The CHIPS in Michigan Forum was held on April 25th at KLA in Ann Arbor, Michigan, bringing together representatives from industry employers, workforce and economic development, community-based organizations, and education providers from across Michigan. Convened and facilitated by the SEMI Foundation and the SCAN Michigan program team, the forum was a resounding success. Attendees participated in an interactive town hall featuring panelists from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, heard updates from the SCAN team on training in Michigan, and toured the new facility of our fantastic host, KLA!
Let’s jump into some takeaways from the morning!
Ready Workforce Ecosystem Partners
It takes a village to stand up new training in one location and even more so with multiple employers and educational institutions. CHIPS in Michigan included Michigan Works! Agencies, training providers, and community-based organizations in order to build relationships and support a robust ecosystem of workforce partners to support the program.
Michigan Employers are in the Semiconductor Industry!
SCAN Michigan is already working with local industry employers, such as PSI Repair Services and Calumet Electronics, to build customized training and registered apprenticeship programs. Additionally, some automotive suppliers have connected with SCAN staff as, more and more, their workforce needs include workers with semiconductor skills and knowledge. SCAN will grow to serve not just current microelectronics employers but also the burgeoning chip industry throughout the state.
Supporting Growth: Talent and the CHIPS Act
At the Forum, the SEMI Foundation brought together experts from MECD, Washtenaw Community College, SEMI, and the Fab Owner’s Alliance to discuss talent challenges and ways to work together to address them. In the town hall, attendees were able to ask these experts questions relevant to their region and learn of new training initiatives made available through the SEMI Foundation. There were fantastic conversations about issues involving DEI, job quality, and barriers to completing training. The conversation ended with commitments to build shorter-term training options in southeast Michigan.
The SEMI Foundation and SCAN team look forward to continuing our work building partnerships, training in Michigan, and furthering our mission to support economic opportunity for workers and the sustained growth of the microelectronics industry.