BCC Hosts Collaborative Jobs of the Future Latino Workforce Roundtable
Bronx Community College (BCC) was the host site on Friday, December 13 for an important roundtable discussion made possible by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the U.S. Department of Commerce and UnidosUS exploring strategic partnerships to ensure equitable access for students to job opportunities created by the CHIPS and Science Act. Convening representatives from New York’s minority-serving institutions (MSIs), Congressional leaders, community organizations, and semiconductor manufacturers, the afternoon kicked off with remarks by U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Susie Feliz, who serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Commerce on all matters before Congress.
Roundtable discussion participants included:
- U.S. Representatives Adriano Espaillat, Grace Meng, and Yvette Clarke
- HSI and MSI Presidents and leaders
- Local community-based organizations
- Department of Commerce
- Semiconductor representatives
“This important meeting provided a fantastic opportunity for private-public partnerships that will bring more jobs to New York,” said BCC Vice President for Advancement, Communications and External Relations Eddy Bayardelle, who was invited to represent BCC as a principal at the meeting. “Growth of and investment in the semiconductor industry in New York translates into more job opportunities for our students in STEM fields. The ideas generated from this meeting will play a role in aligning BCC curriculum and training to jobs of the future.”
Semiconductors are used in many technologies, including smartphones, computers, and cars; the industry is important for future technologies, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and clean energy. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 provides $50 billion in funding to revitalize the U.S. semiconductor industry. Currently, across New York, there are more than 34,000 jobs in the semiconductor industry with public and private industry investment in the industry continuing to grow.
