Texas Instruments CHIPS award

Intro

Workers who make chips, build factories, drive trucks, or teach trade skills are seeing changes near Sherman, Texas, and Lehi, Utah. The new chip-making push is reshaping those towns fast.

What Changed

The federal government committed $1.61 billion to Texas Instruments to support three chip plants, two in Sherman and one in Lehi. Construction workers, electricians, welders, engineers, and mechanics are being hired in waves. New apartments and stores are going up, too. Local schools are adding classes in automation and design so students can get ready for technical jobs. In Sherman, cafes, daycare centers, and grocery stores are filling up again. Families who left for work years ago are moving back. In Utah, suppliers that build sensors or circuit boards expect steady work for years. Car companies and medical-device makers who buy these chips might see fewer shortages. Farmers leasing land near the sites are already watching prices climb. For everyone nearby, the noise, dust, and traffic are reminders that the next few years will be busy.

What to Watch Next

Watch hiring numbers, local housing plans, and whether the training programs actually reach the nearby schools and community colleges. If building costs climb or labor runs short, the project could slow. If things stay on schedule, steady jobs could last a decade or more.