Colorado: Governor Polis and Lt. Governor Primavera Celebrate NASA Selection of Arapahoe Community College as Aerospace Workforce Hub

CASTLE ROCK — Today, Governor Jared Polis and Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera congratulated Arapahoe Community College (ACC) and its Colorado Space Institute (CSI) on being designated as one of seven NASA State Hubs for Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce Development nationwide. The designation will bring $1.3 million in federal funding to Colorado over three years and enable ACC's Colorado Space Institute to lead a statewide effort to connect more Coloradans with training and career pathways in Colorado's growing aerospace ecosystem. The State of Colorado helped convene partners across the state in pursuit of this designation.

"Colorado is a national leader in aerospace, and this exciting designation will help more Coloradans build the skills needed to launch rewarding careers in this growing industry. Lieutenant Governor Primavera and I were proud to support ACC's application, and we congratulate ACC, the Colorado Community College System, the Colorado Space Institute, and every employer, educator, and community partner who helped bring this opportunity to Colorado. Together, we are expanding affordable training, strengthening our economy, and helping ensure Colorado remains at the forefront of American leadership in aerospace," said Governor Jared Polis.

In addition to supporting ACC's NASA application, Colorado has worked to make aerospace careers easier to explore through statewide career-pathway resources and partnerships connecting employers with high schools, colleges, and universities. As a result, Colorado is home to more than 2,000 aerospace businesses supporting more than 55,000 direct jobs and 184,000 indirect jobs. The state's aerospace sector spans satellite manufacturing, propulsion systems, advanced manufacturing, geospatial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space operations across the civil, commercial, and national security sectors.

"Colorado's aerospace industry offers incredible opportunities for Coloradans to build successful careers, including many careers that do not require a bachelor's degree. This designation will help students pursue apprenticeships, industry credentials, and good-paying aerospace careers faster than before. I am thrilled to see the Colorado Space Institute recognized for its innovative work and excited for more students from across our state to benefit from the pathways this designation will create. It helps demonstrate that there is space for every Coloradan in space," said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera.

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The three-year NASA initiative will build on Colorado's broader work to grow the state's aerospace workforce through skills-based hiring, apprenticeships, internships, career and technical education, and affordable training aligned with employer needs. The hub will focus on high-demand aerospace careers that require advanced technical skills but generally do not require a four-year college degree.

"Over the last five years, Colorado has seen the number of aerospace companies in our state grow by 24%. These companies choose our state because they know Colorado is home to some of the top aerospace talent in the nation. As a NASA State Hub, Arapahoe Community College and its Colorado Space Institute will help fuel future growth in this critical industry in collaboration with business, industry, and education partners. We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible recognition by NASA and opportunity," said Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).

As Colorado's NASA State hub, CSI will serve as a neutral statewide convener and coordination center for aerospace workforce development. The Institute will work with community colleges, high school career and technical education initiatives, economic development organizations, workforce partners, and aerospace employers to create clear, stackable, industry-validated pathways into aerospace technician careers.

"We are very grateful for this generous grant from NASA Hubs," said ACC President Stephanie J. Fujii, Ph.D. "This award positions the Colorado Space Institute at ACC to move forward in developing our nation's skilled aerospace technical workforce while strengthening the alignment between education and industry in Colorado."

CSI has established itself as a leader in space education by developing competency-based instruction focused on the technical and professional skills aerospace employers need. The institute will launch a first-of-its-kind Associate of Applied Science in Space Science Technology at ACC in Fall 2027, and is building stackable pathways that can lead to industry certifications, associate degrees, and bachelor's degrees. Course instruction will include computer aided design, Python programming, technical writing, business and data ethics, and specialized soldering certifications for aerospace applications.

CSI's proposed project, A Work-Tank for Colorado's Aerospace Industry, will create a new model through which students and aerospace employers collaborate on real-world projects and industry challenges. Aerospace employers will help identify the occupations, skills, and competencies most needed in Colorado, allowing educators and workforce partners to build training around actual industry demand, thereby connecting high school coursework with community college credentials, industry certifications, and employment opportunities.

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"Being selected as a NASA State Hub allows CSI to bring together education, industry, and workforce partners across Colorado to create clear pathways into high-demand aerospace technician careers," said CSI Director Grace Crain-Wright. "By aligning training with employer needs, we can prepare more students for careers that support both Colorado's aerospace economy and NASA's mission."

"Colorado's space industry needs skilled talent at every level, and that starts with giving students clear ways to turn their interests into careers," said Robert Gagnon, Director of Future Programs, Research and Evaluation at Space Foundation. "This designation will help bring education and industry closer together so students are learning the skills employers are actually looking for. We're proud to support this work and the opportunities it will create for Colorado's future space workforce."

Colorado's aerospace leadership is supported by businesses, educators, workforce organizations, economic development leaders, military installations, and research institutions working together across the state. Through continued collaboration with these partners, Colorado is preparing more Coloradans for good-paying careers, helping aerospace employers meet workforce needs, and strengthening the state's position as a national leader in civil, commercial, and national security space.

"As industry's specific workforce needs evolve, programs built around employer partnerships can identify shifts in demand early, adapt quickly, and accelerate job readiness. CSI has been showing up consistently and diligently for industry conversations on industry's turf. This highly selective NASA designation will serve as a beacon to bring industry to CSI, building two-way engagement and practical collaboration. Colorado Space Business Roundtable welcomes NASA's expanded investment in our beautiful state and congratulates CSI on this important victory," said Lee Steinke, Chair of Colorado Space Business Roundtable and Chief Operating Officer of CisLunar Industries.

"This is an amazing win for CSI and ACC, but even more so for thousands of Coloradans who felt that working in aerospace is not a realistic dream. This program will make that dream a reality by offering courses and areas of study that are in strong demand by the aerospace sector without the cost of a 4 year degree. It will provide a pathway to fulfilling jobs in the most exciting industry out there and it will support dozens of companies who can't find the skills their business requires. This is a watershed opportunity for all," said Bob Cone, Strategic Advisor with Advanced Space and President of Aerospace Colorado.

The NASA State Hub designation allows CSI to scale and expand learning and training opportunities to more individuals across the state. The program is currently offering non-credit courses and anticipates launching additional for-credit programming at ACC starting Spring 2027. For more information, you can visit CSI's website.

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