Boeing invests $2.3 million in STEM education

A new partnership between Boeing and the Kelly Heritage Foundation – an educational nonprofit organization affiliated with Port San Antonio – will expand science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning and workforce development across South Texas. The seven-year partnership and $2.3 million investment 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 (SAMSAT), headquartered at the Port's tech campus.

"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," said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a ceremony held at SAMSAT announcing the partnership.

For more than two decades, Boeing's aircraft maintenance and modernization operation has been growing at the Port, furthering its support of an array of military and commercial aircraft.

"This partnership and investment in San Antonio reflect Boeing's commitment to this community and to supporting U.S. and allied military services," said Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Global Services. "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."

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, 3D printing, virtual reality, cybersecurity, visual sensors, and more.

As part of its continued role in the community, Boeing also entered into a separate seven-year agreement to sponsor the Port's 130,000ft² multi-purpose exhibition center now known as the Boeing Center at Tech Port.

"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," said Port President and CEO Jim Perschbach. "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."

Port San Antonio is a 1,900-acre technology innovation campus home to a growing array of employers – including globally renowned industry names and a growing number of locally headquartered startups – focused in advancing new technologies in aerospace, cybersecurity, defense, space exploration, robotics, and other advanced technologies. Organizations at the Port directly employ over 16,000 people from across the region, yielding a regional economic impact of over $5.6 billion annually. In 2022, the Port became a member of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP).