Boeing has started a new partnership with a nonprofit organization to expand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning across South Texas, the manufacturing company announced Tuesday.

In a seven-year commitment, Boeing will work alongside the Kelly Heritage Foundation, an educational nonprofit organization that is affiliated with Port San Antonio, a dynamic technology and innovation campus. The partnership will also expand workforce development in the Lone Star State.

A large investment

Accompanying the collaboration, Boeing's efforts to expand learning is a $2.3 million investment. The company said it will strengthen the region's STEM talent and enhance programming supported by the foundation, including those developed by the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, headquartered at the Port's tech campus.

According to Boeing, The Kelly Heritage Foundation's support of programming will focus on developing skills that are key to the aerospace and space exploration industries, including robotics, artificial intelligence, 3-D printing, virtual reality, cybersecurity, visual sensors, and more.

In a ceremony held Tuesday at the museum, Texas Governor Greg Abbott spoke about the new partnership.

"Boeing is a crown jewel of American business, and I'm honored that Texas is a key part of their company. For nearly 25 years, San Antonio has been home to an aircraft maintenance and modernization hub, where work on the C-17, F-15, and F/A-18 takes place. Port San Antonio now houses 80 employers and 16,000 workers and has a $6 billion impact on the local economy. Boeing Center at Tech Port will introduce young Texans to the advanced technologies that will drive the workforce of tomorrow." - Greg Abbott, Texas Governor

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

Aerospace-focused learning

Boeing will also commit to a separate seven-year agreement with Port San Antonio to sponsor the Boeing Center at Tech Port, a 130,000-square-foot multi-purpose exhibition center at the campus. Port San Antonio's CEO, Jim Perschbach, said the new center is a welcome addition to the campus.

"From the start, our goal has been to find innovative ways to support San Antonio's development into one of the premier technology communities in the nation," Perschbach said. "The Boeing Center at Tech Port significantly furthers our momentum by adding exciting and engaging aerospace-focused learning experiences. We're thankful that a leading global name in aerospace like Boeing is further growing its deep roots in our community."

Boeing_Center at Tech Port Announcement
Photo: ASM Global

Supporting military and commercial aircraft

Boeing's aircraft maintenance and modernization operation has been growing at Port San Antonio for more than 20 years. According to Stephanie Pope, Boeing Global Services' CEO, the partnership furthers the Arlington, Virginia-based company's support of an array of military and commercial aircraft.

Boeing Airborne Laser
Photo: Boeing

"This partnership and investment in San Antonio reflect Boeing's commitment to this community and to supporting US and allied military services," Pope said. "We deliver best-in-class products and services for commercial and government customers, and we know a vibrant STEM curriculum will deepen the bench of local talent we hope to hire in the future. Our workforce continues to grow as we expand our site, and we look forward to our bright future in San Antonio."

Boeing has a large team throughout the state of Texas. The company said it has more than 5,730 employees within the state with an estimated economic impact of $1.6 billion.