Delaware County Community College Hosts U.S. and State Officials’ Panel Discussion on the Benefits of the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act to Students
(Chester County, PA - September 8, 2023)—U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) led a panel discussion today at Delaware County Community College’s Downingtown Center on the significant impact the multi-billion-dollar U.S. CHIPS and Science Act is expected to have on local manufacturers of semiconductors, and the Act’s education, training, and job benefits to community college students. CHIPS stands for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors.
Signed into law last year, the Act provides $52.7 billion to help U.S. semiconductor manufacturers become the best in the world so that the United States is less dependent on foreign nations for the ubiquitous semiconductors used in everything from electronics to autos. The Act includes $11 billion for semiconductor workforce development, $200 million to create a CHIPS for America Workforce and Education Fund, and $81 million for the National Science Foundation’s critical infrastructure workforce training program.
With dozens of college and high school students in attendance, Representative Houlahan moderated the panel discussion. Panelists included: Marina Zhavoronkova, senior advisor for Workforce Strategy at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Program Office; Brian Regli, executive director of Critical Investments for Governor Shapiro’s administration; Delaware County Community College President Marta Yera Cronin, Ed.D.; and Karen Kozachyn, Ed.D., College vice president for Workforce and Economic Development.
“Working together, President Biden and my colleagues and I in Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act to reignite manufacturing in America — and it’s working. Through this generational investment, we are building the resilient, STEM-focused workforce we need to strengthen our economic and national security,” said Representative Houlahan. “We saw today how STEM education will support these good-paying jobs and increase domestic manufacturing of critically needed semiconductor chips. Delaware County Community College’s Downingtown campus provides an amazing incubator space for our students, our area businesses, and more. Our technological landscape may be constantly changing, but our students are ready to meet this challenge and lead the nation in semiconductor manufacturing.”
Following the panel discussion, guests went on a tour of the Downingtown Center, including its STEM Wing, a 16,000-square-foot facility that includes state-of-the-art biology, chemistry, earth and space science laboratories. “STEM education is vital to the future of the region and America,” said College President Dr. Cronin, adding that the College also is a regional leader in workforce training and closely collaborates with business and industry in Chester County.
Photo Captions:
Photo #1: L-R are: DCCC's Workforce & Economic Development Vice President Karen Kozachyn, Ed.D.; DCCC President Marta Yera Cronin, Ed.D.; Marina Zhavoronkova, senior advisor of Workforce Strategy for the U.S. Commerce Department's CHIPS for America Program Office; Dr. Brian Regli, executive director of the Governor's Critical Investment Office; and panel discussion moderator U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan.
Photo #2: L-R in front of the Downingtown Center STEM Wing are: DCCC Vice President Branch Campus Operations Mary Jo Boyer; Sue Walker, district director & deputy chief of staff for U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan; Karen Kozachyn, Ed.D., DCCC's Workforce & Economic Development vice president; Marina Zhavoronkova, senior advisor of Workforce Strategy for the U.S. Commerce Department's CHIPS for America Program Office; Karen Owens, senior legislative specialist for the CHIPS for America Program Office; DCCC President Marta Yera Cronin, Ed.D.; U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan; Executive Director of the Governor's Critical Investment Office Dr. Brian Regli; Donnell Sheppard, deputy district director for U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan.
Photo #3: DCCC President Marta Yera Cronin, Ed.D. and U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan outside the College's Downingtown Center.
Photo #4: Front row L-R are: DCCC STEM Dean Umadevi Garimella; high school dual enrollment engineering students Jeffrey Merrick, Christian Beck, Thatcher Respicio, Lex Guo, and Kayla Kirk, who takes engineering classes.
Back row L-R are: Troy Podell, Ed.D., curriculum supervisor for the Downingtown Area School District; DCCC's Workforce & Economic Development Vice President Karen Kozachyn, Ed.D.; Dr. Brian Regli, executive director of the Governor's Critical Investment Office; DCCC President Marta Yera Cronin, Ed.D.; U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan; Marina Zhavoronkova, senior advisor of Workforce Strategy for the U.S. Commerce Department's CHIPS for America Program Office; Karen Owens, senior legislative specialist for the CHIPS for America Program Office; and DCCC student Alyssa Crawford.
