Auburn has been selected as one of five communities worldwide for GE Aerospace’s new, $30 million workforce training program, Lifting Futures, the company announced Wednesday.

And the program reaches from the Loveliest Village to the Rocket City.

Auburn is the hub for multi-sector industrial component manufacturing, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), and defense. GE Aerospace said the programming will complement its support for Calhoun Community College’s Huntsville campus, which helps prepare Process Technology Program students with monitoring, operating, and maintaining equipment.

Lifting Futures is the GE Aerospace Foundation’s flagship workforce skills program. It is focused on meeting the growing need for advanced manufacturing, providing 10,000 workers with skills to help support growing demand across the aerospace and manufacturing industries by 2030.

“With Lifting Futures, the GE Aerospace Foundation is taking the next step to ensure a strong future for the aerospace industry and for the thousands of workers we need to meet growing demand,” said Christian Meisner, chief human resources officer at GE Aerospace. “Through our new flagship workforce program, we aim to work with local partners to increase manufacturing career opportunities and create long-term impact in communities poised to help build the future of flight.”

The Lifting Futures program looks to fill the skilled manufacturing talent gap by increasing access to community-based programs for advanced skills training and certification.

The five communities selected for the initial round of Lifting Futures grants – Auburn; the Cincinnati-Dayton region in Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Wrocław, Poland – have strong labor demand, a pipeline of potential new workers, and capable partner training institutions.

Calhoun was selected in 2024 to share GE Aerospace’s $2.3 million investment to support workforce development across the United States.

“We are deeply grateful to the GE Aerospace Foundation for this generous grant,” said Calhoun Community College President, Dr. Jimmy Hodges. “This investment will ensure that our students are learning with cutting-edge technology and resources, preparing them for the demands of an ever-evolving industry.”

As part of this effort, the school’s Process Technology Program received $100,000 for lab equipment, additional licenses for simulator training and models, and training workbooks to support students in the Process Technology Program.

“By supporting our students in this program, GE Aerospace is not only helping to shape the future workforce but also contributing to the growth and success of the broader community,” said Dean of Technologies John Holley. “This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration between education and industry, and we are excited about the opportunities it will bring for our students.”

Just last month, GE Aerospace announced it will invest $55 million in new and upgraded production equipment and building improvements at its facility in Huntsville. Last year, the company launched a $22 million expansion at the Limestone County site.

Lifting Futures programs will strengthen the existing ecosystems of local workforce training. The GE Aerospace Foundation will work with local partners throughout the spring and summer to develop action plans specific to their location’s workforce needs that will inform local investments.

As the funds are invested, the foundation will evaluate opportunities to see these grow over the course of the program. Additional details about the community-specific programs will be released in the fall following this structured community planning process.

“The funds will directly support the purchase of essential lab equipment, and training materials, all of which are vital to delivering a high-caliber educational experience for our students,” said Calhoun Process Technology Instructor Dr. Kim Roberts. “With these tools, our students will gain hands-on training in chemical process technology.”