The U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Program Office announced a letter of intent with Coherent Corp. for up to $50 million in direct funding to expand indium phosphide semiconductor production in Sherman, Texas. The June 16 announcement targets a specialized but increasingly important part of the electronics supply chain: photonic devices used in high-speed optical interconnects for AI data centers, communications networks, and advanced computing systems.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has signed a definitive agreement with I-Pulse for a $250 million CHIPS Research and Development award to advance silicon-carbide power semiconductor technology.
New federal and industry data point to cautious but improving hiring conditions across U.S. manufacturing, with electronics-related sectors showing signs of continued demand.
U.S. manufacturing employment edged higher in June, offering a modest but important signal for electronics employers watching the hiring market closely. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that manufacturing added 3,000 jobs during the month, while total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 57,000.
