CHIPS has created EDA technology hubs. How are community colleges involved?

EDA tech hubs also provide significant opportunities for community colleges to expand pathways to good jobs in the innovation economy. For tech hubs to succeed, community colleges should play a leading role.

Today, community colleges not only train America’s social workers, welders, and electricians or support graduate degrees at universities through transfer pathways, they also train for jobs in emerging fields that include the industries that TechHubs are catalyzing.

Through certificates, degree programs, apprenticeships, and customized training, community colleges can meet job market needs in the emerging technology areas that Congress highlighted in CHIPS—including artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, quantum technology, biotechnology, green and energy-efficient jobs, advanced manufacturing, and beyond.

Many of the jobs created by the hubs are ideally suited to training at community colleges through apprenticeships, micro-credentials and boot camp-style programs. Associate and bachelor’s degree programs are also essential, including community college applied bachelor’s degrees, which are already offered in fields like artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

About 50 community and technical institutions participate in Tech Hub projects. Some institutions receive direct funding, while others leverage private, public or philanthropic contributions for their work. For example, the George Kaiser Family Foundation has committed $10 million in overall support for students working through its commitment to the Tulsa Tech Hub.

In an emailed statement, Francesca (Cesi) de Quesada Covey, Miami Dade County’s director of economic development and innovation and regional innovation director for the ClimateReady Tech Hub of South Florida, told me that Miami Dade College, its community college partner, will receive $6 million as part of its Tech Hub award.

“Miami-Dade College is a recognized leader in workforce development and accessibility through initiatives such as the Future Ready Miami-Dade Scholarship, which provides free education and extensive support services,” she told me.

“At Miami Dade College, we are passionate about innovation and ways to support efforts that advance sustainable and resilient infrastructure,” said Madeline Pumareiga, president of Miami Dade. The community college’s Miami Tech Works is an industry partnership initiative that is expected to lead to workforce development for the hub, which aims to create 23,000 new jobs over the next decade.

Some institutions provide training for existing jobs while planning for training as tech hubs create jobs. Others support the reskilling and upskilling needs of workers as technology impacts workplaces. The Elevate Quantum Tech Hub, based in Denver, Colorado, brings together quantum science and technology economic development efforts in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. It plans to create at least 10,000 new jobs and train 30,000 workers in quantum technology over ten years.

“With 3,000 workers already in our commercial quantum ecosystem alone – and up to 80% of jobs not requiring advanced degrees – our region is poised to scale quantum technologies to ensure a thriving and inclusive American economy for generations to come,” reads a statement from Zachary Yerushalmi, CEO of Elevate Quantum, on the hub’s website.

“Too many people hear words like quantum computing and think a career in quantum is a pipe dream,” said Tracy Hartzler, president of Central New Mexico College. Central New Mexico is a co-leader of Elevate Quantum’s workforce development. “CNM is honored to lead the effort to develop a high-quality, robust quantum technology workforce that will help companies grow rapidly and make our Mountain West region a global leader in the quantum information systems economy.”

According to Hartzler, the college is implementing a 10-week, 40-hour-per-week immersive “quantum technician boot camp” that will prepare students for immediate employment upon completion. Hartzler says starting salaries are expected to be in the $80,000 per year range and there are no prerequisites for the boot camp, which is expected to begin in June 2025. The college is also supporting other community colleges in the Mountain West region to create quantum career training programs.