Davids Celebrates Opening of KCKCC Downtown Center, Highlighting Her Secured Investment for Workforce Training

KANSAS CITY, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) leadership, local officials, and community partners for the official dedication of the new downtown Community Education, Health and Wellness Center. During the ceremony, Davids highlighted nearly $2 million in federal funding she secured to outfit KCKCC’s Automated Engineering Technology Program with state-of-the-art training equipment.

"If we want a future that is 'Made in Kansas,' we have to give our students the tools to actually build it right here at home," said Davids. "This new Downtown Center is a direct pipeline to good-paying jobs. I was proud to work across the aisle to deliver federal investments so KCKCC students can train on the exact, state-of-the-art automation systems used in high-tech manufacturing and defense today. This is about bypassing D.C. politics, setting our workers up to succeed, and keeping our local economy moving forward."

The $1.9 million secured by Davids equips KCKCC’s Automation Engineering Technology program with real-world machinery, preparing students directly for high-demand, high-wage roles in advanced manufacturing and logistics. By training on the exact, state-of-the-art automation systems used across modern industrial and defense sectors, students will gain the hands-on experience needed to transition seamlessly from the classroom straight into high-paying local careers.

Located in eastern Wyandotte County, the Downtown Center serves high school students from KCK Public Schools completing dual-enrollment degrees, adult learners obtaining GEDs or ESL certifications, and individuals entering specialized technical fields. The new facility, a public-private partnership between KCKCC, Swope Health, and Community America Credit Union, offers holistic education, healthcare, and career training services.

Overall U.S. manufacturing performance in 2026 has slowed compared to the rapid growth seen coming out of the pandemic in 2021 and 2022. Economic experts point to a growing technical skills gap as a primary roadblock holding back further domestic expansion. To bring critical supply chains back home, local companies urgently need workers trained on modern, automated systems. Investments like Davids’ directly bridge this gap, equipping Kansas workers with the hands-on skills required to drive the next wave of American manufacturing.