U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) has secured over $5 million in funding for Tuskegee University's Aviation and Aero Technology Program in the latest round of appropriations.
Britt, who sits on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, locked in the $5.3 million in funding for the program for the 2025 fiscal year as part of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
The funding will go to the newly formed flight school degree program, which aims to address a nationwide industry shortage of pilots. Britt also secured the funding in 2024 to start the program.
"From the Tuskegee Airmen to Tuskegee University's new, 21st-century flight school degree program, Tuskegee has cemented itself as the past, present, and future of aviation excellence and innovation," Britt said. "Tuskegee's degree program will empower generations of students to reach new heights while showing the world the cutting-edge ingenuity and exemplary capability of our state. To ensure this program can reach even more students, I was proud to secure an additional federal investment of $5.29 million in the Senate Appropriations Committee's Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations legislation. I'll continue to work to get this important funding over the finish line."
Tuskegee University president Dr. Mark A. Brown applauded the funding and thanked Britt for her efforts in continuing to fund the program's success.
"Tuskegee University is grateful for Sen. Britt's ongoing support for our aviation program," Brown said. "As North America faces a pilot shortage of about 130,000 in the next 20 years, our new degree program will prepare aviators to serve their country through the U.S. Air Force or the commercial aviation industry, which is in need of rebuilding pilot programs to meet the demand. With our recent SACSCOC accreditation approval of the Aviation Science degree with flight training and Sen. Britt's help, we will once again – as the Tuskegee Airmen did for World War II – help the nation solve its challenge. Tuskegee University remains the only HBCU that provides all military services on campus, preparing a standard of excellence that serves this nation, domestically and abroad."
In total, Britt secured the following funding in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:
$5.29 million for Tuskegee University's recently established Aviation and Aero Technology Program to develop and train the next-generation aviation workforce, including pilots.
$5.746 million for the Alabama Community College System to support career training and workforce development efforts at Northwest-Shoals Community College, Drake State Community and Technical College, Northeast Alabama Community College, Bevill State Community College, Enterprise Committee College, and Reid State Technical College.
$114,000 for the Crenshaw County School District for STEM education lab equipment.
$350,000 for the Ozark City Schools Career Center for a mobile welding lab, including traditional and virtual welding booths and equipment for use by students.
$1.25 million for the Mobile Area Education Foundation for a youth workforce training program.
$1.32 million for the Forest Workforce Training Institute to scale up an existing career education and training program necessary to grow and develop the Forestry workforce.
$345,000 for i3 Academy for classroom technology and equipment for student learning.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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