South Kansas Coalition
Coalition Lead: Wichita State University
Phase 2 Award: $51.4 million
Private Investment (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $2 million
Additional Public and Nonprofit Funding (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $16.5 million
Project Description:
The South Kansas Coalition is utilizing a $51.4 million BBBRC grant to strengthen the United States’ competitive advantage and global market share in aerospace production. 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. In response, the coalition is standing up an Additive Manufacturing Adoption Program to support the adoption of new production methods by small- and mid-sized manufacturers with a goal of shifting the manufacturing landscape in the region from a fragmented network of suppliers with outdated processes to a consistent set of qualified factories that can outperform global competitors.
The coalition brings together Wichita State University, Spirit AeroSystems, GE Aviation, Cisco, and the State of Kansas.
As of September 2024, the coalition has made significant strides in achieving its vision of incorporating advanced techniques to aerospace manufacturing:
- The coalition has led multiple convenings to showcase its initiatives for smart manufacturing adoption, and hosted a regional in-person workshop for all BBBRC coalitions in September 2024.
- Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping Lab have been engaging with smart manufacturing equipment suppliers, vendors, and local industry and developing advanced manufacturing curricula to drive adoption of the technologies with small and medium sized enterprises in the region.
- The coalition hosted the first Smart Manufacturing seminar in March 2024 to showcase its lab capabilities and research centers, allowing a chance for the 74 attendees (from local businesses, community organizations, government, and educational institutions) to foster collaboration and strong partnerships.
Coalition Overarching Narrative (applicant submitted) (PDF)
“The South Kansas Coalition will boost the region’s aerospace production to strengthen the United States’ competitive advantage and meet projected industry demand in the coming years. Together with academic institutions, aerospace industry leaders, and the public sector, the coalition will develop new aerospace production methods and technology to improve manufacturing, create a workforce training facility, and provide training for existing workers.”
South Kansas Coalition
Related Links
- Learn about how the coalition is enabling local manufacturers with smart manufacturing technologies.
In the News
- Anatomy of an AM Accelerator: Brookings’ South Kansas Advanced Manufacturing Case Study
- Expanding South Kansas’ aerospace cluster into a resilient advanced manufacturing sector
- Smart Manufacturing Taking Flight in Wichita
- NIAR engages federal grants to accelerate growth of advanced materials and manufacturing