Why Invest in Kansas?

Quality of Life and Much, Much More

When I am traveling in the U.S. or abroad for business, people often ask me, “Why Kansas?” My first response is this: It’s a great place to raise a family, the people are very friendly, and it’s reasonably priced. Having said that, there is much more to the equation. Most people outside of Kansas City do not realize that the metro area is home to some of the largest and most successful corporations in their respective categories. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, companies such as Sprint (telecom), Garmin (GPS systems), AMC Theatres (Entertainment), Hallmark (Greeting cards, stores, television, etc.), Black & Veatch (Engineering and EPC contracting), Burns & McDonnell (Engineering and EPC contracting), and Cerner (healthcare). As most Kansans know, the list goes on. But outside of this structure, Kansas is also a great place in which to invest. It has a friendly business climate, a top-ranked talent pool, great universities, and wonderful infrastructure.

It is certainly true that Kansas is known for its sprawling agricultural fields and heads of cattle, as well as for its oil reserves and aviation sector. It is also a conservative state that prides itself on fiscal responsibility, at least in recent years. While it is not the cheapest in the contiguous United States, it is one of the best when considering all pertinent factors such as overall business climate, quality of life, quality of healthcare, quality of education, quality of workforce, and ease of doing business. Kansas is also becoming a high-tech hub, and is excelling in terms of start-ups as well. It is considered an “in” place and is even noted as “hip and cool” by emerging entrepreneurs. Along with the State of Georgia, it was first to implement favorable crowd-funding rules that allow businesses to raise money without onerous regulations and/or impediments. Even Google Fiber has recognized these elements and has chosen Kansas City as one of its key hubs. All in all, Kansas is open for business and the Kansas Department of Commerce terms it this way:

“With a population of just over 2.9 million, Kansas packs a heavy economic punch. A proactive legislative and regulatory environment and major advantages in costs, taxes, skilled workforce and major transportation assets have combined to make the Sunflower State a haven for investment and innovation. The state has built a diverse industry base that includes bioscience, animal health, energy technology, aviation, advanced manufacturing and agriculture. Wichita is the aviation capital of the world, with 43 percent of domestic and 30 percent of global general aviation produced in the city. Northeast Kansas is home to a burgeoning animal health corridor, with 40 percent of global animal health and veterinary science interests converged in the region”. (Cite and Website: KansasCommerce.com)

Indeed, Kansas not only has a diversified and vibrant economy – from animal health to bioscience and from energy technology to telecommunications, it is still one of the most important general aviation hubs in the world. Tens of thousands of Kansas’ residents are employed by the likes of Spirit AeroSystems, Cessna, Bombardier, Hawker Beechcraft, Honeywell and others similarly situated. Koch Industries, Tyson, Performance Contracting, General Motors, Cerner and National Beef Packing also lead the long list of employers in the State. Furthermore, Kansas is located in a strategic position geographically within the contiguous United States, making it easy to access from just about anywhere.

So, when considering ideal places in which to invest and/or relocate your corporate headquarters, Kansas should be at the top of your list. If you have any doubt, just visit us and find out.