Oregon officials outline CHIPS Childcare Fund rollout; BOLI begins subsidies for apprentices

PORTLAND, Ore. — On April 3, 2025, the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee held an informational meeting on the CHIPS Childcare Fund to review how money tied to the Oregon CHIPS Act and House Bill 4098 is being used to support childcare for construction and semiconductor apprentices and recent journey workers.

Business Oregon and the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) told the committee that state and federal CHIPS-related dollars have been routed to two main efforts: direct childcare subsidies administered to eligible apprentices and journey workers, and planning grants through the Childcare Infrastructure Fund aimed at expanding provider capacity in areas with semiconductor or advanced manufacturing activity.

The CHIPS-related childcare program stems from the Oregon CHIPS Act (Senate Bill 4, 2023) and the childcare provisions enacted in House Bill 4098. Sarah Means, semiconductor manager for Governor Tina Kotek, said the governor subsequently announced a $5,000,000 transfer from the CHIPS fund to the childcare program established by HB 4098. Means said, “This fund provides financial support and childcare subsidies to apprentices and journey workers who have completed an apprenticeship within 5 years.”

Business Oregon staff described how that appropriation sits alongside a…