TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday applauded Brek Manufacturing Company’s plan to expand its operation into the state of Kansas.
The Southern California-based aerospace company announced that it intends to purchase two buildings in Wichita, investing $4.5 million and creating 75 new jobs over the next five years.
“Wichita’s reputation as the Air Capital of the World - paired with our state’s talented workforce and strong economy - makes Brek’s expansion into Kansas a no-brainer,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We’ll continue investing in our manufacturing and aerospace industries to support our existing companies and recruit new businesses and jobs to Kansas.”
Brek specializes in the manufacture of complex structural aircraft parts, including contoured surface parts common in the mold line of modern-day aircrafts. According to the company, Wichita’s aerospace and aviation ecosystem and workforce drove their decision to expand into Kansas.
“Our state is proud to be the home of the Air Capital of the World,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Brek is the latest example of Wichita’s well-deserved aerospace reputation resulting in new business investment and new jobs for Kansas. Congratulations to Brek, and thank you for choosing to expand in the nation’s best state for business.”
Brek products currently are in service throughout commercial, strategic and tactical military aircrafts.
“As we began exploring options for expansion, I recommended including Wichita because I have personally experienced the benefit of operating in one of the top aerospace clusters,” Marwan Hammouri, President and CEO Brek Manufacturing, said. “As we move through all the pieces of a complicated process, we are excited about the possibilities that opening a Wichita expansion brings to our customers and to the community and state.”
“Brek Manufacturing wanting to expand in Wichita over growing their current location in California is significant for our region,” said Tammy Porazka, Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Wichita Partnership. “The CEO knows from previously being located in the Air Capital of the high value and numerous benefits of our aerospace ecosystem and our world-class workforce. We are so excited about the possibilities this news brings and thank all the partners who helped make this possible, including the Kansas Department of Commerce, City of Wichita, Sedgwick County, Evergy and Workforce Alliance of South-Central Kansas.”
Brek’s expansion plans are in process following a vote on Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) at next week’s Wichita City Council meeting.