By Anne Cosgrove
From the September/October 2022 Subject

The Sunflower State is seeing a resurgence of enterprise funding, workforce coaching, and high quality of life. Governor Laura Kelly’s actions since she took workplace in January 2019, it’s obvious that there’s a plan in movement— “Kansas Framework for Development.” Enacted by Governor Kelly, this widespread initiative impacts a large swath of the Kansas economic system from company funding to workforce to social issues, equivalent to youngster care and housing.

In the meantime, the placement and infrastructure of the state presents important transportation and advertising benefits for enterprise. Attributable to a concentrate on constructing and sustaining multimodal infrastructure, it’s change into simpler and cheaper to ship to and from Kansas.

With workforce high of thoughts for all industries, the state’s investments in schooling and workforce improvement assist guarantee there are expert workers accessible. Kansas is available in above the nationwide common for each share of highschool graduates and inhabitants with a bachelor’s diploma or greater. With excellent colleges and good partnerships between business and schooling, Kansas companies have entry to a workforce that’s ready to satisfy the wants of firms in a extremely aggressive international economic system.

Enterprise Amenities just lately spoke with Governor Kelly concerning the newest for enterprise and residents in Kansas.

Enterprise Amenities: In June you introduced that since 2019 Kansas has attracted over $9 billion in new funding from the non-public sector and that greater than 43,500 jobs had been created or retained within the state. What’s driving this exercise?

Gov. Kelly: In July, I introduced that Kansas landed the biggest non-public sector funding in state historical past. Panasonic shall be constructing one of many nation’s largest electrical automobile battery services, investing $4 billion and creating 4,000 new jobs within the course of.

With that announcement, my Administration has overseen the creation of greater than 49,000 new jobs and introduced in $13.5 billion of latest non-public funding, surpassing the whole funding introduced in by the earlier two administrations mixed.

Our intense concentrate on job creation and enterprise funding has put Kansas on the map.

There are a number of causes we’ve seen super success with regard to financial improvement. For one, now we have an precise plan. In the beginning of 2021, I unveiled a brand new complete financial improvement strategic plan for the state of Kansas, the primary of its sort in additional than 30 years. Referred to as the “Framework for Development,” it pinpoints areas of power and rising alternatives for our state that has knowledgeable our enterprise recruitment efforts ever since.

For one more, we all know that creating high quality of life for Kansas households and younger adults is crucial to fostering the expert workforce wanted to recruit and retain companies. We’ve continued to make historic investments in schooling, public security, infrastructure, and broadband entry—resulting in extra companies selecting to name Kansas dwelling.

BF: What are goal industries for Kansas? What firms have chosen the state for his or her enterprise just lately?

Gov. Kelly: The Framework for Development created a roadmap for furthering creating a number of key Kansas industries together with aviation, agriculture, biotechnology, and animal well being.

Kansas’s fame because the ‘Air Capital of the World’ was solidified in April after I introduced that Wichita is now dwelling to the Bombardier U.S. headquarters. The corporate is actively recruiting to right away fill greater than 180 jobs in Wichita and near 500 jobs throughout the U.S.

On the subject of agriculture, we’re recruiting companies that may hold our business fashionable and progressive. In Might, I introduced that Hilmar Cheese Firm, Inc. will construct a serious manufacturing facility in Dodge Metropolis, a $460 million funding that may create 247 new full-time jobs in Western Kansas. In August, sustainable agriculture chief Amber Wave lower the ribbon on what is going to quickly be the biggest wheat protein manufacturing facility in North America. The corporate is investing greater than $250 million into the ability and creating greater than 60 new jobs because it ramps as much as full capability.

Our biotech business is rising, too. In April, I introduced that Scorpion Organic Companies shall be constructing a $650 million manufacturing facility in Manhattan and creating 500 jobs. That’s along with the brand new Nationwide Bio and Agro-Protection Facility, a biocontainment laboratory, which shall be opening its doorways in Manhattan quickly.

Lastly, Kansas is the guts of the animal well being hall, and this previous month Simmons Pet Meals introduced that they’re increasing operations in each Emporia and Edgerton. Their $115 million funding will create 117 jobs — fueling development in each of these communities and the area.

These industries are all seeing development for related causes: Kansas’ central location, sturdy infrastructure, and excellent workforce makes our state the most effective place within the nation to construct, rent, and make investments.

BF: The APEX Act signed into legislation in February 2022 focuses on megaprojects by new and increasing firms within the state. Are you able to present a short overview of the inducement?

Gov. Kelly: As the biggest non-public funding in Kansas historical past and one of many largest electrical automobile battery manufacturing vegetation of its sort within the nation, Panasonic Vitality’s deliberate De Soto facility shall be transformative for our state’s economic system. The venture will straight create 4,000 jobs, one other 4,000 shall be created by native suppliers, and constructing the plant will create 16,500 building jobs.

Successful this venture has proven that Kansas has what it takes to compete on a world scale—and that our pro-business local weather is driving the technological innovation wanted to realize a extra affluent and sustainable future.