Bel Aire Industrial Park - Industry Countdown #3 - Light Manufacturing (composites)

Today our series continues on the Bel Aire Industrial Park market analysis study performed by TranSystems. The #3 best industry for development at the Bel Aire Industrial Park in Bel Aire, Kansas is light manufacturing or composite manufacturing. Manufacturing for years has been the economic driver for this region in South Central Kansas. Light manufacturing aligns with that history as aviation manufacturing still dominates the area. Major OEM aviation manufacturers such as Boeing, Spirit, Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna and others all occupy the Wichita market and while they have experienced market difficulties in this recession, they still provide a large economic impact to the Sedgwick County region. Many are also considering the current state of the aviation market as the "bottom" of the industry's cycle and are projecting positive gains in the future.

Another reason for this ranking is Sedgwick County's strong skilled labor background. There are still many skilled laborers that are unemployed from layoffs associated with the recession. Any aviation OEM manufacturer or Tier 2 or Tier 3 manufacturer will have a large pool of skilled laborers to choose from. In addition, there are several training centers in Sedgwick County that provide unparalleled resources for workers looking to expand their skill set. These include the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT), the Mid America Manufacturing Technology Center (MAMTC) and the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).

In recent years, with the emergence of wind energy, there has been an increased need for skilled labor associated with manufacturing materials in alternative energy. Many of the manufacturing needs associated with the wind industry closely align with the skills involved in aviation manufacturing. This aligns well with the current characteristics of the Wichita workforce.

The presence of rail at the industrial park allows for shipping large manufacturing components in and out of the Bel Aire site via the Union Pacific Industry line. Highway access is also a positive for this industry as parts can be trucked in and out via I-35, K-96, K-254 or I-135.

So, what are your thoughts on the #3 industry in our countdown? Feel free to e-mail me at jrlackey@transystems.com or post a comment to this article.

Stay tuned for a real sleeper pick for our #2 industry, one that could be a game changer for the Sedgwick County region in the future!