Lenexa, Kan.–U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids toured SOR Controls in Lenexa on Tuesday. SOR Controls is a Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS) client. KMS helps small and mid-sized manufacturers across the state of Kansas stay competitive and develop leaders. Davids met with workers to promote her Defend American Manufacturing Act, which would be a long-term plan to support federal funding.

The Trump administration recently cut MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) funding, laying off half of KMS staff. The funding will last until the end of the year, raising questions about jobs at KMS and many manufacturing sites. Davids hopes the Defend American Manufacturing Act will continue job growth and meet economic needs of manufacturing for years to come.

Davids notes that this federal program pays for itself as it has untold benefits for a growing market share and the wealth of expertise that Kansas Manufacturing Solutions offers.

The announcement that funding will end at year’s end will affect not only manufacturing but also communities. 

“The uncertainty of the administration’s tariff policy approach has been at times irresponsible and reckless. This level of uncertainty and chaos it’s not good for business, it’s not good for communities,” Davids said. 

CEO Tiffany Stovall of Kansas Manufacturing Solutions wants people to know that 98% of U.S. manufacturers are small to medium-sized businesses, and that funding cuts will hinder their sustainability and growth.

“We have all been talking about tariffs. While that is intended to bring back manufacturing to the United States, this 98% of small manufactures, they all don’t know how to navigate this changing tariff climate. They need support from the MEP Program more than ever,” Stovall said.