Rep. Davids visits Lenexa manufacturer amid federal funding cuts

A consulting firm for manufacturers that’s powered by federal money is sharing how federal cuts have impacted their business.

Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids highlighted a bill she said will support local manufacturers. The Congresswoman toured SOR in Lenexa, Kansas Tuesday morning.

The Lenexa manufacturer is supported by Kansas Manufacturing Solutions. KMS recently laid off more than half its staff due to federal funding cuts.

“We were devastated,” president and CEO of Kansas Manufacturing Solutions Tiffany Stovall said.

Two weeks ago, the non-profit corporation found out the Trump Administration cut funding to the “Manufacturing Extension Partnership” program, their primary source of funding.

“If manufacturing is as important to the U.S. as we say it is, then we need to put our money where our mouth is,” Stovall said. “In terms of how we support manufacturing, remembers that 98% of manufacturers in the U.S. are small to medium sized.”

KMS laid off seven people, which is more than half of its staff. They provide workforce training and business support to small and mid-sized manufacturers, like SOR.

“I’d like to see KMS get their funding back,” Burt Benton said.

He led Davids on a tour through the factory.

Benton said over the last 17 years, they’ve partnered with KMS on several initiatives, like strategic growth and lean manufacturing.

“The benefits that we’ve seen from MEPs, KMS in particular, pay for themselves, several times over,” Benton said, “So it’s disappointing to see the funding go away.”

Last year, KMS helped create or retain more than 2,300 jobs, generated $328 million in sales and worked with more than 550 manufacturers statewide.

“This is a federal program that literally helps small and mid-sized manufacturers stay competitive, help improve their processes, help with leadership development,” Davids said. “I would like to prevent the ability of not just this administration or any administration from being able to cut off the funding for such an important program.”

Davids said she’s introduced a new piece of legislation, the “Defend American Manufacturing Act.”

It would require the national institute of standards and technology to renew and award MEP funding annually.

She said it’s designed to help create good paying Kansas jobs and protect local manufacturers.

“This is one of those federal programs that not only pays for itself, but it has untold benefits,” Davids said. “When it comes to keeping people employed, when it comes to growing market share. When it comes to especially competing for massive economic development projects, like the Panasonic coming in, in De Soto.”

Stovall said she was notified via email Tuesday afternoon with the new terms of the award.

KMS said it will now receive federal funding through September. However, the future of that money after September is unclear.

Stovall said they’re exploring options on how to build a sustainable business without MEP funds so that they can continue to serve small to mid-sized manufacturers in Kansas to the best of their ability.