By Kansas Commerce
As the push to reshore U.S. manufacturing continues to increase, Kansas is perfectly positioned to help companies of all sizes succeed.
Kansas’ central location in the middle of the country is just one of many factors driving corporate decisions to locate here. An outstanding multimodal transportation network and ready workforce partnerships are launching the state to unprecedented economic heights.
Rising Tide
The pipeline of success stories in Kansas is ever-growing — and opportunities abound not just for businesses, but for individuals and communities as well.
The state’s holistic approach to economic development has allowed Kansas to achieve numbers that once were unrealistic for this heartland state. The string of record-breaking achievements for private sector capital investment since 2019 includes being ranked No. 1 in successful projects for the West North Central region — where Kansas had 121 committed capital investment projects in 2024 alone.
“Kansas is experiencing robust economic growth — and we are using that to our advantage,” Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Our once overlooked and underestimated economic development achievements have been replaced with prestigious national accolades. The result has been an unprecedented number of new projects landing in our state.”
Kansas is achieving the unexpected with record-shattering success — and a handful of outstanding awards and achievements — during the past six years. Two Silver Shovel awards in 2019 and 2020 were followed by four consecutive Gold Shovels from Area Development Magazine for the state’s ability to attract high-value investment projects that are creating significant numbers of new jobs. Site Selection magazine recognized Kansas with its coveted Governor’s Cup two of those years for having the most capital investment per capita in the nation. And the state economy garnered more than $21.5 billion private sector investment that has created or retained approximately 72,000 jobs in the same timeframe.
Last year, Kansas was highlighted by Business Facilities magazine for winning the 2024 Deal of the Year Impact Award in the Business Supply Manufacturing category. The award recognized the commissioning of a new $300-million shingle plant in Newton by GAF, a Standards Industries company and North America’s largest manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing products. Kansas earned the same award in the Innovation Megaproject category two years earlier for landing a $4 billion investment from Panasonic Energy. The Japanese company’s decision to build the nation’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility in De Soto is nearing fruition, with battery production expected to begin later this year.
In addition, Kansas landed a robust set of new manufacturing investments across every region of the state. Among many others, these wins include:
- Elanco is investing $130 million to expand and renovate its manufacturing facility in Elwood, creating 70 jobs.
- Flora Food Group, a global food company, is investing $90 million for a new manufacturing facility in Hugoton, creating 100 jobs.
- H&T Recharge, a supplier for Panasonic’s electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto, is investing $110 million to build cylindrical battery cans near the De Soto facility, creating 180 jobs.
- Honeywell is investing $84 million to expand its aerospace manufacturing facility in Olathe, creating 156 jobs.
- Marvin, a premium manufacturer of windows and doors, is investing $76.5 million to build a 400,000-square-foot facility in Kansas City, creating 600 jobs.
Strategy Leads the Way
The Kansas Framework for Growth, Kansas’ economic development strategic plan, has guided the intentional development of the state’s economy. The plan focuses on the key industries impacting economic growth in the state:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Aerospace and Defense
- Distribution, Logistics and Transportation
- Food and Agriculture
- Animal Health and Biosciences
Of the successful projects landed in Kansas since the implementation of the Framework, approximately 90% align with these target sectors. The strategic investments in these target sectors have driven growth and prosperity across the entire state.
Ready Sites and Thriving Communities
In Kansas, it is understood that companies not only are searching for the perfect site to serve their business needs, but they also are looking for fulfilling communities that their workforce can enjoy and plant new family roots. Focusing on these other critical factors has become just as important as recruiting the business itself.
Strategic investments in quality of life have enabled Kansas to bring large businesses to every region of the state. Businesses want to know the community they are investing in has strong assets, such as: excellent schools, reliable infrastructure, quality and affordable housing, broadband, childcare, community facilities, recreational opportunities, food and retail options, and much more. The Department of Commerce has funding opportunities available in all these areas which, when paired with local matching dollars, allow even the smallest communities to make progress.
Kansas also partners with companies to ensure the state is a reliable option for their growth. This includes numerous incentive programs, all of which are based on performance. Businesses receive benefits based on the hiring, training and capital investments they put into a particular venture.
Another tool that has been pivotal for Kansas’ success is the Certified Sites Program, which was established to highlight shovel-ready sites. By pre-qualifying properties, the program reduces the risk associated with development by providing detailed information on price, availability, utilities, access, environmental concerns and potential site development costs. Vibrant communities with development-ready sites provide the recipe for continued success in Kansas.
“Our trajectory is stronger than Kansas has ever experienced before,” Deputy Secretary of Business Development Joshua Jefferson said. “This state truly is in a transformative era of economic development. It’s not surprising that so many reputable companies are looking at us and seeing the success they could have just by laying roots down in any one of our communities.”
Talent and Vision Keep Kansas Rising
The state’s legacy of hardworking builders and doers already is driving success in many key industries such as advanced manufacturing. Still, as more opportunities arise and more businesses invest here, Kansas is focused on preparing even more robust workforce pipelines to fill the thousands of new jobs flowing into the state. This means making sure young Kansans are connected to education, training, internships, apprenticeships or other employment opportunities through the state’s world-class educational system and training providers.
Establishing the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship in 2022 has helped spark the development of new apprenticeship programs in diverse industries across the state. A 47% increase in registered apprenticeship programs last year alone has catapulted Kansas up the national rankings. The state also maintains targeted training and workforce support for employers through various incentives.
All of the proactive investments and initiatives Kansas has underway are generating positive results for businesses, communities and the people who live and work in them. Companies eyeing their next successful venture won’t have to search very hard for an ideal partner to work with. Kansas is right in the middle of it all.
Ready to make it in the middle of the map? Learn more about the Kansas, the State of Unexpected, at kansascommerce.gov.
