Happy Lunar New Year! We hope your 2025 has been off to a productive start.
As we head into another year of collaboration, we want to thank you for your partnership and innovation working with Shan Strategies and TSMC Arizona. In 2023, Shan Strategies began working with TSMC Arizona and many of you on workforce partnerships. Last year, our company signed on to serve as their Workforce Intermediary, a role required by the CHIPS Program Office to ensure that CHIPS funding advances a skilled workforce in support of the US semiconductor ecosystem. Our role is to convene partnerships and develop solutions to help ensure that TSMC Arizona has the workforce it needs to manufacture the most advanced semiconductor chips in the world, right here in Arizona. TSMC Arizona is on track to meeting its goals, and recently began producing advanced 4-nanometer chips, which are used for the world’s most advanced electronics applications.
We are grateful to work with you on creating education and training opportunities that are leading to high quality jobs and career paths for more Arizonans. In 2025, we will provide updates covering CHIPS related workforce developments and project milestones.
Additionally, our team is working to understand the impact of the White House administration change on CHIPS funding. The nominee for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, has been publicly very supportive of the CHIPS program. However, the transition to new leadership is likely to cause delays in the flow of funding as the new administration gets acclimated. Please know that we are continuing to work closely with TSMC Arizona and our federal partners to better understand and share the impact that these delays may have on delivering workforce solutions.
We will be sure to reach back out with updates as we receive them. As always, thank you for your partnership, collaboration, and patience as we all continue to navigate this rapidly changing landscape.
2024 CHIPS in Arizona Highlights
On November 19, 2024, during National Apprenticeship Week, TSMC Arizona announced new Earn and Learn opportunities for job seekers, revealing plans to expand their Registered Technician Apprenticeship programs. These apprenticeships address one of the primary purposes of the CHIPS and Science Act: bolstering the semiconductor and skilled technical workforce in the United States. Through your partnership, TSMC Arizona is able to offer apprentices comprehensive training, combining on-the-job experience with technical education to prepare them for various roles within semiconductor manufacturing. We would like to thank the following Strategic Partners:
Mayor Gallego and City of Phoenix for serving as the sponsor for all of TSMC Arizona’s apprenticeship programs
Governor Hobbs, Arizona Commerce Authority, and SEMI Foundation for providing apprenticeship funding
Estrella Mountain Community College for their work creating the Equipment Technician Apprenticeships as well as additional Facilities Technician Apprenticeships
Northern Arizona University and Rio Salado College for developing curriculum and providing RTI for the Process Technician Apprenticeships
Grand Canyon University and Western Maricopa Education Center for their collaboration on creating the Manufacturing Specialist Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement for providing technical assistance for apprenticeship development
TSMC Arizona President Rose Castanares, Governor Katie Hobbs, Mayor Kate Gallego, and MCCD Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales announced the expansion of TSMC Arizona’s Registered Technical Apprenticeship program.
In November 2024, Representatives from TSMC as well as Maricopa Community College District, the Arizona Commerce Authority, and Intel partnered on Governor Hobbs and GateWay Community College’s Future48 Workforce Accelerator, which will provide training for the semiconductor industry.
In December 2024, the US Department of Commerce granted CHIPS funding for Amkor Technology Arizona, Inc, the largest U.S.-based outsourced semiconductor assembly and test company, which will help meet growing demand for AI chips.
In January 2025, the US Department of Commerce announces Arizona State University to host the NSTC Prototyping and NAPMP Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility, the third flagship CHIPS For America R&D facility. The Arizona Commerce Authority, which previously invested $17.5 million in ASU’s semiconductor research, helped lead negotiations to secure this federal investment. The new facility positions Arizona at the forefront of the national semiconductor ecosystem, enabling the entire semiconductor process from R&D to manufacturing, packaging, and testing.
Additionally, MACK development group has launched “Halo Vista,” a $7 billion development project that will build a community around TSMC’s manufacturing district. Halo Vista will include the Sonoran Oasis Science and Technology Park, hotels, residential buildings, schools, and more.
A Message from TSMC
“The local interest in our technician apprentice program has been tremendous. There’s no way that this would have been possible without the collective support and collaboration with all our education partners. TSMC’s investment in our advanced semiconductor operation in Arizona is historic. But there’s no question that what we are accomplishing together with you will also prove historic and have a lasting impact on this community for many, many decades. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to working together in 2025.”
-Rose Castanares, President of TSMC Arizona
Thank you once again for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to working together to create more projects that invest in Arizona.