General Motors announced the launch of the “Stars, Stripes and Skilled Trades” initiative and requested proposals from nonprofits across the U.S. to support transitioning service members, veterans and their families to pursue automotive careers in manufacturing and the skilled trades.
GM plans to support up to 12 nonprofit workforce programs across the U.S., with priority for organizations that demonstrate job-placement pathways, industry-recognized credentials, strong employer partnerships and relevance to GM facility communities. Successful respondents to the Request for Proposal (RFP) will receive grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.
“Too many transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses still face uncertain employment prospects,” GM Vice President of Infrastructure and Corporate Citizenship David Massaron said. “At the same time, our industry faces a critical shortage of skilled trades and manufacturing talent.”
GM also offers Shifting Gears, an automotive technician training program that has provided training and job placement opportunities to more than 1,000 servicemembers leaving active duty. The automaker currently employs upwards of 5,000 veterans across a wide variety of roles.
Additionally, in 2026, GM committed $50 million in funding aligned to STEAM education and reportedly tripled its workforce development grantmaking to $15 million.
The Stars, Stripes and Skilled Trades RFP is open from August 21 through September 30, with winning proposals to be announced later this fall. Applicants can apply at gm.com/veterans-skilled-trades.
