City partners with Wichita Independent Business Association to expand workforce

In an effort to create more jobs, the city of Wichita is partnering with the Wichita Independent Business Association to work with small businesses in the area.

The agreement has three components:

▪ Create at least 100 new jobs.

▪ Provide about $50,000 in scholarships to 100 people for job training.

▪ Provide mentoring to local businesses that want to expand their workforce.

The Wichita City Council agreed to the $125,000 deal at its meeting Tuesday.

Traditionally, the money would have gone toward business incentives, said City Manager Robert Layton.

“We’re now using it for the private sector to help grow jobs,” Layton said.

This agreement is in “response to criticism that the city has focused on larger businesses,” said council member Janet Miller.

The plan stems from the region’s economic development plan, Blueprint for Regional Economic Growth (BREG), which is trying to diversify and grow the local economy by focusing on different industry “clusters.” The eight clusters are aerospace, oil and gas production and transportation, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, data services, advanced materials and health care.

As part of the agreement, WIBA will look specifically at providing scholarships for people in those specific clusters. People don’t have to be WIBA members to receive the scholarships.

Ray Frederick, president of Frederick Plumbing and Heating, will fill a part-time ombudsman position that’s budgeted in the agreement, WIBA President Lon Smith told the council.

As part of the agreement, WIBA will provide quarterly reports to the city on its progress.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 4:21 PM with the headline "City partners with Wichita Independent Business Association to expand workforce."