For Tacoma-based company Tool Gauge, running an aerospace part manufacturing company is a family affair. Founded in 1966, the family-owned manufacturer produces aerospace components ranging from landing gears to tray tables.

For over 50 years, family-owned Tool Gauge has been dedicated to producing high quality metal and plastic parts for the global aerospace supply chain. Headquartered in Tacoma, WA, Tool Gauge is a Boeing-certified class I and II plastic shop and an awardee of the Boeing Performance Excellence Award, which recognizes suppliers who achieve high performance standards.

In 2018, the company doubled its factory floor presence in Tacoma, adding an additional 80,000 square feet to their plastics division and a new research and development center. The expansion utilized grant funding provided from a partnership between the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County and the State of Washington Department of Commerce.

Additionally, the Washington State Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County and the nonprofit manufacturing consultant Impact Washington, announced a $125,000 Work Start Grant to be awarded to Tool Gauge in 2019.

The grant provided the company with resources to train an estimated 100 new workers and boost the skills of another 50 workers already employed at the company.

“This is a huge boost to our expansion and training efforts, and we are very excited about the potential this Work Start grant brings to Tool Gauge,” said Debbie Lee, Tool Gauge Chief Executive Officer.

In addition to fueling the ever-changing aerospace supply chain, Tool Gauge is investing in its employees and partnering with local colleges like Bates Technical College and Clover Park Technical College to develop the next generation of engineers, machinists and programmers.