Wichita State to get $51 million to boost economic development in aerospace manufacturing
Wichita State University will receive a $51.4 million grant for a program to help increase aircraft manufacturing over the next 20 years, the White House announced Friday.
The grant money comes from a program written into the American Rescue Plan, a stimulus package intended to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, signed by President Joe Biden in March 2021. It included a competition — called the Build Back Better Regional Challenge — where programs could compete for grants from a $1 billion fund.
Wichita State University — through the South Kansas Coalition — was one of the program’s 21 winners. The money will be used to adopt smart manufacturing methods in the region to help build aerospace technology more efficiently and will help small and mid-sized manufacturers adopt new technology.
Smart manufacturing uses computers and robotics to make the process more efficient. While the focus of the proposal is on aerospace production, the manufacturing technology is not just limited to aerospace.
“As we invest and grow critical industries in the U.S., we want to create industry hubs in diverse communities across the country,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “These grants will provide critical and historic funding directly to community coalitions to invest in new infrastructure, research and development, and workforce development programs while creating good-paying jobs, supporting workers, and prioritizing equity.”
The program received a $500,000 grant in 2021 from the same source. In the proposal, the South Kansas Coalition said it wanted to transform the region’s manufacturing landscape from loosely organized suppliers to a system that would rival global manufacturers.
“Wichita State is proud to be a part of the team responsible for building an effective plan to strengthen regional competitiveness through a focus on smart manufacturing,” said Wichita State President Rick Muma.
An original version of the proposal also asked for money to expand semi-conductor evaluation and testing, as lawmakers attempt to spur domestic production of semi-conductors, but the request was removed from the final proposal.
“Over the next two decades, industry forecasts indicate a need to build twice as many aircraft as have been built in the last half century, creating a profound economic moment for the Wichita region,” the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s project description says.
Kansas politicians celebrated the announcement. Both Kansas Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran said they worked to help get the funding for the program.
“I was pleased to express support for this project to both the Department of Commerce and EDA, and look forward to the growth that will occur within the aerospace community both within the state and across the country thanks to this investment,” Moran said.
Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, said the funding will help Kansas maintain its status in the aerospace industry.
“I am confident that by further developing the aerospace workforce, adopting cutting-edge technologies, and supporting small manufacturers, WSU and the South Kansas Coalition will ensure we remain the aviation capital of the world for years to come.”
The announcement comes around two months before the mid-term election, where voters will decide whether to keep Democrats in control of Congress. While Republicans are expected to win control of the U.S. House, the Democrats recently passed several items on their legislative agenda.
The publicity push around some of the funding from legislation early in Biden’s term comes as Democrats are trying to provide tangible examples of how their legislation affects Americans.
Clarification: An earlier version of this article contained information from the original proposal submitted by Wichita State University, based on information obtained from the White House. The article has been updated to reflect the elements in the final proposal.
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 4:33 AM.
