Design build fly will be a 5100 square foot exhibit with 15 associated education programs for exploration place, the premier science center in kansas, located in wichita. The exhibit and education…

This federal contract award of $1,250,000.00 was granted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to Exploration Place, Inc., a non-profit science center located in Wichita, Kansas. The contract, which does not have a set-aside designation, is for the "Design Build Fly" project - a 5,100 square foot aviation-themed exhibit with 15 associated education programs for Exploration Place. The project aims to provide engaging, hands-on experiences that emulate aviation careers in design, engineering, manufacturing, and flight. This effort aligns with Wichita's status as the "Air Capital of the World" and the region's concentration of advanced STEM industries, while also addressing the local skilled labor shortage. The award supports Exploration Place's mission to deliver impactful STEM education, promote regional economic resilience, and assist with pandemic recovery efforts through partnerships with organizations such as Wichita State University.

Design build fly will be a 5100 square foot exhibit with 15 associated education programs for exploration place, the premier science center in kansas, located in wichita. The exhibit and education programs will place visitors in engaging, immersive, hands on experiences that emulate aviation careers encompassing design, engineering, manufacturing and flight. Wichita has been the air capital of the world since 1928; the city and region is ranked third in U.S. Advanced stem industry hotspots and south central kansas is the most specialized manufacturing environment in the U.S. But wichita faces a serious skilled labor deficit with the, silver tsunami, of a retiring workforce. This project will focus on current and future aviation stem technologies with an emphasis on stem education and workforce development for multi generational audiences to the museum as well as special programs for three youth serving organizations with audiences that are traditionally underrepresented in stem fields.