Wichita Public Schools, in partnership with WSU Tech, will host a ribbon-cutting and logo reveal to celebrate the completion of the FutureReady Manufacturing Center on Friday, May 19 at 1:30 p.m. at 1435 N. Waco. Superintendent Dr. Alicia Thompson, WSU Tech President Sheree Utash and Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple will speak. Representatives from area businesses, as well as local, state and federal elected officials, will be in attendance.

After the ribbon cutting, guests are welcome to tour the facility as high school students demonstrate what they are learning on different pieces of manufacturing equipment.

The FutureReady Manufacturing Center allows high school students from across the Wichita Public Schools to receive training on equipment and technology that is currently being used in the manufacturing industry throughout the Wichita area. Students can earn industry certifications while in high school, which will help them go directly into the workforce when they graduate.

In April 2022, Wichita City Council approved ARPA funding for workforce hiring & training. WSU Tech was one of the 14 organizations to receive a total of $6.3 million to help rehire or retrain workers needed in fields impacted by the pandemic. Of the $6.3 million, WSU Tech received more than $1.7 million to fund purchase of new equipment, supplies and renovations at Wichita Public Schools’ FutureReady Center to turn a mostly empty building into a Center aimed to increase the number of students pursuing advanced manufacturing careers.