WICHITA, Kan. – The Workforce Alliance of South Central (WA) Kansas has been awarded a nearly $6-million four year America’s Promise grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The America’s Promise grant, or Kansas Advanced Manufacturing Program (KAMP), will support tuition free skills training, develop work-based learning opportunities and on-the-job training to prepare participants for careers in the aviation and advanced manufacturing industries. KAMP is designed to move low-wage and underemployed workers to high-paying manufacturing careers.
“The Workforce Alliance is pleased to be awarded the America’s Promise grant,” said Keith Lawing, president and CEO Workforce Alliance of South Central KS. “The need for skilled manufacturing workers exists among employers across the region and this project can help close a skills gap for many job seekers.”
The WA will partner with Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita Area Technical College (WATC), Wichita State University, Hutchinson Community College, The Greater Wichita Partnership, Textron Aviation, XLT Ovens, JR Custom Metals, Flint Hill Industries, the Lowen Corporation, the Bradbury Group, the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas WorkforceOne to administer the grant throughout Butler, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Marion, McPherson, Reno, Sedgwick and Sumner Counties.
“Wichita Area Technical College is proud to be a collaborative educational partner in the America’s Promise grant,” said Sheree Utash, president Wichita Area Technical College. “We look forward to working with the advanced manufacturing industry, Workforce Alliance and others to provide tuition assistance and training for students with an earn and learn component that will connect well-paying manufacturing jobs to employers.”
“The economic vitality of Spirit depends on our ability to hire skilled workers,” said Justin Welner, Spirit AeroSystems vice president, human resources and EH&S. “A major challenge the aircraft industry faces is a significant shortage of workers with technical skills. Manufacturing plays a key role in helping to drive the region’s business success, for continued economic growth of our communities.”
The local 10 county region is one of 23 regional partnerships across the United States to receive funding through the America’s Promise grant which totals more than $111 million and will connect more than 21,000 Americans to education and in-demand jobs.
More information on the grant can be found at https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20161117.
WA staff will be working with officials from the USDOL over the next few weeks on the details to implement KAMP. It is anticipated the project will be operating in early 2017.