What the Initiative Is:

In partnership with Western Digital, this pilot addresses critical skills gaps in the advanced manufacturing sector. The initiative includes incumbent worker training, veteran outreach, and apprenticeship programs, with a focus on silicon wafer manufacturing. By collaborating with partners like Foothill-De Anza Community College and the SEMI Foundation, the project emphasizes employer-driven training models that align directly with our local semiconductor industry needs.

What We’ve Learned:

This pilot highlighted the importance of industry leadership in workforce development. Training programs designed and implemented in partnership with employers are not only more effective but also more sustainable. Outreach efforts to veterans and underrepresented groups revealed untapped talent pools, while apprenticeships provided a valuable pathway for new entrants to gain both skills and experience.

Key Activities:

• Help companies meet their social responsibility goals 
• Identify multiple avenues of benefit including new hires as well as incumbent workers  
• Leverage various kinds of funding to support activities (Apprenticeship, IWT, etc.)  

How It Shapes the Future:

This initiative reinforces the need for workforce systems to align closely with industry needs. Future investments will focus on scaling employer-led training programs (particularly our sector strategy initiatives), expanding apprenticeship opportunities, and creating targeted outreach strategies to connect underrepresented groups with high-demand roles in advanced manufacturing and other sectors.