KS Aviation Manufactures Awarded $19 Million For Workforce Dev.
Funding from the Aviation Learning Opportunities and Funded Training (ALOFT) grant program will go toward Kansas aviation and aerospace manufacturers in an effort to ease the pressure of low workforce numbers.
The Kansas Department of Commerce announced Friday that seven aviation companies in Kansas, including Olathe-based Orizon Aerostructures LLC, will share a pool of approximately $19 million in total.
ALOFT awardees include:
- Orizon Aerostructures, LLC, Olathe, $3,325,000
- Salina Airport Authority, Salina, $3,325,000
- Learjet, Inc., Wichita, $3,325,000
- Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Wichita, $3,325,000
- Textron Aviation Inc., Wichita, $3,325,000
- Wichita Airport Authority, Wichita, $2,211,503
- Metal Finishing Company, Wichita, $243,200
Award recipients will use funds toward:
- Construction, engineering and architecture, planning, inspections, and environmental assessments for on-site training facilities and expansions.
- Third-party training costs and vendor training on machinery and equipment
- Machinery, supplies, technologies, and equipment that is solely used for training purposes
- Supervisor and management salaries directly related to training costs
- Youth training services and costs related to early interest development in aviation and aerospace industries
- Course development costs and services for the development of in-house training
- Marketing, communication, and activities to attract talent to the aviation and aerospace industries
- Participation costs for the Kansas Registered Apprenticeship and Workforce AID programs
A total of 12 entities applied for ALOFT grants, combined requests totaled $33 million, according to the department.
Posted June 19, 2023.
