Sherman, Texas -- The Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub (TSTH) has been awarded $23,996,830 through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program – Industry Transformation Path.
The award was announced October 23, 2026, by Paul M. Dabbar, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, at Southern Methodist University (SMU). [Read the full EDA funding announcement here.]
“As a founding member of the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub, Austin College is honored to participate in the EDA’s $24 million grant to support the semiconductor industry in Texoma. Texoma is rapidly becoming the geographic center of semiconductor manufacturing in the United States,” said Professor of Business Administration and Economics Dr. David Griffith. “This grant will enhance Austin College’s ongoing engagement with Sherman semiconductor companies like TI, Global Wafers, and Coherent. The grant will help fund Austin College activities such as industry boot camps for job changers, further growth of the engineering program, and the local support of semiconductor technology commercialization efforts.”
“Austin College’s Engineering program attracts students who are seeking fulfilling careers in the semiconductor industry,” said Founding Director of the Engineering Program and Associate Professor of Engineering Dr. Rahul Renu. “With the TSTH receiving a $24 million grant from the EDA, Austin College Engineering students stand to benefit from more semiconductor industry connections and hands-on learning opportunities. We are proud to support the Texoma region as it grows to become a global leader in semiconductor design and manufacturing.”
“This investment is an important opportunity for Austin College and the Texoma region,” said Austin College President Rebecca Cantor. “The grant can help connect education, industry, and regional partners in exciting new ways, creating pathways for our students to develop in-demand skills while strengthening the talent and partnerships businesses need to grow. We’re proud to be part of a consortium working together to expand opportunity and build a more resilient, innovative future for our communities.”
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
