Lehigh Valley seeks federal designation as CHIPS Tech Hub
Stacy Wescoe//August 15, 2023
(Article summation)
The Lehigh Valley is officially seeking to be designated as an innovation Tech Hub by the federal government, a move with potential benefits for the semiconductor and related industries. This designation could make the region eligible for $50 to $75 million in funding under the CHIPS Act, aimed at strengthening the domestic supply of components for communication technologies.
The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 created Tech Hubs to boost innovation in essential technologies for economic and national security. Congresswoman Susan Wild, who proposed the act, envisioned the Lehigh Valley’s inclusion as a Tech Hub. The application was submitted by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.
Companies participating in the consortium seeking the Tech Hub designation include AAYUNA, Broadcom, Cisco, Coherent, Infinera, iDEAL Semiconductor, Intel, Air Products, EMD Electronics, LBN, and Evonik.
The consortium also includes labor and workforce organizations such as International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 375 and Workforce Board Lehigh Valley and institutions of higher education such as Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Penn State Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Carbon Community College, and Northampton Community College
Also supporting the designation are economic development organizations such as LVEDC, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Manufacturers Resource Center. Read […more]