GitLab Foundation selects TechSmart to Powering Economic Opportunity Fund

In partnership with Jobs for the Future and Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, TechSmart Learning Fund is honored to have been selected as part of GitLab Foundation’s inaugural Powering Economic Opportunity Fund. 

We joined a cohort of 10 organizations working to help low-wage workers access quality careers in renewable energy, skilled trades and advanced manufacturing. With this support, we will work to align education, industry, government, and philanthropy around the goal of empowering learners to advance global competitiveness in high-tech industries and adapt to the new AI-enabled economy. As part of this initiative, we plan to launch the first cohort of TechSmart Fellows, which will include 200 learners accessing education and training pathways in semiconductor manufacturing.

Arizonans stand to gain significantly from increasing access to post-secondary education opportunities. According to a recent report from the Center for the Future of Arizona, increasing education and training after high school could generate around $20 billion in additional economic output and $7.9 billion in higher wages for Arizona each year. Furthermore, post-secondary educational attainment corresponds to greater job security and higher earnings. 

In addition to our efforts, we want to highlight ChipPath, an AI-enabled career pathway program that includes smart resume building, career matching, training resources, and live job openings. ChipPath was recently released by the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), operated by the SEMI Foundation. The site already lists over 90,000 job postings in the industry, and by early 2026, ChipPath will launch an Employer Dashboard that gives companies the ability to connect with job seekers. This resource will help Arizonans access post-secondary training and benefit from good-paying careers in semiconductors.