Kerry Ebersole Singh, executive vice president and chief talent solutions and engagement officer for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Talent Action Team (TAT), said in an email that state officials recently approved $50 million within the state budget for programs that expose students to STEM career and training opportunities. As part of this emphasis on STEM education, she said MEDC is working with the SEMI Foundation, the nonprofit arm of a microelectronics industry association, to provide STEM career and education resources to Michigan schools, with a focus on fields related to advanced semiconductor technology. She said the Talent Action Team itself was created to build a public-private ecosystem to support tech career upskilling across the state.
Ebersole Singh noted that the state’s recent STEM investments aim to position it as a global focal point for advanced tech research and semiconductor workforce development following last year’s passage of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, which invested more than $52 billion in new advanced semiconductor manufacturing plants and workforce development to boost domestic microchip production across the U.S. Those chips will be needed for emerging technologies such as autonomous tools and electric vehicles.
“Michigan is taking a holistic approach to solving the talent gap related to [electric vehicles] and semiconductor production, which is crucial to Michigan’s economic prosperity,” she wrote. “PK-12 programs are an essential piece of this and will create the workforce of the future to help improve and expand production.”
As part of broad STEM talent efforts, Ebersole Singh said Michigan recently announced a new battery job certification program in July at Henry Ford College, which will help approximately 3,000 Michiganders complete short-term training certifications from community colleges statewide through 2027. Another new higher-ed initiative is the University Research Corridor — made up of institutions such as Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University — focused on accelerating advanced-tech research efforts, among other developments.
Ebersole Singh said the state also appointed its first-ever chief growth officer, Hilary Doe, who will spearhead efforts to build the state’s population and reputation amid national competition over semiconductor manufacturers such as Intel, TSMC and Micron Technology.
Moving forward, Ebersole Singh said a separate Talent Action Team specifically focused on the semiconductor industry aims to help solve the global microchip shortage and increase domestic production through programs like the Michigander EV Scholars Program, a $34 million investment to connect higher-ed students in engineering-related fields to networking and mentorship opportunities. She said the program has helped connect over 500 state residents to career training in recent months. As another example, she said, Michigan State University recently enrolled 48 high school students in its Engineering and Science Success Academy, a four-week residential academic intensive program for incoming engineering students.
Ebersole Singh said the state is putting a particular focus on training computer engineers, electrical engineers, semiconductor technicians and repair workers. Michigan’s recent investments come as private-public partnerships in various states are trying to generate tech talent for semiconductor production, such as at Arizona State University, whose semiconductor program is focused on industry collaboration in microelectronics, or Purdue, which recently launched a degree program in semiconductors.
“Overall, our biggest goal is to make sustainable investments and identify partners committed to Michigan. It is critical for Michigan to continue making investments in STEM education in order to prepare students for future in-demand careers,” Ebersole Singh wrote. “We can infuse STEM education and provide hands-on learning while exposing students to career opportunities and professionals.”
