~~Governor Laura Kelly Efficiently Wins Largest Financial Improvement Challenge in State Historical past~~

TOPEKA – At this time, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly introduced that Panasonic Power Co., Ltd., plans to construct one of many largest electrical automobile (EV) battery manufacturing services of its form in the USA in Kansas. Pending approval by Panasonic Holdings Company Board of Administrators, the corporate has recognized a website in De Soto for the potential mission.

The deliberate mission is anticipated to create as much as 4,000 new jobs and end in an funding of as much as $4 billion, which represents the biggest financial growth mission in Kansas historical past. The event may have ripple results all through the regional and state financial system, supporting an estimated 4,000 extra jobs created by suppliers and neighborhood companies and 16,500 building jobs as cited in an impartial Wichita State College financial influence examine.

“As the biggest personal funding in Kansas historical past and one of many largest EV battery manufacturing vegetation of its form within the nation, this mission will likely be transformative for our state’s financial system, offering in whole 8,000 high-quality jobs that can assist extra Kansans create higher lives for themselves and their kids,” stated Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “Profitable this mission reveals 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 attain a extra affluent and sustainable future.”

This deliberate state-of-the-art facility will create and provide lithium-ion batteries and speed up the way forward for electrical automobile innovation on a world scale. Panasonic Power’s present U.S. battery manufacturing operation has shipped greater than six billion EV battery cells. Panasonic Power plans to increase its manufacturing of EV batteries because the automotive trade shifts to extra sustainable electrical applied sciences. The proposed growth would enhance the regional financial system, creating alternatives for suppliers and neighborhood companies.

“With the elevated electrification of the automotive market, increasing battery manufacturing within the U.S. is important to assist meet demand,” stated Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Power. “Given our main know-how and depth of expertise, we intention to proceed driving development of the lithium-ion battery trade and accelerating in direction of a net-zero emissions future.”

Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland famous competitors for this milestone mission was robust and required a coordinated effort from the state. A key part of that enterprise was the enactment of the bipartisan Attracting Highly effective Financial Growth (APEX) Act earlier this yr.

“As soon as Governor Kelly signed APEX into regulation,” Toland stated, “the state gained the mandatory financial growth instrument to pursue megaprojects that would remodel the Kansas financial system. Panasonic acknowledged Kansas as not only a contender, however as the perfect associate for this revolutionary mission.”

Panasonic Power chosen Kansas attributable to its business-friendly local weather, sturdy expertise pool and workforce skillset, assist of know-how innovation, robust transportation infrastructure, and central location. This builds on Kansas Metropolis’s legacy manufacturing and automotive trade strengths.

“With this main growth, Kansas is being acknowledged world wide for our gifted workforce, revolutionary atmosphere, and high quality of life,” stated U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.). “Panasonic will convey hundreds of good-paying, high-quality jobs to our state which will likely be a large financial profit for native companies and our communities for many years to come back. With the objective of creating Kansas a vacation spot for trade, protection, schooling, science, know-how, engineering, and innovation, we’ll hold our college students, their data and mind in Kansas.”

Kansas has a longtime battery manufacturing sector with seven institutions using roughly 1,300 people. The state was ranked second within the nation for employment and wage focus within the sector in 2021. With the chance to probably add an extra 4,000 jobs, this deal will make Kansas an trade chief at a time when the sector is predicted to develop at an annualized price of two.4 %.

“Kansas is proving itself to be a beautiful place the place entrepreneurs can unleash innovation and create jobs,” stated Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Kansas Senate. “The Panasonic announcement reveals that attraction is international.”

“When the Kansas Legislature handed the APEX laws, this was the type of megaproject we had in thoughts,” stated Consultant Ron Ryckman, Speaker of the Kansas Home of Representatives.

The proposed Panasonic mission is the most recent financial growth win not too long ago introduced by the state:

• Final month, Governor Kelly stated the state surpassed $9 billion new, private-sector investments since January 2019 leading to greater than 43,500 jobs being created or retained.
• Additionally in June, Kansas was awarded Space Improvement Journal’s prestigious Gold Shovel Award for the second yr in a row. The back-to-back wins are unprecedented in state historical past.
• In March, Kansas gained the Governor’s Cup from Website Choice Journal for having the nation’s most financial growth funding per capita.

“On behalf of the Metropolis Council and the neighborhood, I’m thrilled to welcome Panasonic Power to De Soto. The dimensions of Panasonic Power’s funding in our neighborhood will usher in unprecedented generational financial prosperity for the state and area,” stated De Soto Mayor Rick Walker. “We’re honored to be a part of it.”

The Kansas Metropolis area is the third fastest-growing tech market within the U.S. and is a nucleus of engineering, know-how, and automotive manufacturing experience. With a powerful expertise pipeline and cutting-edge coaching packages, the Kansas Metropolis market employs almost 21,000 employees who contribute to the $19 billion KC transportation manufacturing trade.

“Panasonic Power made the best alternative to pick out the Kansas Metropolis area attributable to our market’s strengths in EV and tech innovation,” stated Tim Cowden, President and CEO of the Kansas Metropolis Space Improvement Council. “This announcement, alongside FIFA’s number of KC as 2026 World Cup host metropolis, our new single-terminal airport coming on-line and international tech firms investing available in the market, reinforces the transformational success our area is having on a world scale.”

“The electrical automobile trade is anticipated to develop eight instances its dimension in lower than 10 years, which is an unimaginable alternative for states, communities and power companions to assist main, revolutionary know-how firms,” stated David Campbell, President and CEO of Evergy. On behalf of our area’s enterprise neighborhood, we’re very excited to welcome Panasonic Power to Kansas and the Kansas Metropolis Area, and we sit up for supporting your long-term success.”

The next organizations supported the recruitment of Panasonic Power to Kansas: Kansas Division of Commerce; Kansas Division of Transportation; Kansas Division of Well being and Setting; Kansas Division of Kids and Households; the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan; the U.S. Embassy to Tokyo; Kansas Kids’s Cupboard and Belief Fund; Metropolis of De Soto; De Soto Financial Improvement Council; Evergy; Sunflower Improvement Group; KC SmartPort; Johnson County Group Faculty; Kansas Metropolis, Kansas Group Faculty; Peaslee Tech; College of Kansas; Ewing Marion Kauffman Basis; and Kansas Metropolis Space Improvement Council.

To study extra in regards to the mission, its financial influence, and incentives bundle, learn a one-pager right here.

About Panasonic Power Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Power Co., Ltd., established in April 2022 as a part of the Panasonic Group’s swap to an working firm system, offers revolutionary battery technology-based merchandise and options globally. Via its automotive lithium-ion batteries, storage battery methods and dry batteries, the corporate brings protected, dependable, and handy energy to a broad vary of enterprise areas, from mobility and social infrastructure to medical and shopper merchandise. Panasonic Power is dedicated to contributing to a society that realizes happiness and environmental sustainability, and thru its enterprise actions the Firm goals to handle societal points whereas taking the lead on environmental initiatives. For extra particulars, please go to panasonic.com/international/power.

About Kansas Division of Commerce
Because the state’s lead financial growth company, the Kansas Division of Commerce strives to empower people, companies and communities to attain prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by creating relationships with companies, website location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our robust partnerships permit us to assist create an atmosphere for current Kansas companies to develop and foster an revolutionary, aggressive panorama for brand spanking new companies. Via Commerce’s mission successes, Kansas was awarded Space Improvement Journal’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Cup by Website Choice Journal. | KansasCommerce.gov

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