The GE Aerospace Foundation will invest $1 million in aerospace workforce training across the Auburn and Montgomery region, including a free bootcamp at Southern Union State Community College.
The foundation announced the investment on Tuesday through Lifting Futures, its flagship workforce program. Auburn was named in April as one of the first five communities worldwide selected for the $30 million program, which aims to train 10,000 aerospace workers by 2030.
The initial investment will support three local partners during 2027 to increase career awareness, prepare entry-level workers, improve program completion and strengthen regional coordination.
“Alabama’s role in aerospace and defense manufacturing makes having a skilled workforce critical to our country. Lifting Futures will help more people get the training they need to build a career in this industry,” said Christian Meisner, chief human resources officer at GE Aerospace and chair of the GE Aerospace Foundation.
The investment follows community meetings held this summer with more than a dozen organizations representing educators, civic leaders and industry along the region’s I-85 manufacturing corridor.
According to the foundation, those meetings found a strong manufacturing base that faces limited awareness of career opportunities, lower training completion rates and a need for greater coordination between organizations.
The grants are intended to benefit the aerospace and defense industry along the corridor as a whole, according to the foundation.
First-year grants will benefit more than 400 people through three projects:
- A free bootcamp at Southern Union State Community College to prepare students for entry-level jobs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The program will also purchase new equipment.
- An effort led by the Industrial Development Board of the City of Auburn to increase awareness and retention across the Auburn-Opelika region by promoting no-cost training and hiring opportunities.
- An expanded worker pipeline built by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce to prepare for an expected increase in available manufacturing jobs.
Additional investment for these and other recipients will follow through the life of the Lifting Futures program, the foundation said.
“I am very excited to see the GE Aerospace Foundation has selected partners in Auburn and Montgomery for its Lifting Futures program,” said U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Saks), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, whose district includes Auburn.
“The aerospace industry is growing in Alabama, and a trained workforce is key to maintaining this rapid growth. This program will utilize local partners to boost our state’s workforce and ensure Alabama is prepared for future growth.”
Huge news for our area! A trained workforce is key to maintaining growth in Alabama and our country’s aerospace industry. This investment will go a long way for our students in East Alabama! https://t.co/HhM9B3Taue
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) October 6, 2026
“This grant will be a game changer for our programs and will have a lasting impact on our communities by helping develop a stronger workforce for the future,” said Todd Shackett, president of Southern Union State Community College.
“An investment in our workforce is an investment in our community’s future,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders Jr.
Lifting Futures will also provide subscriptions to Let’s Go Aerospace magazine to every public middle school library in Lee and Montgomery counties. The magazine is designed to educate students about opportunities in the aerospace industry.
GE Aerospace operates plants in Auburn and Huntsville and announced $100 million in upgrades to the two sites in March. The foundation donated $100,000 to Calhoun Community College’s Huntsville campus in 2024.
More information on the program is available at liftingfutures.org.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
