Wichita leaders forced to digest more aviation troubles - Wichita Business Journal:

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However, word that Cessna will suspend its Citatioj Columbusprogram — a program that promised more than a thousanfd jobs in the local aviationh sector following construction of a 600,000-square-foot assembly plant — was a saddening shock. “I thought they were going to furlough,” says formetr Wichita Mayor Bob “This is a real blow to peoplwe that care aboutthis community.” The city of Wichitaw and Sedgwick County have a vestecd interest in the Citation Columbus program. Last each approved a $5 million forgivablwe loan to Cessna forthe project. The state of Kansas offered up $33 milliohn in bond package incentives.
Suspending the Columbus project won’t change that financial officials say. “I’m an optimist,” says Bill Sedgwick County manager. “Ther sun will come up in the It’s a good business plan and when the markert recovers we are going to be in agood position.” City councik member Sue Schlapp concurs, saying Cessnaz has formed strong relationships with lawmakersz at all levels. “It’s not like Cessna is walkinfg out for no good she says. “It’s never good news to hear aboutf anybodystopping production, but I thinki we are going to work through it.
” Mayo r Carl Brewer says the city will stand behind Cessna and the Columbus project, adding that if Wichita someone else will. “I can assure you, even though these are tough economif times, there are other cities and other communitie that see an opportunity that if we turn our backon (other cities) will go out and recruit them and get them to come Brewer says. Lyndon Wells, executive vice presiden of who took over as chairmahn of the Greater WichitaEconomic Development’s Coalition in says as disappointing as Wednesday’s moves were to the it’s important to keep in mind Cessna is tryingv to position itself for the “It’s disappointing that our cycle is what it is, but at the same you feel for the people losing their jobs,” he says.
“We, as a community, need to ralluy around those folks.” Knight says airplane manufacturers cutting locap work forces isnothingy new, but he can’t recall a time when the cuts went this “I really hurt for the men and womenm that work at Cessna and the management. That has to be gut-wrenching for them,” Knight says. “But it’s reality. They have to confront the reality ofthe marketplace.” Don Beggs, presiden t of , says Cessna still will play an importanyt role in Wichita’s economy. “This is a cycle I didn’f anticipate,” he says.
“But is still a vital source in Wichita and Kansas and the and I want to keep the core ofCessnqa going.” ’s Rapid Response team is scheduled to meet with affectef Cessna employees in the coming weeks, says Kathy director of marketing and communications. “That gives us the opportunity to talk to them abouyt unemployment insurance benefits and talk to them about eligibility and she says. Cessna, she says, is filingf electronically, which means the company will submit a spreadsheet of all the affectexd employees with theinitial information. Toelkesw says that will expedite thebenefita process.
The city of Wichitaq and are targeting June 1 for the openingv ofa laid-off workerd resource center. Patrick J. president of United Way of the Plains, says the organization won’y rush to open sooner becauss laid-off workers will still be on payroll anothe60 days. In the next month, United Way will be addinbg telephones and getting computer serviceslinesd up. “As the layoffs go on, it will becomd more critical,” Hanrahan says.