Austin, TX

Will Central Texas semiconductor scene be rewarded with CHIPS Act funding? Experts say yes

Published

3 months ago

March 4, 2024

Will Central Texas semiconductor scene be rewarded with CHIPS Act funding? Experts say yes

It still remains to be seen if Austin-area projects will benefit from legislation designed to boost the semiconductor industry, as the Commerce Department starts announcing as soon as this month which companies will be awarded funding.

Central Texas is among a handful of regions expected to see a boost from the Chips and Science Act, which was passed in 2022. The legislation made $52 billion available for companies that manufacture computer chips, billions more in tax credits to incentivize chip manufacturing, and tens of billions of dollars to fund scientific research and development of other U.S. technologies.

So far, no projects in Texas have been included in the first handful of announcements made by the Commerce Department, but local industry leaders remain optimistic in the Austin-area’s ability to compete with the hundreds of projects waiting to see if they will receive the remaining funding.

Ed Latson, CEO of Opportunity Austin, said he anticipates the funding to make a major impact in Central Texas, which is already home to facilities from companies including Samsung Semiconductor, NXP, Tokyo Electron and Infineon.

“I expect to see grants being issued to local companies soon,” Latson said. “We have one of the most dynamic semiconductor ecosystems in the United States and this will only make us more competitive as a region and as a country.”

Kevin Fincher, CEO of the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, agreed that the region remains in a strong position.

“I believe that Central Texas will lead in the semi-industry going forward, and we’re well positioned for that,” Fincher said.

The Austin-area’s existing ecosystem of companies in the semiconductor industry includes fabrication facilities that make chips, toolmakers and a supply base that works with the toolmakers and fabrication facilities.

Fincher predicted that Central Texas projects could hear about funding awards as early as March.

“We expect in the in the coming month, March, that there is going to be a slew of announcements that will start to come out,” Fincher said. “I think Commerce is finalizing the applications and we are going to hear some pretty hopefully exciting announcements coming, which will impact some of the companies working here or that have operations here.”

Even before the passage of the CHIPS Act, the Central Texas region has been poised to see big expansions to its manufacturing capacity. Samsung, which already had two fabs in Austin, announced last year that it planned to build a $17 billion chip factory in Taylor. Filings also show the company could put as many as 11 additional fabrication facilities in Central Texas in the coming decades, though the company has said it does not have concrete plans.

Semiconductor giant NXP also has been considering an expansion in Austin. Last year, the Austin City Council approved an incentive deal worth just over a million dollars. Following Raimondo’s speech, the company said it continues to engage with the Commerce Department on its proposals.

“While we cannot indicate a timeline with certainty, we understand the process could take a number of months and we are optimistic that the proposed expansion would meet the program goals,” a company spokesperson said. “We are pleased there continues to be an ongoing dialogue and movement on the need to support the industry.”

Fincher predicted investment will continue, both in company growth and in the workforce needed to support these companies.

Samsung to partner with UT engineering school, donate $3.7M to aid semiconductor workforce

CHIPS Act funding is leading to ‘tough conversations’

During a February 4 event hosted by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said there are “tough conversations” as the department works on distributing the funding. During the event, Raimondo also said the department would now be prioritizing projects that will be operational by 2030.

The changes came as leading-edge companies requested about $70 billion in funding, or about double the amount in federal subsidies available. So far, Commerce has announced about $2.5 billion in funding to three companies BAE, Microchip, and Global Foundries

Raimondo said while there’s risk in picking winners and losers, there is “way more risk in doing nothing” and said there will likely need to be another CHIPS Act in the future to continue to boost the industry.

“We’re going to have to say no to excellent companies with excellent proposals,” Raimondo said.

Raimondo acknowledged during the CISA event that companies were also likely frustrated to receive less funding than they were hoping.

While acknowledging that there have been project delays nationally that may be related to the rollout of funding, Matt Bryson, an industry analyst with Wedbush Securities, has already been working as intended.

“We’ve seen arguably a historic amount of chip infrastructure investment planned for the U.S., including from a number of companies that either had never invested in the U.S. or who had chosen not to invest in U.S. fabs in recent years,” he said.

He added, the focus on projects that will be completed by 2030 makes sense.

“If the goal is to accelerate investment, I think it necessarily makes sense to prioritize the bird in hand so to speak, vs. investment plans that are further out and that might not come to fruition,” Bryson said.

Fincher, of ARMA, said Central Texas will likely benefit from the 2030 timeline.

“We are very much in the right spot,” he said. “Most of the companies that we’re looking at will be set up and operational and running by then. So, I think that’s an advantage right now to our manufacturing sector here in Central Texas.”

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Austin, TX

Two Door Cinema Club at Stubb's in Austin, TX – Loud Hailer Magazine

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2024

Press Room

Two Door Cinema Club at Stubb's in Austin, TX – Loud Hailer Magazine

Two Door Cinema Club delivered an electrifying performance at Austin’s Stubb’s Amphitheater, captivating the audience with their infectious energy and dynamic indie rock sound.

Coming from Northern Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club brought the fans of Austin an amazing performance. The band has been making music together since the late 2000s. A few of their songs over the past decade have received commercial success due to being featured in various popular television shows such as The Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy, and Teen Wolf. Two Door Cinema Club is comprised of three members: Alex Trimble (vocals), Sam Halliday (guitar), and Kevin Baird (bass). Their last album Keep On Smiling was released in 2022, but since then they have released two new singles, “Sure Enough” (2023) and “Happy Customers” (2024). Their North American tour kicked off in February and they have already hit over twenty different cities. This leg of Two Door Cinema Club’s tour will end in Austin, but they will continue well into the Fall of 2024 for part two.

Opening for Two Door Cinema Club is the indie-rock band Day Wave. The Oakland, California-based band’s music is recorded solo by musician Jackson Phillips. Various musicians support him during live shows. He released their debut EP, Headcase, in 2015. And last year, he released two new singles “As You Are” and “Breakdown.” Day Wave’s dreamy set was truly beautiful as the Texas sun slowly set on the horizon. His emotionally charged performance and laid-back stage presence captivated the crowd. He played his originals such as “Something Here” and “Drag.” He closed his set by performing a cover of Interpol’s “PDA” which the crowd loved.

Despite the drizzly, dreary weather, Two Door Cinema Club took to the stage at about 8:15 pm. They completely rocked the audience with their first song of the night, “This Is The Life” from their 2010 album Tourist History. They played many more older songs as well, like “Handshake” from Beacon and “Are We Ready? (Wreck).” Mid-set, Trimble took a moment to thank everyone for coming out. He also informed the audience that the drummer, Cameron, who was playing was filling in for their regular touring drummer. He joked that the last thing Cameron wanted to do before the tour ended was perform a drum solo. Shyly, Cameron played a quick beat and seemingly laughed off the request.

The rain eventually came to a halt and left the air a lot more tolerable, considering Austin’s typically unbearable heat. Fans could finally dance without worrying about having a heat stroke, which was terrific because as Two Door Cinema Club came to the end of their setlist the beats of their songs began to pick up, “Undercover Martyn” being one of them. They closed their set with “What You Know.” As they played the first few chords, the crowd went crazy. The immensely diverse crowd really was something to see. All walks of life were present in the audience. This show served as a great reminder of the splendor of unity.

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Austin, TX

Alex Jones says Infowars could be shut down within hours

Published

9 hours ago

June 2, 2024

Press Room

Alex Jones says Infowars could be shut down within hours

In what he described as an “emergency broadcast” on Saturday, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claimed that his far-right news company, Infowars’, studios in Austin, Texas, might be shut down by federal authorities soon.

“This is going to be Infowars’ last show, because I learned yesterday that they were going to padlock the door and kick us out last night,” Jones said while on Infowars on Saturday.

On the same day, Friday, May 31, the news outlet published an article saying it might be shut down in 48 hours.

Newsweek contacted Infowars by email on Sunday morning for comment and any evidence of the alleged attempt to shut down the company’s studios .

Infowars founder Alex Jones on September 21, 2022, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Jones has claimed that federal authorities were going to shut down his studios in Austin, Texas, on Friday night.

Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images

Jones said that he spotted “guards looking at me weird” at the entrance of the Infowars building and believed that his company was going to be shut down.

“I went with my instinct[…]and discovered this plan to shut us down,” he said, after mentioning he questioned the guards about what was happening on Friday night.

“I discovered this and a bunch of other stuff that I haven’t released yet,” he added. He claimed he spent the night at the studios to prevent them from being shut down, and threatened to call local police.

The Infowars host said he had all the evidence to prove the alleged attempt to shut down his studios, but did not seem so sure that it would actually be happening himself. “There’s a 50 percent chance this is happening right now,” Jones said in a post published on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

“They want us shut down because in bankruptcy and what was happening we have a path with the judge to continue on for years, and the judge has signaled that. So, different groups involved in the bankruptcy that will be exposed soon have literally made a move to shut this place down and end my show,” he added.

Jones claimed that “the deep state” was “making a move to shut down Infowars” after allegedly going after Donald Trump, who on Thursday was found guilty by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records over a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

While on air on Saturday, the conspiracy theorist broke into tears. “We’re going to beat these people. I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it’s been a hard fight,” Jones said.

“I’ve been targeted for abuse. I was duped by someone. Federal files in secret have claimed that I’m committing crimes. This was untrue, of course[…]This may be my final performance.”

Jones received the immediate support of MAGA Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who posted a photo with Jones on X writing: “I stand with Alex Jones.”

Greene is known to have shared several wild conspiracy theories in previous years, including claiming that Parkland survivor and activist David Hogg was a “paid actor” in a stage mass shooting.

Newsweek contacted Greene’s spokesperson for comment by email on Sunday morning.

Jones is currently facing huge legal expenses after being ordered in 2022 to pay nearly $1.5 billion for calling the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut a hoax.

Later in the same year, the Infowars host filed for personal bankruptcy, a move that is often used to stave off legal judgments. But in October 2023, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston, Texas, ruled that Jones is not protected by the bankruptcy and still needs to pay the nearly $1.5 billion in damages to families affected by the Sandy Hook shooting.

Since then, he has been scrambling to handle the payments. In December, Jones proposed a settlement that would pay the families at least $5.5 million every year over 10 years, but the plaintiffs said the offer fell “woefully short.”

Last week, he obtained approval for the $2.8-million sale of his Texas ranch. The money will be put into an escrow account to pay for his legal expenses.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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Austin, TX

Richard Combs

Published

16 hours ago

June 2, 2024

Press Room

Richard Leslie Combs was born in Glendale, CA but grew up in Hereford, TX. “Dick”, as everyone came to know him, went on to attend Texas Tech, where he majored in architecture (and minored in golf!). After college he moved to Denver, CO for his first architectural job. Shortly thereafter he met and married Peggy Duffy. They had three wonderful, and eventually quite accomplished, children: Leslie, Patrick and Daniel. Dick was a founding partner in the Denver based architectural firm of Sink, Combs, Dethlefs. His primary role in the firm eventually became “the partner with the open door”, as many of the young or recent hires often sought his advice regarding a vast spectrum of issues. Dick and Peggy divorced in the late 90s, and in 2002 Dick met and married Sue Wayne. Following his retirement Dick and Sue lived in New Mexico for a short while, but eventually returned to both their Texas roots, settling in Austin, TX. Their new home was on a golf course and Dick enjoyed countless rounds of golf with his many new friends. Dick Combs was a man loved by many for his kindness, his wonderful sense of humor, and his extreme loyalty to friends and family.

“Grandpa” will be fondly remembered by grandchildren Sadie, Wynn, Davis, Quinn and Tillie; and, as he was known to them as “Duck”, Brendan, Sarah and Evan were among his greatest admirers. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Dick’s name to Hospice Austin online at hospiceaustin.org.

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