The challenge

KC Tent & Awning Company, a tent and awning manufacturer in Kansas City, Mo., began receiving assistance from the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) in May 2011 to grow the capacity of the sales team, develop and implement a marketing strategy, complete a lead based process review or custom production system to develop more efficient process flow and create an employee development program.

The solution

The firm was awarded $22,500 in Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) funding which they matched to total $30,000 to implement the following strategic projects:

• Extensively train personnel on a new phone technology that integrates their phone system with their computers
• Upgraded training for new programs on their CNC router table
• Monthly leadership training for their newly appointed operations manager (first time position in their company)
• Contracting with a facilitator that provides guidance to the company's strategic planning team

Results since program entry

• The company more than doubled their revenue from $5 million to $10.7 million.
• The company increased employment from 40 to 64 employees.