National Grants and Spring ‘26 Updates from our Team
This spring, we expanded access to semiconductor career pathways and strengthened systems that support student success across Arizona.
As part of GitLab Foundation’s Powering Economic Opportunity Fund cohort, our team has partnered with Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation (GPCF) to realize a shared vision for workforce development. Through this collaboration, we supported ElevateEdAZ in hosting the first Semiconductor Career Exploration Night, alongside partners including TSMC Arizona, Amkor Technology Arizona, Maricopa Community Colleges, Grand Canyon University, SEMI Foundation, and the Arizona Science Center. The event connected students directly with industry leaders and highlighted pathways into Arizona’s growing semiconductor workforce. For those who missed the event, additional career nights will be hosted in the coming weeks.
We are also partnering with the Arizona Department of Education and industry leaders as part of the validation committee for determining semiconductor CTE standards aligned with employer needs. Once these standards are approved, more students will have access to training relevant for high-demand semiconductor careers.
We want to congratulate our partner, West-MEC, on their new clean room’s grand opening, which was attended by industry representatives from TSMC Arizona, Amkor Technology Arizona, and SEMI Foundation. This facility will further align West-MEC’s Advanced Manufacturing program with industry needs, representing a crucial development in building our state’s education to workforce pipeline.
We recently had the privilege of visiting University of Arizona’s Applied Research Building’s Imaging Technology Lab, which specializes in advanced semiconductors and photonic devices, and we toured the NanoFabrication Core Facility, used by researchers for chip fabrication and quantum tech. Thank you to Dr. Krishna Muralidharan, Director of the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing at UofA, for leading the visit.
Part of strengthening our local talent ecosystem is having an understanding of the national landscape. In March, our Founder, Pearl Esau joined the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s delegation to D.C. to meet with representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, USDOL, USDOE, USDOC, and the CHIPS Office to discuss Arizona’s workforce development efforts.
Live Grant Opportunities
DOL Talent Search Program, Deadline May 1, 2026
Assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to complete secondary school and pursue high-quality postsecondary opportunities
DOL Strengthening Community Colleges (Round 6), Deadline May 20, 2026
Funds community colleges implementing and scaling access to short-term training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants
