GE Aerospace Foundation's Lifting Futures Invests $1M in Auburn, Montgomery Region Workforce Training

AUBURN and MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Oct. 6, 2026 – The GE Aerospace Foundation today announced plans to invest $1 million to support industry workforce training efforts across Alabama through Lifting Futures, its flagship workforce program.

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. The investment is in support of the program’s overall goal to train 10,000 workers across multiple communities for the aerospace industry by 2030.

"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 reflects input from community meetings held this summer with more than a dozen organizations representing educators, civic leaders, and industry representatives along the region’s I-85 manufacturing corridor. Those meetings found that while the region has one of the strongest manufacturing industries it faces limited awareness of career opportunities, lower training completion rates, and a desire for greater coordination between organizations. First-year grants will benefit more than 400 people by:

• Creating 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 procure new equipment. 
• Increasing awareness and retention across the Auburn-Opelika region by promoting no-cost training and hiring opportunities, led by the Industrial Development Board of the City of Auburn. 
• Building an expanded worker pipeline across the region through efforts by the Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce to prepare for an expected increase in available manufacturing jobs.

Additional investment for these and other recipients will occur through the life of the Lifting Futures program.

“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. Rep. Mike Rogers. “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.”

“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 provide subscriptions of Let’s Go Aerospace magazine to all public middle school libraries in Lee and Montgomery counties. The magazine is designed to educate and inspire students about opportunities in the aerospace industry. 

In addition to Lifting Futures, GE Aerospace and its Foundation have supported more than 20 workforce programs that have helped nearly 10,000 individuals since becoming a standalone company in 2024, including a $100,000 donation to Calhoun Community College in Huntsville in 2024.