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FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING FUND

Supported by the GE Aerospace Foundation.
Advancing the future of manufacturing together.

ABOUT THE FUND

The GE Aerospace Foundation established the Future of Manufacturing Fund in partnership with United Way of Greater Cincinnati in 2024 to address critical gaps in the advanced manufacturing workforce.

The $1 million fund, provided by the GE Aerospace Foundation, connects individuals interested in advanced manufacturing career opportunities with workforce development programs.

Grants awarded over a three-year period help cohorts of partners increase workforce development program enrollment, completion and job obtainment. Funding and technical assistance supports partners in replicating proven practices and scaling existing solutions to improve outcomes.

Year I (2024-2025)

Five organizations were selected for their ongoing efforts to address critical gaps in the advanced manufacturing workforce and their innovative ideas for scaling these initiatives.

Year I Cohort:

Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP)’s Manufacturing Education Expansion Initiative: To facilitate earlier engagement of potential manufacturing workers in high schools, offer additional support for its Boot Camp participants and expand its existing model of career development into Clermont County.
Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC)’s Advanced Manufacturing Career Pathway Program: To expand and enhance the program through increases in enrollment, certified program graduates, and job placements.
Great Oaks Career Campuses Adult Education’s Operation CNC and Advanced Manufacturing: To encourage enrollment by increasing public awareness of CNC and advanced manufacturing, including the available careers, the type of work, potential income and room for advancement.
LEAD Training’s Manufacturing Workforce Initiative: To expand its Manufacturing Pathway Program to six schools in local communities, increasing enrollment and providing 1:1 career coaching for students interested in manufacturing. It will also engage students with STEM workshops and other programs that offer early exposure to manufacturing careers.
Learning Grove’s NaviGo College and Career Prep for Manufacturing Careers: To replicate and scale NaviGo’s programming that supports Northern Kentucky’s most vulnerable youth by helping them build occupational identities. Students will now learn about career paths within the manufacturing sector.

Year I Impact

82%

program completion rate

75%

earned industry credentials

Year II (2025-2026)

In Year II, we deepened our impact by prioritizing programs that strengthen credentialing, job placement and employer partnerships while continuing to support the full workforce development ecosystem.

Year II Cohort:

Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP): Supporting WorkAdvance, which expands manufacturing workforce development through K-12 outreach, wraparound support, employer programs, technical training, credentialing and job placement to address regional workforce shortages.
Cincinnati State: Boosting enrollment in advanced manufacturing with enhanced recruiting, hands-on demo equipment and short-term certificate programs aligned with regional hiring needs.
Dan Beard Council, Scouting America: Scaling its Skilled Trades Education Initiative, offering youth hands-on training in welding, electrical, HVAC, robotics and connecting them to apprenticeships and manufacturing careers.
Gateway Community & Technical College: Aligning curriculum with advanced manufacturing demands through a new coordinator role, employer partnerships, and hybrid programs like robotic welding to improve job placement.
LEAD Training: Expanding its Manufacturing Career Coach program to guide students into STEM, pre-apprenticeships and manufacturing careers, serving 300+ youth and placing at least 75 in jobs.
Learning Grove: Addressing the “exposure gap” through their NaviGo programming by connecting underrepresented students to advanced manufacturing careers through camps, mentoring, work-based learning and job shadowing.

Year III (2026-2027)

Applications for Year III grants will open on June 1, 2026.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Year III builds upon the work from Years I and II, which focused on expanding awareness, strengthening credentialing and deepening employer partnerships. In Year III, grantees will prioritize program completion and measurable employment outcomes. The emphasis will be on connecting participants to advanced manufacturing careers and strengthening data-driven results.

GRANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Timeline

May 20: RFP released

June 1: Application opens in e-CImpact

June 1: Informational webinar, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – register now

June 11: Office hours #1, 1-2 p.m. — join now

June 17: Office hours #2, 9:30-10:30 a.m. — join now

June 22: Application closes in e-CImpact at 5 p.m.

July 27: Applicants notified of funding

Aug. 1: Funding period begins

Additional Resources

FAQs:To be made available after the June 1 informational webinar.

LOOKING FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES?

If you’re a nonprofit seeking funding, visit uwgc.org/grants for a full listing of available applications.