Auburn-Montgomery, AL
The Opportunity
The I-85 corridor from Auburn-Opelika to Montgomery is one of Alabama’s strongest manufacturing regions, anchored by aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing. Lifting Futures is building pathways for new and existing workers to enter manufacturing careers.
Impact at a Glance
$1M
commitment to the community
3
local community partners
400+
workers trained in inaugural year
What We Heard
Lifting Futures met with educational institutions, training providers, and industry leaders across the Auburn-Montgomery region to identify opportunities for collaboration. Four themes emerged that helped define the focus:
- Low career awareness, especially for Advanced Manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) careers.
- Workplace readiness gaps, as employers need workers with stronger, more durable workplace skills.
- Completion barriers, including transportation, childcare, and financial pressures that keep students from finishing training.
- Limited coordination between education and industry.
How We’re
Responding
Guided by what we heard, Lifting Futures is working with community partners to expand training capacity, improve program completion, and strengthen career pathways into aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
Community Partners
Southern Union State Community College
Bootcamp training and career counseling to prepare students for entry-level jobs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
New equipment and emergency financial assistance to reduce barriers.
Industrial Development Board (IDB) of the City of Auburn, AL
Awareness of no-cost training and industry coordination to strengthen retention in aerospace and advanced manufacturing careers across the Auburn-Opelika region.
Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce
Career awareness to expand Montgomery’s manufacturing pipeline for an expected increase of available manufacturing jobs.
Community News
What's happening in
Auburn-Montgomery
Resources
Lifting Futures: Auburn-Montgomery Overview