Aerospace and defense workforce accelerator opens in Mesa

State and education officials opened the Aerospace & Defense Future48 Workforce Accelerator on October 6, 2026, in Mesa. The project is a collaboration between the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Maricopa Community Colleges system, and Chandler-Gilbert Community College, alongside aerospace industry partners.

Funded by a $6.4 million investment from the Arizona Commerce Authority, the 14,058-square-foot facility underwent renovations to house specialized manufacturing labs, traditional classrooms, and practical training spaces. The site is designed to provide hands-on instruction to roughly 1,000 students per year, focusing on workforce preparation for aerospace and defense manufacturing employers across the state.

The Mesa site represents the first dedicated aerospace and defense training center under the state's Future48 accelerator initiative, which develops targeted technical education programs to align local labor capabilities with the requirements of advanced manufacturing employers.