FROM THE GOVERNOR

Abbott announces Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund Grant to Austin Community College AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott announced that a Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) grant of $3.6 million has been extended to Austin Community College District (ACC) for an advanced semiconductor manufacturing lab and precision welding program at the Round Rock Campus in East Williamson County. This is the first TSIF grant to a Texas higher education institution.

“Texas continues to lead America’s resurgence in semiconductor manufacturing thanks to our highly skilled and growing workforce,” said Governor Abbott. “Already recognized as a national model for semiconductor workforce training, ACC will establish a new semiconductor advanced manufacturing lab and a precision welding skills lab on their campus in Round Rock. Working together with our higher education partners and industry leaders, we will ensure the chips that drive the innovative technologies of tomorrow are made in Texas.”

ACC’s initiative will establish the 2,600-squarefoot Austin Semiconductor Advanced Manufacturing Lab, which will include a classroom and simulation of a real-world semiconductor manufacturing environment, complete with locker room and gowning area, airlock transition space, simulated clean room, a Fanuc Fenceless robotics system, a Smart Factory Machine Sensor Trainer, process metrology microscopes, and automation studio software. In addition, ACC will establ ish a new welding fabrication skills lab in an existing, 3,728-squarefoot space on the Round Rock campus with stateof- the-art tools to train students in precision welding and fabrication to support semiconductor manufacturing.

“I congratulate Austin Community College Round Rock in becoming the first Texas institution of higher education to be awarded a Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund grant,” said Senator Charles Schwertner. “This grant is a testament to our state’s commitment to building a world-class semiconductor industry and expanding our high-tech workforce. By providing state-of-theart, hands-on training to meet real industry needs, ACC’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab and precision welding program will create opportunities for students across Texas, ensuring our state remains at the epicenter of cutting-edge innovation in the advanced manufacturing sector.”

“We are deeply grateful to the State of Texas and the Governor’s Office for this generous investment in Austin Community College and the communities we serve,” said ACC District Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “This grant empowers us to build the kind of future our students deserve. We’re expanding facilities and opening doors for hundreds of new students each year to step into life-changing careers. This is what it means to be a college of the community — meeting the needs of our regional economy while lifting up every learner we serve.”

Governor Abbott signed into law the Texas CHIPS Act in 2023 to establish the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, an incentive program to encourage the continued leadership of Texas in semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing, as well as the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium. These programs, administered by the Texas CHIPS Office, a division within the Governor’s Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, are designed to leverage Texas’ investments in the semiconductor industry, encourage semiconductor- related companies to expand in the state, further develop the expertise and capacity of Texas institutions of higher education, and maintain the state’s position as the nation’s leader in semiconductor manufacturing.

Abbott, Secretary Rollins announce $750 million for new world Screwworm protection facility AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced at a press conference that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $750 million in a new Domestic Sterile Screwworm Production Facility to combat the northward spread of the New World screwworm (NWS) and protect American livestock producers.

“Texas agricultural producers feed the world, with our state’s food and agriculture sector supporting over 2 million good-paying jobs and creating over $867 billion in total economic impact,” said Governor Abbott. “All of this is at risk because of the New World screwworm. Working with Secretary Rollins and agricultural community leaders nationwide, we will combat the New World screwworm threat right here in Texas by building a new $750 million facility to breed hundreds of millions of sterile screwworm flies. Together, we will eradicate New World screwworm threat to protect our nation’s food supply and economy.”

“ Today’s announcement from President Trump and Secretary Rollins marks a pivotal step forward in protecting Texas livestock and wildlife from the devastating threat of the New World screwworm (NWS). Texas Farm Bureau sincerely thanks them for their bold leadership and decisive action.

“The commitment to fund and construct a domestic sterile fly production facility is not just welcome news, it’s a vital investment in safeguarding our livestock, wildlife, rural communities, and the consumers who rely on a safe and stable food supply. A domestic outbreak of NWS could result in catastrophic losses, with estimates of $1.8 billion annually in Texas cattle alone and more than $10.6 billion in national economic damages.

“This threat is real and urgent, and we cannot afford delays. Immediate construction and deployment of this facility are essential to prevent irreversible harm to the agricultural economy and our nation’s food system.

“Texas Farm Bureau heard loud and clear from its members about the need for a domestic production facility and worked directly with USDA and Congressional leaders to reach this milestone. The commitment to building a facility is part of a long-term strategy to combat NWS and would not have been possible without this partnership.

“Texas Farm Bureau commends Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration for recognizing the gravity of this issue and taking bold steps to address it. We look forward to continuing our work with them and other stakeholders to advance solutions that protect livestock and wildlife producers, consumers, and the economic vitality of our state.”

“We have assessed the information on the ground in Mexico and have determined we must construct an additional sterile fly production facility in the U.S. to stop the northward advancement of this terrible pest that is threatening American cattle production,” said Secretary Rollins. “President Trump has made it clear that we must take all necessary steps to protect our country from foreign pests and diseases that threaten our economy and way of life. Today we are announcing a major investment to further America’s existential role in protecting our country and secure our borders from this national security threat. The construction of a domestic sterile fly production facility will ensure the United States continues to lead the way in combating this devastating pest. If our ranchers are overrun by foreign pests, then we cannot feed ourselves. USDA and Customs and Border Protection are constantly monitoring our ports of entry to keep NWS away from our borders. We are working every day to ensure our American agricultural industry is safe, secure, and resilient.”