LENEXA, KS – April 15, 2025 – Congresswoman Sharice Davids visited SOR Controls Group in Lenexa to spotlight the importance of protecting manufacturing jobs and supporting local businesses. The visit, in collaboration with Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS), focused on David’s new Defend American Manufacturing Act, which aims to restore critical funding to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program – KMS’s main funding source.
Funding for MEP was recently slashed by the Trump administration, causing layoffs and threatening the services KMS provides to Kansas manufacturers. David’s bill would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to renew and allocate MEP funding annually, protecting it from future political interference and ensuring long-term stability for small and mid-sized manufacturers.
“Kansas manufacturers drive job creation, innovation, and economic strength,” said Rep. Davids. “We must invest in programs that help them compete and grow, not strip them away.”
KMS supports hundreds of manufacturers across the state with training, growth strategies, and operational improvements. In 2024 alone, KMS helped create or retain 2,300 jobs, generated $122 million in new investments, saved companies $14.3 million, and boosted sales by $328 million.
Tiffany Stovall, CEO of KMS, stressed the urgency: “We were devastated by the funding cut. If we value American manufacturing, we need to back it with real support.”
Bert Benton, Chief Operating Officer of SOR Controls, stated, “KMS has been an invaluable asset, delivering exceptional value to SOR over the years. Their offerings encompass a variety of services, including strategic growth initiatives, lean manufacturing, and visual workplace practices, as well as productivity enhancements through Kaizen. Additionally, KMS is the founder and primary sponsor of the Kansas City Manufacturing Network (KCMN), which has proven to be an excellent platform for networking and sharing best practices among local manufacturers.”
Local media, including Fox4, KSHB, KMBC, and Spectrum, covered the event and interviewed Davids, Stovall, and Benton.
SOR Controls Group is a global leader in the design and manufacture of measurement and control devices under the brands of SOR Measurement and Control, SSi Temperature Sensors, SENSOR Sampling Systems, and PYRAGON Electronic Instrumentation. SOR Controls Group actively serves all sectors of the process industry with particular strengths in the oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical and power segments. We also maintain an engineering and design team capable of providing engineered-to-order systems and products when required.
With manufacturing locations in Lenexa, Kansas, Houston, Texas, and Rochester, New York, and regional offices in Beijing, Dubai, and Chennai, SOR Controls Group supports a network of sales and service personnel capable of addressing customer requirements in any geographic market around the world.
