South Central Kansas seeks to foster innovation and talent development around research and new technologies for composites and engineered materials. A three-part strategy seeks to strengthen career pathways and provide a pipeline of credentialed, skilled workers that are being sought for high-paying careers. 1) Coordinate and leverage education and workforce development resources and encourage life-long learning practices; 2) catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship through research and development in composite sciences, and extend the technologies to other economic sectors and; 3) create a Composite Center of Excellence.