Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly today moved quickly to coordinate efforts of state agencies in response to planned layoffs at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita. 

According to prior news reports, Spirit AeroSystems plans to cut 2,800 jobs due to the grounding of the 737 Max.

The Governor directed Wichita native and Labor Secretary Delía García to coordinate the state’s available resources for affected workers and businesses. García will be on the ground in the coming days to lead the centralized, coordinated response from state agencies. The state also will be working closely with local and federal agencies as part of the response.

“I’ve been in constant communication with local, state and federal officials as the state prepares to assist Spirit, its workers and affected businesses in the supply chain,” Governor Kelly said. “I have directed an all-hands-on-deck approach across state government to help workers, Spirit and other Kansas businesses that will be negatively impacted connect with every available resource, and with an emphasis on long-term support. We stand in lockstep with the workers and companies affected. That’s what we do in Kansas.”

Secretary García currently is communicating with affected businesses, labor unions and state and local agencies that will be part of the response effort, including the Department of Labor, Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, Inc., the Department of Commerce and the Department for Children and Families.

“My goal is to bring all available resources together to assist impacted workers,” Secretary García said. “We are working on the details now and will release them as soon as they are finalized.”

ORIGINAL: A key supplier for Boeing is laying off workers as the 737 Max remains grounded.

Spirit AeroSystems said today it plans to cut about 2,800 jobs at its Wichita facility. Spirit manufactures the fuselage, engine pylons and wing parts for the 737 Max program. The company also plans workforce reductions later this month for its plants in Tulsa and McAlester, Oklahoma.

The cuts come as the planes remain grounded longer than expected following two deadly crashes.