The SEMI Foundation and Policy Equity Group announced a collaboration to address childcare gaps in the semiconductor industry. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation are financing this effort. This initiative is part of the Investing in America Child Care Partnership, aimed at enhancing quality and affordable childcare. The collaboration will assist companies in complying with childcare requirements under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act.
The alliance will work with early childhood education leaders in Arizona, Ohio, and Michigan. Their goal is to strengthen local childcare systems and support employers in creating effective childcare benefits. This initiative seeks to increase access to high-quality, affordable childcare for semiconductor industry workers.
“Quality childcare is critical to the current and future workforce of the semiconductor industry and to ultimately narrowing our talent gap,” said Shari Liss, Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation. “The SEMI Foundation is honored to collaborate with Policy Equity Group and to be supported by the Kellogg and Packard Foundations to work toward systemic changes in childcare, build community-based solutions, and conduct extensive industry outreach to potential workers who require quality childcare.”
The funding will support various activities, including landscape analyses to assess workforce and childcare systems. Outreach programs will connect women and underrepresented minorities to the semiconductor workforce, leveraging childcare access. The collaboration will also develop childcare plans meeting CHIPS Act requirements and provide resources for employers. This initiative aims to improve childcare sustainability and capacity, with lessons documented for replication in other communities.
