Texas Builds $47M Tech Training Center for Chip Industry

Central Texas just took a giant leap toward solving America's semiconductor shortage, and it's happening in a classroom.

Officials celebrated a major milestone on February 17 as construction crews topped out a new 70,000-square-foot building at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto. The $47 million facility will train students in semiconductor manufacturing, industrial systems, and precision machining technology.

Texas State Technical College will operate the center, which opens its doors in spring 2027. Students will learn the exact skills that tech companies are desperately seeking as America works to bring chip manufacturing back home.

The timing couldn't be better. In January, Governor Greg Abbott announced a $3.5 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to launch an Accelerated Semiconductor Technician Training program at the center. That means students can get job-ready faster while companies get the workers they need sooner.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about one building or one program. The new center sits next to an existing 112,000-square-foot facility that already serves students from Temple College and Texas A&M University Central Texas. Together, they're creating a pipeline of skilled workers that will strengthen the entire region's economy.

Local business leaders and technology companies are watching closely. As semiconductor plants continue opening across Texas, they need thousands of trained technicians to keep operations running. This center ensures those jobs go to Texans who are ready to fill them.

The investment also means young people won't have to leave their communities to find meaningful careers. They can train close to home and build their futures in Central Texas, strengthening local families and neighborhoods in the process.

When the doors open in 2027, this center will prove that smart investments in education create opportunities that lift entire communities.