COLUMBUS – First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Columbus Wednesday afternoon for the launch of one of five Investing in America Workforce Hubs
The First Lady was in Columbus as part of the Biden administration’s Investing in America Tour, highlighting commitments by the city, Columbus State Community College, local employers, and unions to train workers for high-tech jobs, according to a release from the White House.
“Columbus has emerged as a center of investment in key industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy, biotechnology, high-performance computing, and transportation,” the White House said.
Biden took part in a panel discussion where she said that “a job is more than just a paycheck.”
“It’s a path, a way to build the lives we want. And everyone, every American, deserves the chance to do just that,” she said. “Columbus and these hubs will be invaluable models for others, and I can’t wait to shine a light on what’s possible when we come together to invest in education and training.”
The Biden administration selected Columbus and four other cities to serve as hubs as part of a $700 billion investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act to promote workforce development and job growth in growing sectors of the economy, including technology.
Columbus State will launch a new certificate program this fall for semiconductor technician roles that was developed in partnership with Intel.
The White House also selected Phoenix, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Augusta, Ga. for the program and the First Lady will be visiting the hubs in Pittsburgh and Augusta later this week, the White House said.