Gateway Community & Technical College will expand its welding training for high school students and adult learners after landing a national manufacturing workforce grant.

The college, which operates a campus at 790 Thomas More Parkway in Edgewood, is the only Northern Kentucky organization among six selected for the award.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati announced Sept. 3 that Gateway is a Year III grantee of the Future of Manufacturing Fund. The fund is a partnership with the GE Aerospace Foundation, which is headquartered in Erlanger.

The GE Aerospace Foundation established the fund in 2024 with a $1 million grant aimed at expanding workforce development in aviation and advanced manufacturing. Over the fund's first two grant cycles, the partnership helped expose 13,255 people to advanced manufacturing careers, according to United Way.

Year III shifts the focus toward helping more people complete training, move into jobs or apprenticeships and build long-term manufacturing careers. Meghan Thurlow, president of the GE Aerospace Foundation, said in a statement that the fund's third year will support grantees opening doors to opportunity in advanced manufacturing.

Moira Weir, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Cincinnati, said the grantees are preparing more people for careers in a growing industry and building the skilled workforce the region needs.

Gateway enrolls more than 5,000 students across three Northern Kentucky campuses in Covington, Edgewood and Florence, according to the NKY Tribune. The Boone Campus in Florence houses most of the college's industrial and advanced manufacturing programs. The welding technology program offers certificates, diplomas and an Associate in Applied Science degree. Prospective students can contact program coordinator Will Donahue at (859) 442-1139.

Chancellor Dr. Fernando Figueroa, who marked 10 years leading Gateway in August, has focused on connecting students to employers. "Career readiness is our athletics. That's our sport, and Gateway gets people hired," Figueroa told the NKY Tribune in an Aug. 27 profile.

The other Year III grantees include Cincinnati State, Miami University Hamilton, UC Clermont College, LEAD Training and the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership. Their projects include stackable manufacturing credentials, robotics training and automation programs.

The grant amount for Gateway's individual award was not disclosed. No timeline for when the expanded welding capacity will be available to students has been announced.