Kansas City Region

The Kansas City region was selected to pilot the Dream It. Do It. campaign, launching in February 2005. Through its local partner, the Alliance for Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM-KC), the Dream It. Do It. campaign is working closely with community leaders who understand the importance of manufacturing and the role it will have in the future of the Kansas City region and our nation.

The Kansas City Dream It. Do It. pilot fostered a model for a pro-manufacturing coalition at the grass roots—an alliance dedicated to promoting the benefits of today’s manufacturing to the region and committed to creating an educated and skilled workforce to meet the human capital needs of the region. Our local alliance partners include representatives from manufacturing, education, business, government and the civic community. They are uniting to support one of the country's most essential industries, boost their local economy, and more importantly, help students find great, high-paying careers of which they can be proud.

Because of the partnerships forged during the campaign, Kansas City leaders have praised Dream It. Do It. for helping the area acquire a $15 million federal workforce development grant. The Dream It. Do It. campaign pilot contributed to the Kansas City Metropolitan Community College—Business and Technology Campus experiencing a 35 percent increase in enrollment in manufacturing related courses. Pre- and post-campaign studies of attitudes demonstrated a significant positive change in attitudes about manufacturing careers.

Dream It. Do It. has now moved beyond the pilot stage to ten regional or state campaigns as of Fall 2007, and is continuing to grow into a national campaign. For more information about the national Dream It. Do It. campaign, please contact Peg Walton at pwalton@nam.org or call 202-637-3108.

For more information about the Dream It. Do It. campaign in the Kansas City region, please contact Paul Scianna at info@aimKC.org or call 816.595.2300.