NASA kicked off its State Hubs for Skilled Technical Workforce initiative on September 15, 2026, at Space Center Houston, selecting seven states to develop programs that prepare students for careers in aerospace, the agency said.
The selected states are California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Texas, and Utah. Each hub will tailor its programs to its state's unique aerospace industry and workforce priorities, ensuring students gain the technical skills and hands-on experiences needed to enter the space sector.
"The NASA State Hubs initiative is a top priority for the agency, because we know the space economy is really accelerating across the country," said Elaine Ho, associate administrator for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement. "It's energizing to watch our partners come together to put real plans into action to help students advance into well paying, rewarding technical jobs."
During the kickoff meeting in Houston, NASA leadership and the selected projects discussed challenges in the STEM workforce pipeline, including limited coordination between industry, community colleges, and state economic development organizations, difficulty scaling job programs, and misconceptions about manufacturing careers.
Over the coming months, the State Hub awardees will finalize their approaches and begin delivering programs, tools, and resources that connect students across their states with the skills and experiences to join the aerospace workforce, according to the agency.