Story ID: 
Aircraft Suppliers Share $771k in Job-protection Grants
By: Jerry Siebenmark
Caption: The federal Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection program has supported 52 Kansas companies with more than $111 million in grants.
Word Count: 206
Seven Wichita-area aircraft suppliers will share in $771,975 in grants from the federal Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (AMJP) program, the offices of Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced today. The funding will help the suppliers retain 39 jobs.

Created by legislation introduced by Moran and Estes, the AMJP awards program has provided grants to Kansas-based aircraft OEMs and suppliers since September 2021. Including the latest grants, the program has awarded more than $111 million to 52 Kansas companies to help retain 4,786 employees. Most of those companies are in the Wichita area, including Bombardier Learjet and Spirit AeroSystems.

The grants are intended to cover up to half of the manufacturers’ compensation costs for certain categories of employees for up to six months. The latest group of companies to receive AMJP awards includes Absolute Dimensions, Clearwater Engineering, CMJ Manufacturing, Etezazi Industries, Maxima Precision, R&R Holdings, and Raptor Manufacturing.

“The aviation manufacturing industry in Kansas plays a critical role in providing our state with high-paying jobs and supporting commercial and general aviation across the country,” said Moran. “Congressman Estes and I created the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program to support this important industry and its skilled workforce during the pandemic.”