Evendale-based GE Aerospace is putting nearly $500,000 toward training welders and aerospace technicians across southwest Ohio.

The investment, announced Wednesday, Sept. 30, splits among three partners: about $300,000 to Sinclair Community College, $130,000 to the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy and $30,000 to the Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati.

The grants fall under the GE Aerospace Foundation's Lifting Futures program, a $30 million dollar aiming to train 10,000 workers for the aerospace industry by 2030.

GE Aerospace Foundation President Meghan Thurlow told the Dayton Daily News, which first reported the grants, that she spoke with about 40 workforce professionals in the region over the summer. Skilled welders topped the list of needs.

"The Cincinnati-Dayton area is obviously a natural pick for one of our first sites," Thurlow said.

The company estimates the first-year grants will reach roughly 200 workers. At Sinclair, more than 150 entry-level workers would go through welding skills training and accelerated manufacturing courses at the Dayton campus and technician programs at the Mason campus. GE estimates another 50 students will be recruited and placed into Hobart's welding program in Troy.

Matt Hoyng, manufacturing solutions manager at Sinclair, said in a GE Aerospace statement that employers need skilled workers and students need hands-on pathways into those careers. He said the foundation's support can help reduce barriers and connect more people to manufacturing jobs in the region.

The grants are a first-year endeavor. Thurlow said the foundation will assess whether the initial funding met real needs before committing further.

A separate $400,000 is available through GE Aerospace's Future of Manufacturing Fund, administered by the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, for manufacturing workforce development pilot programs.

The Cincinnati-Dayton region was one of five communities the GE Aerospace Foundation selected in April for the inaugural Lifting Futures grants, according to a company press release. The others were Auburn, Alabama; Dallas; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Wrocław, Poland.

GE Aerospace also earmarked $115 million for Greater Cincinnati facilities as part of a broader $1 billion U.S. investment plan in 2026, Manufacturing Dive reported. The company planned to hire 5,000 U.S. workers in 2026 on top of 5,000 hired in 2025.

GE is also donating subscriptions to Let's Go Aerospace magazine to junior high schools in all of its Lifting Futures regions. Prospective trainees can contact Sinclair Community College or the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology directly for enrollment information.