Closed Boeing Plant Gets New Life

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Senator David Perdue speaks to crowd at the former Boeing plant in Macon while Governor Brian Kemp and others look on

A shuttered Boeing facility in Macon is getting new life thanks to a unique partnership between local, state and federal government.

In 2016, Macon’s Boeing plant closed after being opened 35 years. Since then, the city has been looking for a new tenant.

Starting in July, the new Aviation Workforce Training and Sustainment Center will house students from Central Georgia Technical College studying aircraft maintenance. They’ll work and learn alongside employees from Robins Air Force Base who fix aircraft as part of the Commodities Maintenance Group. They'll be moving to the facility from their current home at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins. Brigadier General and Base Commander John Kubinec said although there are partnerships at different installations this one is unique.

“We’re going to have a joint venture with Central Georgia Technical College where they will have students here and then we will have workforce from Robins Air Force Base that are co-located with them," he said. "So these are students that are learning the skills that someday will be applied hopefully for us at a job at Robins Air Force Base." 

Kubinec said it will also help free up aircraft hangar space at the main base in Warner Robins to help the base grow.