GM funds Manufacturing Futures to link middle-schoolers to advanced manufacturing in Michigan

General Motors is funding a new K–12 initiative in Michigan with a $500,000 grant to the AFT Educational Foundation to create Manufacturing Futures. The program is intended to reach about 2,800 middle-school students each year and will focus on connecting them to advanced-manufacturing education and career pathways.

GM said the grant is part of its broader $50 million STEAM-education commitment in Michigan through 2030. The funding will be allocated between Detroit Public Schools Community District and Dearborn Public Schools to support advanced-manufacturing labs, classroom technology and hands-on learning across eight middle schools.

The announcement underscores GM’s continued investment in Michigan manufacturing: the company noted it has invested $4 billion in its Michigan manufacturing footprint since 2025 and directly employs about 50,000 people in the state. For Michigan automotive enthusiasts and local workforce observers, the program represents an effort to build a pipeline of skilled students into the region’s advanced-manufacturing sector.

Next steps reported by GM are implementation of the labs and classroom upgrades in the eight identified middle schools and the annual student outreach to begin under the Manufacturing Futures program.