adults seeking careers in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing. A joint effort with Texas A&M University — Central Texas, the project aims to bolster the local talent pipeline at a time when demand for skilled workers in the industry continues to grow.

“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,” Abbott said in a statement.

The Chips Hub aims to provide a variety of pathways to career-readiness, including short-term certifications, industry-recognized credentials, and both associate and applied bachelor’s degrees in semiconductor technology and related fields. Programs will be available to high school students participating in dual credit and early college programs as well as to adults seeking reskilling or upskilling opportunities.

Temple College officials say the project reflects a long-standing institutional commitment to hands-on technical education.

“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,” said Temple College President Christy Ponce.

The training system and degree programs will be offered at the college’s main campus in Temple and at its Taylor campus, located just a few miles from Samsung’s $17 billion semiconductor fabrication facility. College leaders also said the hub will serve as a test bed for research and innovation.

The Temple College award follows an earlier TSIF grant of $3.6 million awarded in August to Austin Community College District. That funding supported the development of an advanced semiconductor manufacturing lab and a precision-welding program at the college’s Round Rock campus.

Both grants are part of a broader strategy set in motion by the Texas CHIPS Act, signed into law in 2023 to attract investment, expand research capabilities and grow the state’s skilled workforce. The TSIF program is administered by the Texas CHIPS Office within the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Office.