A statewide semiconductor initiative could see up to $160 million in federal funding over the next decade, and Chemeketa Community College has been named as one of the four core academic partners. Larry Cheyne, Chemeketa’s Dean of Applied Technologies, said the funding will boost workforce deve lopment in the semiconductor industry. The initiative is hoping to deliver 4,000 grads into the semiconductor industry each year. “My go-to source every morning for accurate, local news.” Make Salem Reporter your trusted source for independent local reporting – every day. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe today. The major influx of funding comes amid concerns about the state of Oregon’s semiconductor industry, which has been a cornerstone of the state’s economy. Intel laid off more than 3,000 employees last year, and a state-commissioned report published in June warned of “long-term stagnation.” The report argued the state needed to develop a stronger technical training pipeline. “The federal government is investing a lot of money across the U.S. to onshore manufacturing. Oregon has long been known, largely because of Intel, for being a leader in semiconductors,” Cheyne said. Chemeketa plans to use the money –– $500,000 over the first two years –– to remodel a space on campus into what they will call a hacker cleanroom. Semiconductor cleanrooms are extremely controlled environments which must meet a set of demanding specifications around lighting, temperature and humidity. A “hacker” cleanroom allows for semiconductor fabrication for teaching and training purposes on a smaller scale than professional, industrial cleanroom. The room will have multiple uses, Cheyne said. In addition to training sessions for enrolled students, the college plans to run experiential camps for high school students, workshops for the public and educator training. Cheyne envisions training for high school teachers who teach pre-engineering or manufacturing. He also hopes the space will be used by professionals in the semiconductor industry. Beyond the cleanroom, Chemeketa hopes to use the funding to expand outreach and recruitment at local schools. “We’ll also be developing quite a bit of outreach and recruitment for local high schools, and onboarding students, even as far back as middle school, into the kinds of classes you’d want to be taking in high school and college,” he said. The National Science Foundation awarded the overall initiative, known as Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology, with an initial $15 million grant for the first two years, which will be divided up between the initiative’s partners. The full $160 million is contingent on demonstrating progress. Chemeketa Community College will receive an initial $500,000. The other core academic partners are the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University. Twelve counties, including Marion and Polk, are highlighted on the FAST website as part of a “Cascades Willamette Innovation Corridor.” U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, whose district covers Salem, praised the grant in a statement, writing that it will support “the talents of the Oregon workforce by providing training and jobs throughout the high tech innovation economy.” The post Salem-area community college gets funding to train semiconductor workforce appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less