Economic Development Series Destination City

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When you first open up a business, everything is new to you. You never know what to expect. You think you plan for everything, but there’s something that will come up that you just never have any idea about. Having Bank Midwest in our corner was absolutely critical. Especially providing all of our funding that we needed, so that we could encounter and meet the challenges of unexpected things that came up.

Funding was definitely our biggest challenge initially. We went to other banks in the area and they didn’t want to look at us. We would submit financials and our business plan, but we wouldn’t get any traction from it, nor would they allow us to explain what we were doing, why we were different, and how this business would change the brewing culture in Kansas City. Bank Midwest was the only bank that sat down with us and worked through the whole process. They were amazing from the start. Bank Midwest is where common sense lives.

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DestinationBuchananCountyMO.com DestinationSaintJosephMO.com DestinationCassCountyMO.com DestinationBeltonMO.com DestinationHarrisonvilleMO.com DestinationPleasantHillMO.com DestinationPeculiarMO.com DestinationRaymoreMO.com DestinationClayCountyMO.com DestinationExcelsiorSpringsMO.com DestinationGladstoneMO.com DestinationKansasCityMO.com DestinationKearneyMO.com DestinationLibertyMO.com DestinationNorthKansasCityMO.com DestinationSmithvilleMO.com DestinationDowntownKC.com DestinationJacksonCountyMO.com Destination DestinationBlueSpringsMO.com DestinationGrainValleyMO.com DestinationGrandviewMO.com DestinationIndependenceMO.com DestinationKansasCityMO.com DestinationLeesSummitMO.com DestinationLoneJackMO.com Kansas City DestinationOakGroveMO.com DestinationMissouri.com Q DestinationKansasCity.com Q DestinationKansas.com DestinationRaytownMO.com DestinationJohnsonCountyMO.com DestinationHoldenMO.com DestinationKnobNosterMO.com CONTENTS 2020 Edition DestinationWarrensburgMO.com DestinationWhitemanAFB.com DestinationLafayetteCountyMO.com DestinationConcordiaMO.com DestinationHigginsvilleMO.com FEATURES DestinationLexingtonMO.com 5 Welcome to Kansas City DestinationOdessaMO.com DestinationNorthlandKC.com 6 Did You Know? Tidbits About the KC Area DestinationPettisCountyMO.com 8 Why Kansas City? DestinationSedaliaMO.com DestinationPlatteCountyMO.com 10 Top Reasons to Choose Kansas City DestinationKansasCityMO.com 12 Must Dos in KC DestinationParkvilleMO.com DestinationPlatteCityMO.com 14 Epicenter of Sports DestinationRiversideMO.com 19 Greater Kansas City Economic Development Report DestinationWestonMO.com DestinationRayCountyMO.com DestinationLawsonMO.com DestinationRichmondMO.com REASONS TO CHOOSE DestinationSalineCountyMO.com 27 Transportation and Infrastructure DestinationMarshallMO.com 28 Prime Location 31 Cost of Living MORE ONLINE MO KS 35 Real Estate Values DestinationDouglasCountyKS.com 39 Education DestinationLawrenceKS.com DestinationFrankinCountyKS.com 41 Health Care and Community Services DestinationOttawaKS.com DestinationJohnsonCountyKS.com DestinationDeSotoKS.com BUSINESS CULTURE DestinationGardnerKS.com DestinationLakeQuiviraKS.com 43 Productive Work Force DestinationLeawoodKS.com 44 Business Climate and Economic Conditions DestinationLenexaKS.com DestinationMerriamKS.com 46 50 Largest Private-Sector Employers DestinationGladstoneKS.com DestinationMissionKS.com DestinationOlatheKS.com LIFESTYLES DestinationOverlandParkKS.com DestinationPrairieVillageKS.com 49 Quality of Life DestinationRoelandParkKS.com 51 Hospitality and DestinationShawneeKS.com DestinationShawneeMissionKS.com 53 Entertainment and Culture DestinationSpringHillKS.com DestinationStanleyKS.com DestinationStilwellKS.com RESOURCE LISTS DestinationLeavenworthCountyKS.com DestinationBasehorKS.com.com 55 Top Area Convention and Meeting Facilities DestinationFortLeavenworthKS.com 56 Economic Development Agencies DestinationLansingKS.com DestinationLeavenworthKS.com DestinationTonganoxieKS.com THE THRIVING COUNTIES OF THE GREATER KC DestinationMiamiCountyKS.com DestinationLouisburgKS.com 57 Get to Know the 10 Counties in and the 6 in Kansas DestinationOsawatomieKS.com DestinationPaolaKS.com DestinationWyandotteCountyKS.com DestinationBonnerSpringsKS.com DestinationEdwardsvilleKS.com Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com DestinationKansasCityKS.com OFFICIAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT PARTNER OF THE

Securities and advisory services off ered by CommunityAmerica Financial Solutions, LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC) Not NCUA Insured | No Credit Union Guarantee | May Lose Value DESTINATION KANSAS CITY MARKET OVERVIEW Welcome to Kansas City: Transformation in Progress

AS THE NAVIGATION TOOL ON THE DASHBOARD LIKES TO SAY, “YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION.”

In this case, Destination Kansas City, Ingram’s one-of-a-kind that rivals anyplace besides Detroit. We’re a multi-state health- annual update on all things related to business in this thriving care services and research magnet where new frontiers are be- and economically diverse slice of heaven. By immersing yourself ing probed every day. in it, you will become well-acquainted with what makes this We’ve got fresh air, plenty of land, easy access to outdoor region tick, what will define it in the coming years, what gives amenities, pro football, and soccer, fine arts, finer it such an impressive quality of life. And when you’re done, you dining, top-tier Division I and small-college sports, some of just might wonder, as we often do, why Kansas City isn’t top of the best high- Internet service you’ll find in this country, mind for more executives around the country who are looking terrific schools and universities across the K-20 spectrum, for markets to relocate or expand operations, or for talented ridiculously affordable housing—it’s hard to think of something young workers looking for the perfect location to build their nest. we don’t have that business executives are looking for. Because this place has it all. Mountains? They’re OK as far as they go, but one’s perspec- Idle boast? Hardly. Just look at the sectors that have a big tive on elevation changes radically the first time the brakes go footprint here. We’re ground zero in the nation’s agricultural out on the down-slope. Beaches? We average more than 215 value chain, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of square days of sunshine a year, and we’re pretty sure there’s never miles of high-quality crops, tasty , pork and poultry, and been a confirmed shark attack in these parts. Culture? Well, food processing and marketing organizations with global we’ve seen what it looks like in some of the really big cities, reach. Kansas City ground zero in logistics, warehousing and and it doesn’t look very cultured to us. distribution—located smack-dab in the middle of the country, This publication will explore many of our advantages in with either coast equally accessible, and with the rail, roadway greater detail. We encourage you to read it with an eye toward and air freight assets needed to connect points A and B. improving the performance of your own company, and for the We’re making a national splash, in some cases, a global quality of your own life. This region certainly provides you with one, in health-care information and fintech. Kansas the ammo to do both. City is a manufacturing powerhouse with automotive output So welcome to your Destination: Kansas City.

Regional Publications

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Joe Sweeney | [email protected] Editorial Director Dennis Boone | [email protected] Managing Editor Dawnya Bartsch | [email protected] Vice President of Sales Michelle Sweeney | [email protected] Contributing Writer Ian Ritter | [email protected] Art Director Traci Faulk | [email protected]

Cover photo by Jonathan Tasler

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• Big urban, or small-town flavor, Kansas City really studies have shown, explaining why Ford and GM con- has it all: The most county in the region is tinue to invest heavily in capital improvements in KC. Jackson County, home to most of Kansas City, Mo., with nearly 688,000 residents. • The nationally noted rebirth of Downtown Kansas City includes $7 billion in investment since 2002, either • Surrounding the twin KC cores are nearly 50 cities, in place, under construction or planned. Included in including suburbs, large and small: The Metro area that is more than $100 million for the two-mile street- has four cities of 100,000 or more in population, four car starter line that began operating in 2016 and is other cities have at least 50,000, and 10 with 20,000+. being expanded soon south past the Plaza.

• The Missouri/Kansas state line divides Greater • The region’s logistics sector has undergone dra- Kansas City, but the division is not so severe as in matic growth in the past decade, and for the first 1863 when Missourians—under the leadership of time, Kansas City is seeing construction of industrial William Quantrill—rode to Lawrence, burned most facilities pushing beyond the 1 million-square-foot of the town, and killed some 125 citizens. threshold.

• An estimated 60 percent of the nation’s animal- • Civic leaders and voters have committed a new related research and commerce takes place within massive single-terminal at Kansas City International 100 miles of the Kansas City region’s borders. Airport. It’s already taking shape at KCI and about to change with the beautiful new state-of-the-art termi- • Nearby St. Joseph, Mo., is the beating heart of that nal that is charted to open by 2021. animal-sciences beast; it has more than 5,000 jobs in animal pharmaceuticals, agriculture chemicals, food • More tons of freight move by rail through Kansas processing, animal research and development. City than anywhere else in the nation, and in terms of rail traffic, it’s the second-largest rail center in the • Production workers here generate nearly 15 percent U.S., only behind . more added value per hour than the national average,

Every day our region competes against major metros around the world for new corporate investments, jobs and talented workers.

With thanks to all of our regional partners and investors . . . together as OneKC, we compete at a world-class level and win.

6 I NGRAM’ S Regional Publications Ingrams.com DID YOU KNOW?

• Greater Kansas City has 30 percent more free- • Cerner Corp’s rapid rise through health-care IT way miles per capita than any metro in the world software into population health systems has helped and has the second least-congested traffic of any overtake Sprint Corp. as the region’s largest private- million-plus metropolitan area in the nation. sector employer. More than half of Cerner’s 29,500 employes worldwide work here. • With more than 5,000 jobs in animal pharmaceuti- cals, agriculture chemicals, food processing, animal • Platte County, Mo., and Johnson County, Kan., research and development, nearby St. Joseph, at the have some of the highest per-capita incomes in northern edge of the Kansas City MSA, is a national the two-state area. center of animal and life sciences. • Fort Leavenworth is based in Greater Kansas City. • Production workers in greater Kansas City produce Founded as a home for a small U.S. Calvary detach- up to 50 percent more per hour than the national ment, “The Fort” today is home to the U.S. Army average, as measured by the U.S. Bureau of Census. Command and General Staff College, which draws top students from U.S. and allied forces. • Huge intermodal facilities in Johnson County on the Kansas side and Jackson County in Missouri have • World-famous bandit Jesse James was a Kansas helped push this region into national prominence for City phenomenon. He was born in Kearney, robbed his distribution. Greater Kansas City is also home to the first bank in Liberty and died in St. Joseph. nation’s largest Foreign Trade Zone. • Lewis and Clark were early visitors, back in 1803, • The world’s biggest barbecue competition takes but they set the stage for westward expansion that place every year at Kansas Speedway. Hundreds of made this region a hub: The Santa Fe, California competitive smokers and grillers compete in this and Oregon trails all started in Independence, Mo. signature event in tandem with the region’s premier (and lend their names to that city’s annual fall agricultural livestock show. festival, Santa-Cali-Gon Days).

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Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 7 WHY KANSAS CITY? Newew to Kansas City in recent years, executives from somme of itss most prominent compompanies reflecflect on what has surprissed tthem most about thisis place, how they leveverage its assets too sstrengthen their coompanies, and the elemments to take this region to the next level.

Michel Comes Jeffrey Jones II CEO, SPRINT CORP. PRESIDENT & CEO, H&R BLOCK

I quickly discovered a wel- Every time my guests leave coming Sprint family that Kansas City after visiting, has a lot of pride for work- they say, “I had no idea!” ing for a hometown com- There is so much happen- pany. It didn’t take me long ing here from urban revi- to feed off of that energy. … talization and start-ups to It seems very fitting that a great arts and food (beyond French guy like me would end up in the Paris BBQ)! There is also a local pride here that of the Plains. I discovered it is not exactly rivals anything I’ve seen in the major cities Paris—but fortunately, there are a few French around the world. … We love telling the Kan- restaurants in Kansas City, which is cool. sas City story to prospective associates and My wife is a concert pianist in , so we enabling our team to help make our commu- were also pleasantly surprised by the vibrant nity better through the many organizations we arts and culture scene here. … Kansas City is support financially and through volunteerism. brimming with startups and disruptors, people It also helps that our world headquarters is who have a strong work ethic. Until people visit located in the heart of the Power & Light Dis- or live here, they aren’t always convinced about trict. … We have a great foundation in place. everything it has to offer, nor the high level of It’s important, as leaders and as a communi- talent we have. I am anxious to see KC roll out a ty, to not rest on our laurels. We must contin- new brand identity for the city that attracts more ually move forward and improve, recognizing talent, especially young people. other great places are not standing still.

Ashley McClellan PRESIDENT & CEO, RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER

Kansas City is a great place to raise a family, which is not necessarily a surprise since I was raised here. It’s great to return to excellent public schools, more access to high- quality health care, and easy-to-navigate streets and highways. … HCA Midwest Health and Research Medical Center work with many local schools and universities to recruit our skilled work force. We also offer advanced education for employees through tuition reimbursement for Research College of Nursing and other programs offering higher education. Because Research is a referral destination for some of the most specialized care in the region, retaining top-tier physicians and nurses is a top priority. … There’s no doubt we need an updated, more convenient airport. It’s great to see this is already happening.

8 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com Andy Sareyan PRESIDENT & CEO, ANDREWS MCMEEL UNIVERSAL

I’d expected it to feel a little small after a lifetime in New York. But the overriding sense I’ve had since the moment I arrived has been a place with tons to do and a great mix of culture, arts, sports, neighborhoods, food, architecture, and maybe most importantly, music. Layer onto that how welcoming the city is to outsiders and how easy it is for trans- plants to engage with business owners big and small, civic leaders, or the neighborhood dog walker. It combines the energy of a big town with uncommon friendliness and easy access. Last, though not least, my 60-second commute after a lifetime of east coast traf- fic and trains feels like a daily miracle. … The city and all it has to offer actually make re- cruiting that much easier. I would still say Kansas City isn’t well known or understood on the coasts, so some externally facing PR could only help. But there’s a switch that gets flipped when people come and experience the lifestyle in person. … For all Kansas City has to offer, it could still use a little more fizz. And of course, a more diverse and more integrated international community would only enhance the mix here.

Daniel Beckley Paul Kempinski EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT & CEO, KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY CHILDREN’S MERCY

My wife and I have been I describe Kansas City as surprised by the level of large enough to be sophisti- civic ambition in Kansas cated but small enough to be City, and by the richness manageable. What surprised of the arts and cultural me was the breadth and offerings here. … I was depth of the community in attracted by the Symphony from another mar- terms of arts, culture, sports, and the restaurant ket (Indianapolis), and what put me over the top scene, and the people are amazing. And the level of was the fact that the arts scene in Kansas City is collaboration among the businesses and community among the strongest per capita of any American leaders. In some cases, these businesses are com- city. We have a strong culture of engagement peting with each other, but people are still coming and philanthropy here that can truly power our together in very collaborative ways to improve the ambitions to become a Symphony and a city of community. … The key (to attracting talent) is to get greater national significance. … Kansas City has them here. Honestly, that’s challenging, but once we a branding problem, no doubt about it. do, we think we have a great story to tell here. When We need a 30-year vision for the city and a brand we are able to show what Kansas City has to offer, then to support it. People don’t understand how great the story resonates pretty easily and quickly. As I tell this city is until they spend some time here, and people with my own experience, you sort of had me at attracting talent means establishing a special “hello.” … Thank goodness they are working on KCI; the perception of the city before they come. other thing is a brand. Kansas City needs a brand it can rally around and create resonance throughout the country.

Jeron Ravin CEO, SWOPE HEALTH SERVICES

One of the most important insights for me is that Kansas City is a very welcoming city with lots of great institutions. These days, younger providers want to do clinical work as well as research, and that affords us that opportunity to grow a provider work force that is keeping in line with trends in health care. It gives them oppor- tunities to see patients and work with institutions like UMKC, KU Med and others. The quality-of-life factors you want as a young professional are all here: It’s inex- pensive, has a lot of great communities like Brookside, Waldo, the Crossroads and Downtown; the transportation is good, college towns are close if you want to catch a game, it has great arts, great cuisine. These are things any young professional is looking for.

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 9 FIVE FACTORS TH

Centrality Affordability Productivity

f not for the Wright brothers, would nteresting stat that popped up rec- id you ever stop and think about Ithe term “flyover country” have ever Iently: Someone saving for a home Dthis: The federal government’s come about? For a hundred years, we’ve needs to bank more than nine years’ record-tracking—from census to banking battled that label, but lookie-lookie: worth of their income to manage the to land use to smokestack emissions— Kansas City is one of the hottest locales sales price of a home in coastal Califor- is able to drill down and discern causes in the country for that very factor: It’s nia, metro New York or the Boston area. and effects involving race, age, income, proximity to everything. When you put Here? Just 2.4 years, and as you get employment, hair color, etc., etc. us in a national context, if we were any outside the metro core, substantially less. But here’s a glaring hole in what we closer to LA or , we’d just be that Topeka, just an hour to the west, clocked know about ourselves: Workplace much further from New York or Miami. in at 1.4 years’ income, according to productivity. Despite oceans of data on National and international logistics com- CityLab.com. Housing is a big driver everything else, Uncle Sam can’t—or panies have taken note, and the explosion of our low cost of living in the Kansas won’t—produce a city-by-city measure in the growth of our logistics, transporta- City area, but so are groceries, another of worker productivity. We can think of tion and warehousing assets here rivals big-ticket item in everyone’s budget. some cities that absolutely would not that of any other location in the U.S. And we’re below national averages for want to be ranked by such a measure, so Much of the growth started in the wake health care, utilities, transportation and their congressional representation natu- of the Great Recession, as national com- other goods and services. For most of us, rally wouldn’t be pushing for the same. panies were seeking new efficiencies and though, the ability to buy a nicer home, But we’ll put Kansas City’s work force distributing to far-flung consumers who a bigger home, a home that fulfills our out there as a champion of industrial and were abandoning big-box stores to shop spin on the American Dream, starts with commercial output. With most people on-line. Warehouses exceeding 300,000, prices you just can’t find on the coasts here just a generation or two removed then 500,000 and 800,000 square feet, or in major population centers. And from the work ethic of an American farm, previously unheard of in this market, the disposable income left over after the we get things done. Have any doubts? began springing up, and not just rising, mortgage is paid helps finance a quality Ask Ford, General Motors, Honeywell, but filling, with developers’ speculation of life you find in few American commu- Orbital ATK or other national mega- paying off in leases with companies seek- nities of this size. companies with a big footprint here. ing to capitalize on our superior access to every part of the nation.

10 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com AT FIT KC TO A ‘T’

Creativity Quality There you have it

n 2016, the National Center for Arts ut there’s a lot more to the quality of few key quality-of-life and quality-of IResearch—yes, it’s a thing—added Blife here than a thriving arts com- Abusiness factors that make Kansas three cities to its list of the 20 most munity. Complementing the explosion in City shine. And not just in the eyes of vibrant arts communities in the nation. visual arts are assets like the world-class the natives. Ask almost any CEO who It would surprise no one that Portland, Kauffman Center for the Performing has been transplanted here from points Ore., and Austin, Texas, were two of Arts, high-level sporting activities like pro distant. The phrase “I had no idea that those three. The other? Right here in baseball, football and soccer, as well as Kansas City had (insert your quality met- River City, folks. Kansas City’s addition college sports, outdoor options (including ric here) …” will from their lips, to that august group was a reflection easy access to fine camping and boating guaranteed. And we couldn’t agree more. of what’s happened across the region, venues not far away), increasing num- not just in the red-hot Crossroads Arts bers of bike and hiking trails throughout District of Downtown. But that locale has the region, good schools in most of the driven huge change in arts appreciation metro area, fine dining and night-out here, as evidenced by the throngs that entertainment options, great health-care pour into Downtown, or stay there after a facilities. The public school systems on week’s worth of work, on the First Friday either side of the state line produce some KC of each month. That celebration of arts, of the highest college-prep test scores in crafts and trendy eating spots has helped each state, public safety is rarely an issue give Downtown a bigger-city feel. And outside the kinds of neighborhoods that that has grown up on top of a foundation challenge any big city. The quality of life that includes spectacular arts venues like here is, not to overstate things, simply the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and its outstanding. The aforementioned afford- companion Bloch Building, the Kemper ability factor looms large here, as people Museum of Contemporary Art, the Ner- with more disposable income after the man Museum of Art and smaller venues bills are paid are able to sample many of that dot the regional landscape. life’s finer offerings.

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 11 MUST DOs IN

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Kauffman Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts • 4525 Oak St. • 1 Royal Way • 1601 Broadway Blvd. • Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m • Hours vary • Box office open daily • Free • Price varies • Free tours are available with a reservation • www.nelson-atkins.org, (816) 751-1278 • www.mlb.com/royals/ballpark, (816) 504-4040 • www.kauffmancenter.org, (816) 994-7200

It’s easy to forget that the Nelson-Atkins The Royals’ 2015 victory seems The Kauffman Center for the Performing Museum of Art is a destination meant to be ex- like years ago to die-hard fans, but now there Arts has quickly become a fixture on Kansas perienced indoors as well as outside. After all, is hope that the team can return to its former City’s Downtown skyline. It’s easy to forget giant shuttlecock sculptures adorn the build- glory with a new ownership group in place, that the Moshe Safdie-designed complex, ing’s front lawn, and the building was named led by local businessman John Sherman. punctuated by its cone-ring design, was an architectural marvel by Time in 2007. Along Despite the Royals’ win-loss record, Kauff- completed in 2011. With it’s 180-degree win- with its sculpture garden and several outdoor man Stadium is one of the best places in the dows in the great hall, the center is Kansas activities throughout the year, it’s easy to visit country to take in a game. Ticket prices are City’s homage to high art. The facility is and never enter it’s doors. But that would be a inexpensive compared to other of home to the Kansas City Ballet, the Kansas mistake. The museum houses an impressive its caliber and none of them boast Kauff- City Symphony, and the Lyric Opera, which collection of Chinese artifacts, abstract paint- man’s famous fountains behind the outfield. are feature in two theaters: Muriel Kauff- ings and breathtaking photography. The Nel- It’s also a great venue for children who might man Theater and Helzberg Hall. Besides the son is also now home to the Tivoli art-house not want to sit through nine, or more, innings companies the venue calls home, the center cinema, which closed in Westport, and major of baseball, with hands-on activities, such also features popular contemporary music exhibits on ancient Egypt and abstraction are as base running, a playground and batting and other performances. Scheduled so far included in 2020. The cafeteria in Rozelle Court cages in Kauffman’s Outfield Experience for 2020 are shows featuring Michael Bolton, is a great place to unwind, as is the natural- area. There is also plenty of good grub for all and the Squirrel Zippers with the Dirty light filled Thou Mayest Roasters coffee shop. tastes and several bars for the grown ups. Dozen Brass Band.

12 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com First Fridays • Crossroads Arts District • First Friday of every month • Free

What started in 1995 simply as art-gallery receptions the first Friday of every month in the Crossroads Arts District has turned into an ongoing full-fledged festival. Upwards of 10,000 people converge on the area to still see artwork at its several galleries. But nowadays there are many more attractions. Food trucks, pop-up stores and live bands converge from block to block, making First Fridays a true street party. Festivities start at 5 p.m., and attendees driving to it are encouraged to get there earlier because the parking situation can be challenging. Meanwhile, the Crossroads has several restaurants, stores and entertain- ment venues in its own right, so many plan an entire evening around First Fridays.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum • 1616 E. 18th St. • Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. noon to 6 p.m. • $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $6 for children District, with its several restaurants and • www.nlbm.com, (816) 221-1920 National World War I Museum bars to enjoy before and after shows. and Memorial African Americans played professional • 2 Memorial Dr. Union Station baseball before MLB officially integrated and • Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • 30 W. Pershing Rd. Jackie Robinson played his first season with • $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and military, $10 • Open daily 6 a.m. to midnight the Dodgers in 1947. The Negro Leagues for youth 6-18, free for children under 6 • Free, but price depends on exhibit Baseball Museum preserves what they have • www.theworldwar.org, (816) 888-8100 • www.unionstation.org, (816) 460-2000 contributed to the sport and the rich history of the league African Americans played in The National World War I Museum and Me- There are plenty of reasons to go to Union before black players were able to sport the morial is at the foot of one of Kansas City’s Station that don’t involve catching a train. jerseys of the Dodgers and other teams. most recognizable structures, the 217-foot Over the years, the iconic building, located Liberty Memorial Tower. A warning of the just south of Downtown, has become a major American Jazz Museum horrors of war, the museum replicates the Kansas City entertainment draw. Union Sta- • 1616 E. 18th St. trenches from where battles were fought, tion is home to Science City, a popular inter- • Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. noon to 6 p.m. features original armaments and gives an active museum for children with hands-on, • $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $6 for children extensive history of the conflict that shaped interactive educational displays. The venue • americanjazzmuseum.org, (816) 474-8463 the 20th Century and cost nine million peo- is also home to major traveling exhibits. ple their lives. Entering the museum, visitors Through the beginning of 2020, artifacts from Jazz is considered by many the only art form walk across a glass bridge suspended over the 13th Century Mongolia are on display for with its beginnings in the , and a 9,000 poppies, each representing 1,000 lives an exhibit on Genghis Kahn, exploring his hotbed of its emergence was Kansas City’s 18th lost in combat. Exhibits about the Vietnam legacy and the time period. Meanwhile, the and Vine neighborhood, which the American War, and how World War I changed the station’s planetarium and extreme 80-foot- Jazz Museum calls home. Here one can learn physical topography of Europe are featured screen theater have regular shows. about saxophone great and Kansas City native through the beginning of 2020. More than Charlie Parker as well as the other musicians two million people have visited the museum Country Club Plaza who helped shape this distinctly American since it underwent an extensive renovation • 4706 Broadway Blvd. music. For those interested in seeing live per- in 2006 and was named a National Historic • Hours vary by shop and restaurant formances, the museum’s Blue Room features Landmark. • countryclubplaza.com, (816) 753-0100 regular gigs by local and traveling musicians. Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland Many locals take for granted that the Country • 1228 Main St. Club Plaza, built in 1922, is one of the world’s • Box office Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most recognized shopping centers for its with extended hours on show days striking open-air design that mimics the • Price varies architecture of Seville, Spain. The venue’s • www.arvestbanktheatre.com, (816) 283-9900 many water displays are also play a big part in why Kansas City is called “The City of There aren’t many acclaimed music groups Fountains.” By day, the Plaza is a shopper’s that haven’t performed at what is now the destination with several of the country’s Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland through best-known upper-end retailers, with a the decades. Bob Dylan recently passed Nordstrom planned for the lineup in 2021. through town and the theater, which was And by day and night its collection of bars built in 1927 has welcomed scores of per- and restaurants makes the area a wining and formers, from Willie Nelson to Jay-Z. The dining destination. One of the Plaza’s high- Renaissance Revival-style theater sits 3,200 lights are the thousands of Christmas lights and is located by the city’s Power & Light that adorn buildings through the holidays.

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 13 Sports Excellence Starts in the Middle

From pro football, soccer and baseball to college head Stadium during the 1980s. They will cite those as evidence that we’re a football and , NASCAR and more, the collection of bandwagon-hoppers who get behind our teams only when they’re heart of America brims with superior results winning. An alternate viewpoint is that fans on the field, on the court or on the diamond. here are among the nation’s most dis- criminating when it comes to choosing ix stinking inches. Dee Ford’s cisco just weeks later, and probably where they’ll spend their hard-earned hand is placed six inches back won’t be either forgiven or forgotten by dollars—and if one organization is let- across the line of scrimmage, sports fans here. But he’s now part ting them down, there are plenty of and the Kansas City Chiefs are of the rich lore of Kansas City sports. other venues calling those fans out. in LIII in February That sports history at times has pro- But let’s start with where the most S2019. duced excruciating pain, at others un- intense fan experience is: Arrowhead. But because the now-ex-Chief nud- inhibited joy, but always a sense of Things were tough in the 1980s, yes. ged over the line and drew that offsides energy andKC Streetexcitement Car among one of Then Marty Schottenheimer arrived in penalty, a Chiefs interception of Tom America’s most engaged communities 1989. After just one season, he changed Brady was nullified. New England went of sports enthusiasts. the face of pro football here. On-field on to score the touchdown that effec- Some will point to the flagging atten- wins generated consistent sellouts tively led a sudden-death ending: Pat- dance of the since and created game-day tailgating experi- rick Mahomes never got the chance to more than half a million people jammed ences that have become social events in a winning drive against the soon- Downtown to celebrate the 2015 World themselves. to-be world champion Patriots. Series title. Or the seas of empty red Fans packing Sports Com- Ford left town in a trade to San Fran- seats that defined football at Arrow- plex have earned recognition from the

14 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com The shine of 2015 has dimmed, at- hawks. Football fanatics from Mizzou tendance as has perennially build on hopes for a bowl ap- flagged. But keep something in mind pearance and to compete in the South- when you see half its 42,000 seats emp- eastern Conference championship. And ty on game day. The both KU and K-State have new football have averaged slightly over 44,300 fans coaches with national-championship vic- a game since the start of the 2000 sea- tories on their resumes. son. While that’s twice the 21,822 the The 2019-20 college sports year holds Royals have averaged over that same great promise for all three groups. span, it’s in a market with a population base nearly 10 times larger. NASCAR Even if you factor in the drag on Since is opening in 2001, the Kansas Yankee attendance by the crosstown Speedway and its introduction of NAS-

k Mets (average since 2000: 33,000 and CAR racing to this market have prov-

r

a change), you’re still talking about a huge en game-changing, and not just for

P enthusiasm gap between the Big Apple sports fans. Some economic analyses y

c r and Kansas City fans. And KC is on the have shown that the 1.5-mile oval (orig- e right side of that argument. inally with seating for 82,000, but since M

s It took 30 years to follow up the 1985 ’ n e Series championship with another tro- r Stadium d phy, but fans here are always ready to ad l he i row h fill the seats with royal blue when the Ar C team’s commitment to winning trans- lates into just that: Wins. It’s tough Guinness Book of to demonstrate that when the World Records as payroll is No. 23 out of 30 ma- being the loudest in jor-league baseball teams. the world, with a record (It’s less than half of those noise level of 142.2 decibels— damn Yankees, who enough to cause some permanent trail only the Boston hearing loss, if exposed for long periods. Red Sox for payroll.) Count on this: If Chiefs Kingdom And what have is bound for Super Bowl LIV—and we those extra billions in think we will be—it’s gonna get louder. spending yielded New York since 2000? A The Kansas City Royals 2-1 lead over Kansas With the prospect of a new owner City in World Series for the Kansas City Royals, there is hope championships. Game, that John Sherman’s planned purchase set and match, KC fans. of the team from David Glass will herald in a new era of on-field success. Collegiate Sports Sherman, the long-time energy ex- One positive element of ecutive who has founded and sold a pair a state line bisection of the of highly successful natural-gas com- population base is the number panies, will have to divest his minority of Division I sports programs that ownership stake in the Cleveland Indi- compete for fan loyalties. In these ans and get approval from Major League parts, the past couple of decades have Baseball’s other owners to complete yielded national-champion caliber bas- the deal. ketball at the University of Kansas, and reduced to 48,000), generates roughly But the prospects of change are ex- even No. 1 rankings for the football pro- a quarter-billion dollars in economic cellent, and expectations are rising grams at Kansas State University, and activity for the greater Kansas City re- among fans. Will that translate into in- the University of Missouri. gion each year. Within that are more creased attendance at Kauffman Stadi- All three programs were off a bit than 5,000 jobs tied to track operations um? Perhaps. But even with some of the the past year or so, but fans in Law- or businesses that have been built up team’s struggles over the last couple of rence are looking forward to another around this beautiful race track in west- years, the fan support has been stellar. winning basketball season for the Jay- ern Wyandotte County.

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 15 The Kansas Speedway A lle hosts two major NAS- n Fieldhouse CAR races each year, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, held in both May and Octo- ber. The new events were announced around the time a $2-billion acquisition was in the works between the track’s former owner International Speedway Corp., and NASCAR Holdings. That deal closed in October 2019. a ISC, now a NASCAR subsidiary, owns or operates 13 c major motorsports tracks, c e including such well- M known tracks as n m K ig iu C s d : T De ta he ts S Spor n a m f Question: How did the 26th-largest city in the nation f u

in 1970 emerge, half a century later, as the undisputed a global center of design excellence in sports architecture? K If you boil it down to two words, Earl Santee says they might be “Ron Labinski.” Or “Kivett & Myers.” The architect and the firm that hired him changed the very face of sports stadiums with the two-facility in the early 1970s. Because of their work, the multi-sport facilities that disappointed so many fans of both baseball and football would become relics of a design era passed. That positioned this city to become an incubator of the world’s greatest concentration of sports and large- venue design talent. Santee, managing partner at Pop- ulous, believes there might be 500 designers in that Daytona, Talladega, Darlington and Watkins Glen. Con- niche working in this market. The family tree of firms struction of Kansas Speedway was completed in 2000. tracing roots to Kivett & Myers includes HNTB, which The track’s ownership group also controls the adjoining acquired K&M; Labinski’s next venture, Devine, James, Hollywood Casino through a JV partnership. Labinski and Meyers; HOK Sports Facilities Group, Though the local properties have a new own- which became today’s Populous; global giants like AE- er, ISC will remain close to the . COM, with its sports practice here, and smaller firms Jim France, the son of NASCAR co-founder Bill France, like Manica Architecture, with a comparative handful is the still entity’s chairman. However, the acquisi- of employees but a portfolio of venues worldwide. tion called for the France family to transfer their ISC They have combined to build facilities on six conti- holdings to NASCAR, while other shareholders are to nents, Olympic venues, outdoor stadiums and enclosed receive $45 a share. arenas—it’s a long list. One reason for the region’s The consolidation occurs as NASCAR officials are deal- prominence, Santee suggests, is that firms like Populous ing with a decline in interest for the sport. In 2018, ISC hire so many people who are themselves sports nuts. said that admissions revenue “They are people who love the idea of designing buildings dropped $9.6 million, or that their heroes would play in,” he says. nsas Speed 10.7 percent, for NAS- Ka wa The best part for this region, perhaps, is that there’ y CAR Cup events, comp- still room for the niche to grow. ared with the pre- “There are now firms like Dimensional Innovations vious year. with sports work, graphic firms with sports work, other architectural firms that do sports work—as society continues to change, there will be more and more opportunities for startup companies,” Santee said. “There are a ton of opportunities across the world.”

16 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com Ain’t That a Kick? For a growing fan base in pro and amateur soccer, 2026 could be a lalandmark year that will change everything in Kansas City.

hat’s when mic impact. Kansas City hosted the U.S. “If I’m Brazil, and I have to play a will host the men’s FIFA Figure Skating Championships, NCAA game in Mexico, and a game in Can- Word Cup, and Kansas City Men’s Basketball Midwest regional ada and a game in San Francisco, and is one of 17 cities in the tournament games, the NCAA Wom- maybe in New York, where do I want United States that have been en’s Volleyball Championships, as well to be? Kansas City,” Nelson said. Tchosen as finalists to host the events. as other events. The entire year brought “There’s no better place to train and That number will be whittled down in $300 million. So the World Cup for all of my fans to live because we can to 10 by FIFA, which is expected to would double a great year in one month. get to all of those cities within a few make an announcement by early 2021. To get there, Nelson calculates that hours, and that makes us very unique.” In the meantime, a group of the the area needs to beat out three of Games would be played at Arrow- community’s sports and business lead- the 17 U.S. cities that are relatively head, which is a good thing, since it ers, called KC2026, is working hard to nearby and considered Kansas City’s has the fifth-largest seating capacity boost the region into the final 10 for main competition: Cincinnati, Denver of all 17 teams, but also a challenge, the international soccer games. and Nashville. because free public transportation If they’re successful, bringing the Kansas City has a lot going for it to would need to be provided to and from World Cup here would have a signifi- make it an ideal location as a host city. the stadium, Nelson says. cant economic impact, and in the mean- There are adequate facilities and accom- A spokesman for the Chiefs orga- time, bring some lasting changes to the modations to serve as a home base for nization, which is also a supporter of city’s infrastructure. a country’s team and its fans—about KC2026, said: “We are working with “With the size of Arrowhead [Sta- 10,000 per team—for the six-week dur- a local firm on logistics dium], we could host after the semi- ation of the games. Those teams need a topics, including transportation to and finals, which means up to five, poten- practice facility to store their equipment from the stadium, in addition to how tially six, games,” said Kathy Nelson, and call home during that time, and to best retrofit Arrowhead to accom- president and CEO of the Kansas City there are several such venues in the modate the field requirements.” Sports Commission, and a member area, including the new Pinnacle Devel- Retrofitting the stadium will in- of the KC2026 executive committee. opment Center, a training complex used volve widening the playing field for “That’s easily $600 million to $700 by Sporting KC and U.S. Soccer, in soccer, and the team is looking at a few million. In a month. We’ve never seen Kansas City, Kan.; the Chiefs’ practice different options, including the tem- anything like this, and we’ll never see facility near Arrowhead; Park Univer- porary removal of the warning track anything like this again.” sity’s fields, in Parkville; and others. area and some lower seating. All of the To put that dollar amount in per- Then there’s Kansas City’s geo- NFL stadiums in the running would spective, 2017 was a great year for the graphic accessibility to other areas of need some kind of adjustment for FIFA area in terms of sports-related econo- North America. standards, though, Nelson said.

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 17 jedunn.com Greater Kansas City 2020 EDITION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT

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(Front row l-r) Mayor Mike Boehm, City of Lenexa Moving the Needle on Regional Growth Jill McCarthy, KC Area Development Council Courtney Dunbar, Burns & McDonnell (Chair) What will it take to drive growth across a region as broad and eco- Jim Rine, UMB Bank Mark Long, Newmark Grubb Zimmer nomically diverse as Kansas City? That was the outline for a thought- James Isom, Burns & McDonnell ful, several hour conversation involving two dozen of the area’s most David Soffer, Kansas Department of Commerce influential business executives on Nov. 18, as they gathered for the Charles Renner, Husch Blackwell Greater Kansas City Economic Development Assembly. It was hosted (Back row l-r) by JE Dunn Construction, a long-time driver of civic initiatives, and Don Greenwell, The Builders’ Association chaired by Paul Neidlein, president/CEO of Dunn’s Midwest Division, Rob Cleavinger, JE Dunn Construction along with Michael Kiley, president and CEO of Topeka-based Security Owen Buckley, LANE4 Property Group Matt Pivarnik, Greater Topeka Partnership Benefit Corp., and Courtney Dunbar, economic-development execu- David Fenley, Dentons tive with Burns & McDonnell. Work-force development remained a Pete Fullerton, Kansas City Aviation Department prime topic, as well as the new airport terminal, emerging business Ryan Manies, McCownGordon Construction opportunities such as logistics, building a research university, appro- Michelle Sweeney, Ingram’s Magazine Brent Roberts, Block Real Estate Services priate use of public incentives and more. Mike Kiley, Security Benefit Corp. (Chair) Mark Ward, Mark One Electric John Petersen, Polsinelli PC Sponsors Molly Howey, Greater Topeka Partnership Zach Hubbard, Block Real Estate Group Tim O’Brien, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Paul Neidlein, JE Dunn Construction (Chair)

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Make A Wish, Kansas City Don Greenwell, president of The Imagine you could make one wish Builders’ Association, sees the furor over to set the stage for regional growth in use of incentives tied to broader issues Kansas City. What would it be? The of equity. “We need to get this consen- assembly attendees were asked to iden- sus as a community with where we are tify that one driver, and they responded with incentives, and with social issues with a variety of thoughtful choices. of equity and justice.” JE Dunn’s Rob Cleavinger, director “A game-changer for us would be a of construction operations, kicked it Downtown baseball stadium,” declared off with a regional touch, “I think it’s Mark Long, CEO, Newmark Grubb Zimmer. breaking down the bistate division and For LANE4 Property Group’s Owen combining folks on both sides of the Buckley, “74 degrees and sunny every region to become one,” he said. day,” would be the ideal. More realisti- 1 That answer, said UMB Bank CEO cally, he said, “we have to get a handle Jim Rine, would likely be heard a lot. on our crime and the way it’s being mes- “But I would also say keep the economy saged to the rest of the universe.” going and to do that, take the president’s Mike Boehm, mayor of Lenexa and Twitter account away.” a Commerce Bank executive by day, Jill McCarthy, senior development restated his long-held vision for a locally leader at the Kansas City Area Dev- based research university, “whether elopment Council, offered a contrasting that’s UMKC or KU.” viewpoint on geographic divisions: “I Molly Howey of Go Topeka! and the like the state line,” she said. “It gives Greater Topeka Partnership cast her vote us two packages to put in front of every in statewide and regional terms: “To new business coming in.” As for that retain the talent we are so frequently one wish, it would be “triple-time the exporting to other states,” she said. airport construction to get that open Her colleague at the Topeka operation, 2 immediately.” Matt Pivarnik, sees economic vitality John Petersen, a development-law springing from “St. Joseph, Columbia, specialist from Polsinelli, wishes there Topeka and everything in between with would be less editorial negativity from serious population growth.” the local newspaper on matters of devel- opment. The public, he said, needs to be Where the Jobs Are better educated on the real ROI of public Federal statistics show that trade, transporta- investments in development through the tion and utilities, along with professional ser- use of incentives. vices, accounted for nearly half of the employ- ment by sector in the Kansas City region: Zach Hubbard of Block Real Estate Services concurred, but decried the Supersector Employment politicization of the incentives pro- Professional/Bus. Services 201,800 cesses in the region. “We need to have Government 150,100 an honest discussion about how they Trade/Transportation/Utilities 213,200 Education/Health Services 163,800 3 improve our region,” he said. Leisure/Hospitality 117,200 That honesty, and transparency, Construction-Related Services 54,700 would go a long way toward resolving the Financial Activities 80,000 debate over the use of incentives, said Other Services 42,900 David Soffer, of the Kansas Department Manufacturing 76,800 of Commerce. He said there was a need Information 15,700 “to drive home the message that we are Total Non-Farm Employment 1,116,200 not the enemy; we are trying to bring Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics companies to Kansas.”

1. Paul Neidlein said it was important to drive the message outside this area: Kansas City is Open for Business. | 2. Mike Kiley said a full-employment economy brings work-force issues into a sharper focus. | 3. The Kansas City region, said Courtney Dunbar, is brimming with assets, and its challenges are manageable. | 4. Development lawyer John Petersen offered a rousing defense of public incentives, calling for the citizenry to be better-educated 4 on their structure before rejecting development proposals out of hand.

DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 21 GREATER KANSAS CITY Economic Development Report

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1. David Soffer said it’s important for people to understand that when it comes to the use of incentives from the public sector “we are not the enemy.” | 2. There is no magic-bullet solution to the region’s development needs, said Jill McCarthy; multiple factors must align to produce a stronger growth environment. | 3. Owen Buckley said the Red Bridge Shopping Center purchase and redevelopment project would not have happened without the Cerner project nearby.

But even more than an advanced needs extending well beyond the trades. “the single most impactful economic construction timetable at KCI, said “We still have some tech growth,” he asset we could have the next one to two Brent Roberts of Block Real Estate said, “but we need to recruit younger years would be a Chiefs Super Bowl Services, “we need more direct flights. talent into the market. That’s already victory.” He did not get an argument That would do so much more for us.” in place, seeing what light rail can on that. At Burns & McDonnell, said com- do for us, and I think the expansion mercial construction leader James Isom, (of the streetcar) would lead to good Building on Strengths the need lies with the work force, and economic growth.” From her co-chair’s seat, Courtney he called for “a more regional focus on Ryan Manies of McCownGordon Dunbar of Burns & McDonnell said solving the skilled-labor shortage.” Construction, said that “erasing the that, “as a macro, Kansas City has so Tim O’Brien of Blue Cross and Blue state line would be great, but absent many amazing assets,” while she called Shield of Kansas City, sees the manpower from that, building the Hyperloop from its deficiencies “mitigatable.” “I’d like Kansas City to St. Louis.” That future-is- to see how to align and promote those now project envisions a transportation so we are proactive, not reactive, and Punching the Clock system that could cut the distance know what we are chasing, what we are

Percentage of population age 16 and employed between the state’s two largest metro incenting, and how to train labor.” in the Kansas City region for 2018: areas to just 30 minutes, or less. Her co-chair, JE Dunn’s Paul Neid- Missouri Income Charles Renner, a development-law lein, said it’s important that the region Buchanan 59.80% expert with Husch Blackwell, called for drive a message that welcomes growth. Cass 66.00% a recognition of what the region does “I fear, with some clients, what they are Clay 70.00% best, and to use that as building blocks, worried about is Kansas City is closed Jackson 66.20% the way it has done with logistics and for business,” he said. “With all the pub- Johnson 59.90% animal health. “I’d like to see the same lic economic-development discussion, Lafayette 61.80% type of undertaking with construction, we’ve got to make sure nobody feels like Pettis 60.30% architecture and engineering firms in we’re done. We want to keep pushing Platte 70.80% the city, because Kansas City designs the forward, keep growing for the right Ray 61.40% Saline 60.30% country,” he said. reasons and not pause.” Harkening back to the successes that Security Benefit, a major employer made Union Station’s restoration possi- in Topeka and a national power in the Kansas Income ble a generation ago, David Fenley of the retirement investing space, sent CEO Douglas 70.10% law firm Dentons said, “I’d like to put a Mike Kiley to co-chair, and he brought Franklin 68.20% couple of bistate partnerships together” to that role a great deal of career expe- Johnson 72.10% Leavenworth 57.70% with new, bold agendas. rience in far larger markets of the Miami 66.20% With most of the meat-and-pota- northeast. There, he said, “regionalism Wyandotte 65.60% toes recommendations already on the goes across boarders. In New Jersey or Source: Census Bureau table, Pete Fullerton of the Kansas City Connecticut, you live off things going Aviation Department flatly declared that on in New York. There’s not a lot of

22 G REATER KANSAS CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2020 Commuting Times cross-border animosity.” Thus, he said, marketplace,” he said. “But I’m hearing cross-borderpridewascriticalwitha more about availability and affordabil- Average commuting times for counties host of opportunities in Kansas City. ity,andit’sreallystartingtopercolate. in the Kansas City region in 2018: So which elements of the room’s There’s not a silver bullet, but it’s Missouri Minutes wishlistcouldbeprioritized? somethingwehavetobeplayingwith Buchanan 17.4 That’s a tough order, said Jill Mc- inthepublicsectorastohowwemake Cass 27.8 Carthy.“Idon’tthinkitisanyonething. that happen.” Clay 23.0 Everything has to work in concert. It Jackson 22.8 matters about press, yes, but it matters Post-Border War Johnson 22.7 that visitors are hearing good news, it The governors of Missouri and Kan- Lafayette 26.5 matters about getting the Hyperloop— sas have reached a cease-fire on the Pettis 19.4 Platte 23.3 that’s a once-in-a-lifetime game-changer economic-incentive cross-border bat- Ray 31.2 for the region—it matters that incentives tle, and the “war” may indeed be over. Saline 16.5 arecreativeandmatchwhatcompanies But that’s not the end of things. needtogetgoing,ratherthanastatic “There’s still border competition, list of gosh, I hope I fit into this EDC and there had better be, and there Kansas Minutes form. There’s never one solution.” always will be as long as there are sepa- Douglas 20.1 Franklin 24.5 But one piece of a solution, said rate taxing jurisdictions,” said John Johnson 20.7 Pete Fullerton, is what he called the Petersen.“Solet’sdealwithit.Some Leavenworth 22.4 evolving issue with housing and afford- regional initiatives could be a good Miami 28.6 ability. “It’s not necessarily acute in our exercise, it brought us Union Station, Wyandotte 21.5 Source: Census Bureau

theycouldbringaballparkDowntown, whoknows?Buttheideathatcities don’t compete. The Border War is done, butKansasCityandJohnsonCounty still compete. The USDA, that was a regional effort to get them to the metro area, but incentives were used to drag them over to Missouri. They create eco- nomic activity.” “Some competition,” said Mike 1 2 Kiley, “will make a region stronger. If you have Johnson County vs. Missouri tryingtoofferincentivesorabetter 34 regulatory environment, more compa- nies come to the area and the net result is, the entire region wins.” The Border War truce, said David Soffer, “is only as strong as all agree to abide. As soon as one doesn’t we have issues.” The unintended consequence of that truce, said Brent Roberts, is a differenttypeofwar.“Itcouldleadtoa tripling up of incentives for companies to come in,” he said. Both states, said Courtney Dunbar, “have something incredible to offer, but they don’t rank out the same” with 1. Pete Fullerton wants the new KCI to fulfill the development promise that the 1972 iteration every potential relocation candidate. failed to deliver. | 2. Many parents, said Don Greenwell, are beginning to question the value Missouri fares well with companies of a college education, given the costs today. | 3. Jim Rine elicited laughs when he suggested that have heavy capital requirements, economic prospects might improve if President Trump lost access to Twitter. | 4. A clustered and the incentives are better for them. approach to development, said Charles Renner, will help drive population growth. Kansas, by contrast, has incentives

DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 23 GREATER KANSAS CITY Economic Development Report

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1. The biggest potential development game-changer Mark Long sees would be a Downtown baseball stadium. | 2. Molly Howey (second from left) said a policy priority for the region should be retaining college graduates who have been leaving. Mike Boehm reissued his call for a research university anchored in Kansas City, and Owen Buckley, right, addressed the impact of Cerner’s campus in south Kansas City.

better tailored to research and devel- to create places where people live, work The incentives that prompted Cerner opment enterprises and corporate and play, and where corporations say Corp. to build its Innovation Campus on headquarters space, she said. “You can they want to bring Millennials.” That blighted land in south Kansas City, he sometimes have scenarios where the means a different structure for blend- said, was a perfect example. A recent decision is truly a logistical or market ing work and play, and it must now news report suggested that the $4.4 reason, not about favoritism. It’s can include walkability. “It takes incen- billion project, still in the works, was we produce, can we operate more effi- tives to create place-making,” he said, failing to reach its promised potential ciently and can we receive and send and the region must replace antiquated as an economic boon for the distressed goods out better.” infrastructure, continue to improve region. Confusion over incentives, said John Downtown and add more structured How creating 5,000 jobs in five Petersen begins with the way the term parking to do that. years can be considered a failure, some is used, especially in under-informed Mike Boehm’s civic success, Lenexa at the table wondered, was a mystery. news reporting. “What we need, and City Center, was held up as effective use “But it was the right move,” Roberts everybody in economic development of incentives. The city took the risk of said. knows this, is place-making. We have building the infrastructure to create, in Proof of that lies with Owen Buck- effect, a new downtown. That proved ley’s LANE4, which purchased the attractive to developers who were Red Bridge Shopping Center not far  SELLING KANSAS CITY willing to accept packages that gave the from the Cerner site, four years ago. city a return on its investment. “No way we would have purchased that • The rebirth of Downtown KC includes Petersen’s frustration with public if not for Cerner,” he said. The site has $7 billion in investment since 2002. discourse over incentives is the way con- a few other things going for it—access • During that span, the resident versations are framed around benefits for to I-435 and a number of other daytime population has grown from a few developers and tenants—but on underde- jobs, “but if you took that one thing out thousand to more than 22,000 in veloped land that’s not currently realizing with Cerner, no. There’s a lot of success the three primary ZIP codes that its taxable potential. “It’s a false conver- stories out there.” make up Downtown KC. sation,” he said. “When you’re talking • Kansas City is the second-largest about 20 percent of a $100 million private Driving Growth rail center, by volume, in the U.S. capital investment, part of that will come Charles Renner returned to the behind Chicago—and the first in from future taxes.” concept of growth-drivers, saying two terms of rail shipping by tonnage. That’s the way Zach Hubbard sees that have been proven through research • Greater Kansas City has more free- things, as well. “There are some very are greater population density and way miles per capita than any metro smart people who don’t seem to under- per-capita college education. “From a in the U.S. and has the seventh- stand how developments work,” he said. higher-ed research standpoint, we have least congested traffic of any The debate becomes a distraction from a great collection of assets,” he said. metropolitan area with at addressing underlying issues every “There’s a lot to be said for medical- least 1 million residents. community faces, including public edu- based and scientific research in the Source: U.S. Census Bureau cation and public safety. community.”

24 G REATER KANSAS CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2020 Many of the issues related to growth available jobs, the more talent moves Home Ownership and outlined as discussion points for the there, and that raises the economic Percentage of home ownership for counties assembly, noted Pete Fullerton, dealt performance of companies.” Focusing in the Kansas City region in 2018: with talent development. He wondered investment along those lines, he said, if an initiative supporting cradle-to- will attract the population. Missouri Ownership grave human-capital development might That’s a critical issue, Kiley said. Buchanan 63.20% Cass 75.50% generate the broad support needed for a A recent Security Benefit-sponsored Clay 69.10% bistate rallying cry. summit in Topeka included information Jackson 58.70% It takes a full-employment economy, showing that Kansas ranked 50th in the Johnson 59.80% said Mike Kiley, to focus the spotlight nation in keeping graduates in the state. Lafayette 74.10% on work-force development challenges. The upside, others said, is that many Pettis 67.40% “The mismatch of skills to what is who are leaving Kansas are landing just Platte 65.20% available in the labor force is pretty across the border on the Missouri side Ray 77.50% dramatic,” he said. One advantage the of the Kansas City area. Saline 68.60% Kansas City area has going for it, he Going forward, said John Petersen, said, is with parents of the types of “we’ve got to be the place that’s cool, Kansas Ownership young workers Security Benefit needs— that has affordable housing, that has Douglas 51.20% smart and open-minded. “If you are good transportation, so when that cor- Franklin 72.10% mom or dad and your kid grew up in poration says we have to downsize, Johnson 70.80% Topeka, would you rather have them in if it’s Indianapolis or Kansas City, Leavenworth 67.00% the Kansas City area or New York?” “we’re not doing Kansas City, that’s a Miami 78.00% Those same young workers, Kiley good place. “Don’t be the one that gets Wyandotte 57.50% said, have their own concerns. They can scalped first. That’s how you inoculate Source: Census Bureau live a good life in the Kansas City area a community from a downturn.” on a solid income, or go to “a big city, Kansas City has achieved much, cate more people about the return on where they can’t afford to live without said Pete Fullerton, and many of the public investment in development. “I 12 roommates.” Engaging out-of-state challenges it faces today—the need have friends who are smart and still students at regional universities, is a for affordable housing Downtown, for don’t get it—I have to explain how a CID key to retaining that talent as well, example—are the direct result of suc- works, how a TIF works. It’s been going he said. And it must happen earlier— cesses it has had addressing prior needs. on for 15 years. by their junior year, many college stu- “We ought to celebrate once in a while,” “So yes, we have to do a better job dents are already making plans for he said. “A lot of people pushed a lot of of celebrating success. ‘You like the where they want to live. rocks up that hill for a long time to make Crossroads?’ ‘I love the Crossroads!’ “What Charles Renner cited the cluster this happen Downtown.” do you think about incentives?’ ‘I hate theory approach to economic develop- Owen Buckley concurred, and the incentives.’ Well, the reason you have the ment as a key talent magnet. “The more successes create opportunities to edu- Crossroads is because of the incentives.”

1 2 3

1. Matt Pivarnik said an ideal way to boost overall economic development in the region would be through population growth in St. Joseph, Topeka, Columbia “and everywhere in between.” | 2. If Missouri could land the Hyperloop line proposed between Kansas City and St. Louis, the region would stand to reap huge economic dividends, said Ryan Manies. | 3. Brent Roberts said that even within city governments, officials at times aren’t on the same page with development requirements and restrictions.

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26 I NGRAM’ S Regional Publications Ingrams.com DESTINATION KANSAS CITY REASONS TO CHOOSE Transportation and Infrastructure

FOR NEARLY TWO CENTURIES, KANSAS CITY HAS BEEN A KEY STEPPING-OFF POINT FOR GOODS AND SERVICES THAT NOW SPAN THE NATION AND GLOBE.

If you’ve ever been to Maine, you’ll Still not enough? Well, our transpor- Kansas, across the nine metrics, fared never mistake Kansas City for part of tation structure doesn’t stop there. Long better than many states—it was assigned the Pine Tree State. But one of the best before the first road was graded, runway no grade lower than a C-minus. Flip things about being here and scouting was gouged out or rail spike was driven, side, it didn’t grade out higher than a the map for routes to Maine—or Or- there was a natural highway connecting C in any category, leaving it with an egon, or California—is that, KC to St. Louis, and eventually, the Gulf average grade of C. Missouri (with contrary to what folks might tell you in of Mexico: The . Kansas two additional metrics) fared some- the Northeast, you can indeed get there City is the westernmost freight port on the what worse across 11 categories, earn- from here. river, with runs nearly through the center ing a D-minus, a D and three D- Many features contribute to quality of the state and was the first interstate of plus grades to go with a pair of of life in coastal cities, yet the fact re- the Plains States and Middle America. C-minus rankings and four C’s. mains: only the landlocked can build roads in any direction. And we’ve done just that. Kansas City is blessed with four key interstate connections, with I-70, which nearly bisects the nation from east to west; I-35, the so-called NAFTA super highway linking Mexico to Great Lakes ports; I-29, which origi- nates here and runs nearly straight north to Canada; and I-49, which starts on our southern flank and eventually connects to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. Within that network of concrete and asphalt are multiple threads of and steel: Class 1 rail companies BNSF, Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern help this region lay claim to being the nation’s No. 1 market for rail tonnage, and No. 2 for rail traffic. Those carri- ers have helped thrust this region into conversations nationally about centers of logistics excellence. And the growth On the Move | Superb highway access, plus the ability to ship goods by air, rail and waterway, in that sector, especially with multi- has made the Kansas City region a center of national logistics excellence. modal transportation, has been phe- nomenal. But none of Kansas City’s transpor- The prescriptions for each state were In the air above us, the region also tation infrastructure is siloed, and never generally the same: increase state fund- boasts strong connections thanks to was that as apparent as with the most re- ing to ensure retention of matching fed- Kansas City International Airport—soon cent national report card issued by the eral funds, and a particular focus must be to receive a nearly $2 billion makeover— American Society of Civil Engineers. paid to the freight infrastructure system plus regional airports supporting busin- A state-by-state assessment of nine key as the region continues to assert itself as a ess travel at Charles B. Wheeler Down- transportation and infrastructure met- capital for logistics, saying that “our freight town Airport (our air connection to the rics, it demonstrated that for all the network is only as strong as its weakest world before KCI opened in 1972), plus a access that Kansas City offers to busi- link.” It further recommended a more pair of facilities in the biggest county on ness and the world beyond, its connec- systematic approach to flood prevention in the Kansas side, New Century Airport tions could be imperiled without addi- Missouri, and better regulation of high-haz- and Johnson County Executive Airport. tional attention to statewide priorities. ard and levees to mitigate flood risk.

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Thriving retail areas best indicate Prime Location much of the region’s other economic ac- tivity. In this category, Johnson County, in the southwestern suburbs on the Kan- AT THE CENTER OF A NATION, A CITY sas side, is the clear leader. The county’s economic status to a large degree is due TEEMS WITH THRIVING COMMUNITIES. to its demographics. The most affluent county per capita in the area, its eco- It is also somewhat confusing, be- dominium market, which gave way to nomic output in most categories is the cause this diverse area has so many types a wave of market-rate rental units that leader in Greater Kansas City. Only adja- of economic activities. While one of the have exploded across the greater Down- cent Jackson County, with a much larger area’s strengths is its lack of reliance on a town region post-Recession. population, matches or exceeds its Kansas single industry, this diversity complicates What has put this area in the national neighbor in any significant areas any attempt at a simple generalization. limelight are retail and especially enter- In simple terms, Johnson County’s Geographically, the city of Kansas City, tainment developments. A $276 million growth has taken three directions over the Mo., is the largest city. Not surprisingly, it arena, an $850 million, nine-block en- past decade. The most dramatic is to the is home to a number of the region’s prime tertainment district, and a $414 million south, where the largest and most affluent locations. Downtown Kansas City, with performing-arts center generated activity cities such as Overland Park, Olathe and an economic rebirth that is approaching that Downtown had not seen in decades. Leawood continue to develop. Though less $7 billion since 2002, is arguably the most Almost overnight, Downtown went from broad, Johnson County’s westward expan- significant—economically, demographically, what was described as a “hole in the do- sion has been significant. Communities such even culturally. nut” to the area’s crown jewel. as Lenexa and DeSoto have witnessed res- idential and significant commercial devel- opment, especially along Kansas Highway 10. Because of its link with Lawrence and Kansas University, this route is being tagged as the “Smart Corridor” and promoted for development by high-tech firms, inclu- ding some of the area’s life science efforts. Kansas City’s urban twin sister, Kansas City, Kan., has also been in on the develop- ment turn-around. And the most dramatic example of that is its Village West develop- ment in western Wyandotte County. The unique, unified city/county government helped fund the nearby Kansas Speedway a generation ago, then used that attraction to help bootstrap a 750,000- square-foot ent- ertainment and retail area that has become the most popular destination in Kansas. That has led to both office space and residential construction, most notably with the decision by Cerner Corp. to expand its Connected | This Kansas City Area Development Council map shows the direct flights that footprint in the metro area with a pair of connect this region to almost any point in the U.S. in three hours or less—and bring visitors towers near Village West that are home who can experience the varied economic nodes that make up this region. to more than 4,000 employees. The 2011 opening of what is now Children’s Mercy Kansas City’s urban core began its As in other parts of the nation, this Park, home to pro soccer franchise Sport- rebirth in the late 1990s when its many new interest in older urban areas is not ing Kansas City, further established that empty offices and warehouses first be- limited to Kansas City. St. Joseph and area’s power to attract consumers to din- came popular for loft conversions. The Topeka have also seeing a significant ur- ing, shopping and entertainment venues. trend gained significant economic steam ban resurgence, along with other smaller With little exaggeration, almost every not long after 2000, and by mid-decade, cities such as Sedalia, Warrensburg and community in Greater KC with significant the movement had become dramatic. Harrisonville. Lawrence, with its built- highway or interstate access continues to The housing slowdown during the Great in student market from the University of enjoy the benefits of notable development Recession significantly slowed a hot con- Kansas, never lost its vital downtown. that began in earnest with the 21st century.

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Cost of Living

HOUSING PRICES HAVE LONG BEEN A KEY TO THE LOWER COSTS OF LIVING IN KANSAS CITY, BUT THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT MAKE LIFE HERE A COMPARATIVE BARGAIN.

It spoke volumes about how Kansas actually down 2.2 percentage points rela- accept a cut in pay, and still enjoy a con- City is perceived by people on the East tive to the rest of the nation. siderably higher standard of living. Coast: In June, the USDA announced Once again, the Kansas City Value It’s easy, of course, to cherry-pick that it would be moving two of is divi- Proposition comes shining through. the stats of big cities like New York, sions out of the Washington D.C. area, bound for Kansas City. And as Ag Sec- retary Sonny Purdue was breaking that The average price of an existing home in Kansas City this news to an auditorium of staff members, roughly half stood up with their backs spring was $240,000. In New York? The same home would to him in protest. For some, the silent protest will run you an additional $500,000. That's a lot of dough to morph into new lines of work as they lay out for quick access to a fresh bagel at 3 a.m. cling to life in the District of Colum- bia. But it turns out that what they don’t know—at least about the cost of living on a federal salary—is going to The big driver, as always, behind that San Francisco and Boston. But the Kan- hurt them. In the wallet. If they want is the cost of housing here. This year’s sas City value holds up well compared to a better life, they might want to think index put Kansas City at 88.9, nearly 11 housing markets in Chicago, Seattle and about rates and availability on moving full percentage points below the national Portland, which are all roughly a third vans. average. Think about that for a moment: more expensive. When it comes to cost-of-living the average selling price of an existing The broader index, taking into ac- trends, the bad news is that it’s getting home in the Kansas City market in May count utilities, transportation, grocer- more expensive, no matter where you 2019 was about $240,000 according to ies, health care and miscellaneous costs, live. The good news, for residents of the the Kansas City Area Association of Re- still show those bigger venues as being Kansas City area, is that even if it costs altors. at least half again as expensive, and some- more to put dinner on the table today, Compare that to a locale like New times twice the cost of living in KC. Savvy the costs are lower relative to national York, with a whopping 388.9 housing employers locked in a nationwide search averages. indicator. That same house, assuming for talent are able to leverage Kansas Nearly a decade ago, the cost of you could cram it into Manhattan, City’s advantage to land the true players. living index for this region stood at would run better than $763,000. That’s We do cede a bit of ground on the 97.7, compared to the national average a cool half million-plus to build into costs for transportation and miscella- of 100. The most recent figure: 95.5. the mortgage payments. It’s easy to see neous goods, with indexes of 100.8 and So while everyone most everywhere feels why an employee can relocate from 105.1, and we’re holding our own on utili- the pinch of inflation, each year, we’re the Big Apple to Kansas City, perhaps ties, matching the national average of 100.

$ REGIONAL COST OF LIVING COMPOSITE INDEX GROCERIES HOUSING UTILITIES TRANSPORTATION HEALTHCARE MISC.

Topeka 95.2 100.9 82.2 100.3 90.9 95.3 103.4 Columbia 93.1 98.6 82.1 100.9 95.9 98.6 96.1 Kansas City 91.0 99.9 81.3 82.3 93.8 98.7 95.9 St. Louis 90.4 103.2 70.5 112.8 94.2 96.3 92.9 Jefferson City 89.7 93.9 73.9 101.4 92.9 99.2 95.4 Springfield 89.3 95.9 71.4 98.3 88.4 98.6 97.4 Joplin 85.6 88.4 65.6 129.1 102.3 89.6 82.8

Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Survey, Q3 2018/Missouri Economic and Research Information Center

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 31 DESTINATION KANSAS CITY REASONS TO CHOOSE

But we also pick up advantages in health care (97.0 index) and grocer- ies—living in the center of the ag sec- tors value chains for beef, pork, poul- try and grain contributes mightily to a score of 94.8, a discount of more than 5 percent compared to the nation’s average grocery bill. And those factors add up. For years, law firms, engineering and architecture firms and other pro- fessional services based in Kansas City have been able to use the lower cost structure to compete with firms on ei- ther coast. In a global economy, more companies outside those sectors are Dining Local | The agricultural might of the Midwest pays off for Kansas City residents whose experiencing the same advantage. food bill is reduced by ready access to the ag sector's value chains of meat and grain production.

$ COST OF LIVING: MAJOR U.S. CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA COMPOSITE GROCERY MISC. GOODS INDEX ITEMS HOUSING UTILITIES TRANSPORTATION HEALTH CARE & SERVICES New York 240.6 138.2 520.8 119.7 117.7 112.8 112.8 San Francisco 191.4 131.6 350.5 125.8 133.9 124.1 128.3 Honolulu 188.9 165.7 318.6 160.5 139.7 120.2 122.9 Seattle 153.6 125.7 213.1 109.6 137.0 124.7 136.9 Oakland 153.5 133.0 221.2 122.3 130.9 122.3 125.6 Washington, D.C. 152.3 131.6 257.3 91.9 94.6 99.5 114.5 Boston 150.4 108.9 218.7 121.3 114.9 133.8 130.9 146.8 115.2 233.7 108.1 126.5 107.6 110.3 San Diego 146.7 113.5 227.6 134.3 132.6 107.9 106.6 Portland 129.4 112.6 185.1 87.4 118.1 113.7 107.8 Chicago 120.8 99.7 154.9 92.8 125.9 101.3 110.6 Miami 116.9 109.5 150.6 100.2 103.9 98.2 103.0 Baltimore 115.2 111.6 149.7 107.5 91.6 89.7 100.3 Denver 114.3 100.5 140.5 79.3 106.4 102.6 111.9 Philadelphia 112.3 119.3 122.6 106.3 109.6 103.4 104.9 Minneapolis 107.0 105.0 102.8 98.1 106.2 106.7 114.0 Dallas 103.7 102.7 107.5 104.4 95.7 105.1 102.8 Atlanta 102.7 99.9 108.1 87.0 100.8 108.8 103.5 Pittsburgh 100.4 107.0 99.2 110.7 114.0 94.6 93.2 Charleston, SC 100.1 95.7 92.1 122.6 88.9 106.6 103.9 Austin 99.7 89.7 103.3 96.6 96.6 106.1 101.8 Little Rock 99.4 96.1 86.3 96.4 94.3 83.4 115.5 New Orleans 99.3 104.2 116.8 82.0 107.5 104.9 85.3 Nashville 98.2 94.6 94.2 97.6 94.5 87.7 105.3 Cleveland 98.1 108.4 85.0 99.6 103.9 101.6 102.3 Phoenix 97.4 99.5 93.2 110.2 100.6 90.7 96.5 Charlotte 97.2 96.0 85.2 93.0 90.6 107.8 108.7 Louisville 95.6 87.1 81.2 93.9 103.8 100.6 108.1 Cincinnati 95.2 91.3 82.2 94.0 101.5 97.5 105.5 Kansas City 95.1 102.7 85.1 99.0 93.7 99.9 99.5 Houston 95.0 86.0 92.8 107.7 97.4 93.9 96.1 Richmond, VA 94.5 86.5 88.2 96.2 90.6 117.3 100.3 Indianapolis 92.7 95.1 78.1 106.2 95.2 99.1 99.2 Raleigh 91.8 92.6 84.5 93.9 87.6 103.5 96.3 Jacksonville 91.1 101.3 83.5 96.2 84.5 82.0 94.6 Tampa 89.6 105.4 71.5 85.7 99.6 96.5 95.7 Jackson, MS 89.4 97.6 76.1 86.3 89.3 84.2 98.5 Detroit 88.8 93.0 73.5 93.8 99.5 98.0 98.0 St. Louis 88.4 104.8 67.4 101.4 98.2 94.4 92.0 Jonesboro, Ark. 83.7 88.9 71.1 90.3 88.7 81.9 89.0 Memphis 81.3 86.5 71.4 94.0 88.0 76.4 82.5

Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Survey, Q3 2018

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Relax WE'VE DONE THIS A MILLION TIMES DESTINATION KANSAS CITY REASONS TO CHOOSE Real Estate Values

HOME, OFFICE, WAREHOUSE: NAME THE PLACE, AND YOU’LL FIND THAT THE COSTS OF SETTLING IN ARE CONSIDERABLY MORE ATTRACTIVE IN KANSAS CITY.

There are many ways to measure a community’s attractiveness as a place to live, work and do business. Not many of those metrics are as telling as real-estate values, whether its for the price of a home or the site of engaging in com- merce. But pick your measurement, and you’re sure to find the Kansas City region comfortably away from the high-rent markets on the coasts. This area’s hous- ing prices are the plot of a story often- told with regard to livability here. The other side of real-estate values, however, provides some powerful insights into what makes the regional economy tick. Class A Classy | The new headquarters building for Creative Planning in Overland Park On the commercial side, a thriving is not just the firm’s home, but an expansion of premium office space in this market. market has shown up in recent years with higher costs for industrial and office Start with Newmark Grubb Zim- the strongest numbers. The northern property listings. No surprise there; the mer’s first-quarter market report, which half of the Kansas suburban county, clos- roaring national economy has prices up showed that office vacancy rates overall er to the core of Kansas City, saw overall most anywhere you look. The real sur- had tightened from 8.8 percent in early rents averaging $28.96 per square foot. prises that favor Kansas City require some 2018 to 8.4 percent. The added demand That was well ahead of southeast Jackson digging, and comparisons. pushed rental rates from $20.22 per County in Missouri, where rents in the square foot up to $20.69. Lee’s Summit area averaged $24.50. the Within that, Class A of- comparative bargain in that space was STOP-AND-GO RECOVERY $  fice space was fetching Wyandotte County, at an even $20. Like many ares of the U.S., counties in the Kansas City region have a premium of more than The industrial side of things also seen home prices rebound from post-recession lows: $2.50 a square foot: $23.24. showed a 0.4 percent decrease in the va- MEDIAN PRICE MEDIAN PRICE CHANGE Among the nine dis- cancy rate, helping drive asking rents MISSOURI 2010 2017 tinct subsectors for office up a dime from the $4.85 standard in Buchanan $110,700 $125,250 12.14% space in this market, early 2018. With the national industrial Jackson $136,554 $144,000 5.45% Johnson County posted average at $5.79 per square foot, accord- Platte $212,357 $205,000 -3.46% Clay $161,948 $171,700 6.02% Cass $149,274 $162,387 8.78% Pettis $95,476 $98,200 2.85% Saline $83,323 $85,700 2.85% Johnson $135,339 $133,500 -1.36% Lafayette $114,046 $110,000 -3.55%

KANSAS Douglas $186,400 $164,000 -12.02% Johnson $261,352 $247,000 -5.49% Wyandotte $88,130 $106,000 20.28% Leavenworth $178,787 $192,000 7.39% Atchison $87,881 $87,500 -0.43% Miami $190,936 $178,250 -6.64% Franklin $120,912 $110,975 -8.22% Living Large | Even with executive homes, prices in the Source: Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors Kansas City region fall well below those in most big cities.

Ingrams.com DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 35 DESTINATION KANSAS CITY REASONS TO CHOOSE

ing to JLL’s first-quarter statistics, the THE KC OFFICE SCENE Kansas City region stands as a signifi- $ cant bargain for companies operating REGION CLASS A INVENTORY OVERALL OVERALL here—a savings of better than 16 percent (square feet) VACANCY RATE ASKING RENT (sf) off the U.S. average. Strong demand Downtown produced Downtown 7,471,940 16.60% $20.51 S. Kansas City 3,306,781 24.1% $18.27 average rents of $9.44 psf, more than Northland 880,662 25.8% $16.83 twice the rate found in some of the E. Jackson County 250,292 8.6% $17.66 market subsectors, and well above the Midtown/Plaza 2,543,098 5.8% $20.76 next-closest subsector, $8.38 psf in the North Johnson County 1,636,991 2.9% $21.16 nearby Midtown area. Wyandotte County, South Johnson County 7,826,396 11.4% $21.90 KC Totals 24,321,581 11.8% $19.74 one of the region’s strongest industrial nodes, again provided the most afford- Source: Newark Grubb Zimmer Q1 Market Report 2019 able spaces at an average of just $3.67 per square foot. The run-up in housing prices nation- calling Kansas City one of America’s hot- As for the housing component, pric- wide has played out here as well, but rela- test markets for investors. es here have long been secret weapon tive to national averages, homeowners in Real-estate appreciation rates are so for business executives trying to pull in Kansas City are still at a significant com- strong in here, Norada said, “that despite talent from pricier enclaves: Median parative advantage. The median home price a nationwide downturn in the housing home prices in this region are just a here, according to realty-data firm Zillow, market, Kansas City real estate has con- third—in some cases, even less—of what is just $148,900. Nationally, that average is tinued to appreciate in value faster than you’d expect to pay in major markets like more than 52 percent higher, at $226,800. most communities. In the last 12 months, New York, San Francisco and Boston, and Affordability has contributed to de- Kansas City real-estate appreciation rates between 30 and 50 percent lower than mand, just one reason why California- continue to be some of the highest in you find in many other large cities. based Norada Real Estate Investments is America.”

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36 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com Academy Bank is proud to work HELPING KC with companies in our hometown to create a stronger Kansas City. Let our commercial lending team help SHINE BRIGHTLY your business with a done deal.

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Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 37 MCC Is Your Community College Providing access and equity for more than a century

Dr. Kimberly Beatty, Chancellor Metropolitan Community College Preparing Students. Serving Communities. mcckc.edu Creating Opportunities.

It’s All About the Workforce THE POLITICAL EDITION 2000 For three generations, Ingram’s has INGRAM’S been a leader in reporting on higher KANSAS CITY’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2000 $3..00 education in the Kansas City region. And we’re coming back for more in 2020, KANSAS VS focused on issues of work-force development critical to employers MISSOURI in Missouri and Kansas. A SHOWDOWN AT STATE LINE The Competition & Cooperation of Bi-State Economic Development We invite you to align with our efforts to support the interests of the region’s three large research universities, numerous smaller public universities and private colleges, and dozens of community colleges across the bistate.

The Big III: February, June, October 2020 816.842.9994 Q [email protected] DESTINATION KANSAS CITY REASONS TO CHOOSE Education

THE KANSAS CITY REGION DRAWS ECONOMIC STRENGTH FROM A RICH WEAVE OF EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS.

State Line? A problem? That might be state schools has been an issue in recent pabilities, it is building on a national repu- true in other communities divided by years, given the fiscal crises that have tation as a top-tier research and teaching state lines, but in Kansas City, there’s one beset both Kansas and Missouri. But pol- university. unanticipated blessing that flows from icymakers in each state have gone on re- Roughly half that size is the Univer- being a metropolitan area straddling two cord saying that the higher-education belt- sity of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, states is a wealth of public educational tightening has run its course because fur- with approximately 11,000 students, less offerings. ther cuts there would inflict long-term than an hour east of Kansas City’s subur- Start with our systems of higher edu- economic damage. Many have committed ban fringe. And less than an hour to the cation. Yes, systems, with an “s,” because to finding other areas of savings, or new north of Downtown Kansas City, Missouri we have two states in the mix. sources of state revenue, to reduce addi- Western State University in St. Joseph has That’s how we get the benefits of the tional impact on university budgets. about 5,000 students. University of Kansas Medical Center, a Beyond the life sci- research and teaching magnet that abuts ences, regional univer- the state line in the Midtown section of sities also have expres- Kansas City, and, barely two miles away, sed growing interest in adjacent to the Country Club Plaza, the other aspects of high University of Missouri–Kansas City. UMKC technology. One result is one of a handful of universities nation- of this is that both uni- ally that can boast programs in the four versity systems, while of- health disciplines: medicine, dentistry, fering outstanding pro- nursing and pharmacy. grams overall, boast ar- More recently, Kansas State Univer- eas of special strength sity has established a significant pre- that local residents and sence in the region with its Olathe In- businesses can access novation Campus, which celebrated its across that state line. Medical Muscle | The University of Missouri-Kansas City not opening in early 2011. That site is part Inside Kansas City only anchors the Plaza area with its main campus, but its health-education complex is a vital component of activity of a broader venture with KU and John- proper, the largest insti- in Downtown Kansas City. son County Community College to align tution is the University of their resources. The goal? Making this Missouri–Kansas City, with an enrollment Two major land-grant research insti- region a nationally recognized center for approaching 15,000 students. In addition tutions flank the region: the University research and instruction in the life to its broad range of medical programming, of Missouri-Columbia, with over 28,000 sciences—covering the range of human, UMKC offers degrees at the baccalaureate, students, and K-State in Manhattan plant and animal health. first-professional, master’s, and doctoral (more than 23,000 students) are readily Nearly two dozen private colleges levels, and operates a College of Arts and accessible from Kansas City. and universities dot the regional land- Sciences, a conservatory of music, and Many consider the area’s private col- scape, including several with national schools of business and public administra- leges and universities to be among its credentials. Combined, these colleges and tion, computing and engineering, educa- best assets. Among others, they include universities host more than 100,000 tion, law and biological sciences. William Jewell College in Liberty, ranked students within the metropolitan area, The University of Kansas, in nearby annually as one of the best small col- or only a short hour or two away. Lawrence, has more than 21,000 under- leges in the nation. Park University in Though not entirely new, a signifi- graduate students and roughly 6,000 Parkville, Rockhurst University in Kansas cant trend is the regional focus on high- graduate students, as well as nearly 3,000 City, the University of Saint Mary in Leav- er education, with both state and pri- at the medical center in Kansas City. Par- enworth, and Missouri College in vate institutions continuously expand- ticularly with its coronary-care programs Marshall. All are respected institutions ing their programs. Public financing for and emerging cancer center research ca- with innovative programs.

Ingrams.com DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 39 DESTINATION KANSAS CITY REASONS TO CHOOSE

Other recognized programs are of- For programs directly related to ley District consistently leading the way fered by the Kansas City Art Institute, business, the greatest concentration of on the Kansas side and Park Hill gen- Avila College in south Kansas City, and curriculum may be found at Metropoli- erally topping the area scores on the three Kansas-side private colleges: Mid- tan Community College on the Missouri Missouri side. America Nazarene University in Olathe, side, and its Kansas counterparts, John- As a major metropolitan area, Kan- Baker University in Baldwin, and Bene- son County Community College and sas City is not immune to the difficul- dictine College in Atchison. Kansas City Kansas Community College. ties experienced by other urban school Specialty schools abound, as well. All of those operate specialized training districts, but programming, administra- Cleveland University is widely known programs on their multiple campuses, tive and policy changes in recent years for its medical education, and DeVry including several operated with corpo- have begun to produce measurable aca- University offers two locations that are rate partners tailored to the needs of demic improvements in both the Kansas widely recognized in business. The Kan- individual companies. City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., school sas City University of Medicine and Bio- At the K–12 level, the region abounds districts. sciences has grown substantially in with public school districts that turn Private schools such as Barstow, Oak- the past two decades, and sits next to out impressive numbers with their aver- hill Day, Oxford Park Academy, Pem- Downtown Kansas City. age ACT scores. Combined with superi- broke Hill and Wentworth Military Business owners and operators should or instruction from the region’s private Academy are widely recognized, and a also know that nearly all of these in- schools, they help give the greater Kan- strong network of excellent parochial stitutions offer vocational, career and sas City area the enviable quality of life schools are available as well. business programs that can be a major it enjoys. With this full arsenal of K-20 as- plus. One of the most unusual is at Wil- More than two dozen suburban dis- sets, Kansas City as a region is well- liam Jewell, which operates Pryor Lead- tricts post average ACT scores that beat positioned to fill the the business com- ership Center and several advanced, the statewide numbers in the rest of munity’s pipeline for young, educated executive training programs. Missouri or Kansas, with the Blue Val- workers.

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40 I NGRAM’ S Regional Publications Ingrams.com DESTINATION KANSAS CITY REASONS TO CHOOSE

Healthcare and Community Services

KANSAS CITY CONTINUES TO FLEX ITS MEDICAL MUSCLE AS BOTH A REGIONAL PROVIDER OF HEALTH-CARE SERVICES, AND NOW A NATIONAL PLAYER IN MEDICAL RESEARCH.

When you think about health-care like Research Medical Center to subur- The region is ringed by major health delivery in the Kansas City market, ban facilities like Lee’s Summit Medi- care anchors like Mosaic Life Care in you’re talking about more than just a cal Center, and two major facilities in St. Joseph, which has been a leader in metro area. It’s a robust network of hos- Johnson County—Menorah Medical the field of population health efforts to pitals—non-profit and for-profit acute- Center and Overland Park Regional engage patients in ways that encourage care facilities, independent health auth- Medical Center. greater self-responsibility for managing orities and municipally owned medical Another health-care heavyweight their own wellness, not just their occa- centers, community hospitals, pedia- here is Truman Medical Centers. A sional illnesses. tric care and research facilities, stand- teaching hospital aligned with the Uni- Topeka now stands poised to repo- alone specialty hospitals, clinics and versity of Missouri-Kansas City and its sition itself as a health-care magnet for more. schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy the state of Kansas: Last year, the Uni- And it serves not just the nearly 2.2 and dentistry, Truman is a two-facility versity of Kansas Health System and a million residents of the greater Kansas system. The main hospital has a unique for-profit partner, Ardent, jointly ac- City area, but a four-state area with 14 million residents, and often, patients from across the nation. And thanks to major advances in funding, and mission certification in recent years, the region is witnessing explosive growth in medical research. The additional research functions in this market are led by a quartet of institutions: The University of Kansas, with its National Cancer Institute-level work in that field; HCA Midwest Health, with its neuroscience and cancer insti- tutes; Saint Luke’s Health System, with its Mid-America Heart Institute and cardiovascular research; and Children’s Mercy Kansas City, in the middle of a $200 million construction project for a Extending Its Reach | The new research institute tower at Children’s Mercy Kansas City’s pediatric research tower. Hospital Hill campus will redefine the hospital’s role in pediatric research. Three-fourths of Is all of this too much of a good thing? the $200 million project cost came from equal donations of $75 million by the Hall Family Perhaps: Most hospital administrators Foundation and Sunderland Foundation. will admit that in the current state of health-care economics, this region has mission, as it serves the urban core in quired St. Francis Health Center, which too many hospital beds. But for consum- Kansas City (from its 248-bed facility had been struggling financially and put ers, that translates into fierce competi- on Hospital Hill) and suburban Jackson up for sale by the Sisters of Charity of tion and abundant choices for hospital County, with its even larger 298-bed Leavenworth. With the resources of the care. Truman-Lakewood campus near Lee’s state’s largest hospital now behind it, Beds at the region’s medical facili- Summit. St. Francis will challenge the consider- ties, combined, number more 5,000, Children’s Mercy is also a teaching ably larger Stormont Vail Health to offer and many of those belong to HCA Mid- hospital, drawing patients from across care for northeast Kansas and beyond. west Health. This sprawling network of the nation and is now engaged in key Saint Luke’s Health System, best facilities has eight full-service hospitals pediatric-research initiatives, with some known for its major medical center on in the market, plus a psychiatric hospi- particularly noteworthy advances in the the Country Club Plaza, has suburban tal, and they range from urban hospitals field of pediatric pharmacology. satellites in Overland Park, Lee’s Summit

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 41 DESTINATION KANSAS CITY REASONS TO CHOOSE

adding at least ing from institutions like MRIGlobal, 10,000 residents a the University of Missouri-Kansas City year for more than and Kansas City University of Medicine three decades, the and Biosciences, the regional life-scienc- appetite for health- es community has swelled to more than care services con- 2,000 scientists working with $550 mil- tinues to grow, cre- lion in annual research spending. ating opportunities And it’s not just about the people or for twin pillars of the money invested from the public and care there Advent- non-profit universe. Kansas City straddles Health Shawnee some of the nation’s largest value chains Mission and Olathe in agricultural production, so research in Health, both of animal health and plant sciences—and the which in recent relationships between those three lines of Monolithic Growth | At $360 million, the Cambridge Tower addition to years have rebrand- study—is a field of research fraught with the University of Kansas Hospital campus opened in late 2017. It rep- ed from their hos- possibilities that have attracted a small resented another leap forward for an organization establishing itself pital-centric iden- army of for-profit research organizations. as a statewide barometer of heatlh-care service delivery in Kansas. tities as they ex- Consider: Companies based in the pand services into zone between Manhattan, Kan., and Col- and the Northland, along with smaller the wellness realm. umbia, Mo., account for nearly one- community hospitals. And one of the Against that backdrop, the missions third of a $19 billion global market in the region’s busiest, in terms of patient vol- of the institutions themselves have evol- animal-health sector. That’s a lot of in- umes, is North Kansas City Hospital, ser- ved, with health-care research emerging quiry into the Next Big Thing. Those op- ving an area well beyond its immediate as a prime area of growth for the larger portunities in both human and animal territory north of the Missouri River. facilities. health have positioned the region for In Johnson County, which has been With additional research muscle com- long-term growth.

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42 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com DESTINATION KANSAS CITY BUSINESS CULTURE

A Productive Work Force

COMBINE SKILLS WITH MOTIVATION AND WORK ETHIC, AND YOU SEE KC’S ADVANTAGE.

Writing for the Show-Me Institute middle income level than, in many cases, comparatively better-educated: Of the in 2016, Wendell Cox observed that the twice that on the coasts. Perhaps that’s the nation’s 52 largest Metropolitan Statisti- Kansas City area stood out as a location motivation for fewer work absences among cal Areas, Kansas City ranks No. 29 with for business based on multiple factors, the work force here, and productivity 33.7 percent of its population over age 25 but one had a particular relevance to metrics that have prompted billions in in- holding at least a bachelor’s degree. employers: Productivity. “Kansas City compares favorably to all of The Economist’s 10 most livable cities in housing affordability and traf- fic congestion, and outperforms all but three in productivity,” Cox said. “A mid- dle-income quality of life equal to that of Kansas City cannot be achieved in any of the most livable international cities.” And that’s where Cox may have been onto something: Addressing the kinds of “most-livable cities” lists produced by or- ganizations both data and click-dri- ven, he noted that “the principal purpose of such reviews is to inform internat- ional companies seeking to relocate highly paid executives to other cities. Needless to say, what may make a city livable to an executive with $500,000 or more in annual income is not likely to have much Getting it Done | Companies like JE Dunn Construction have attained national stature relevance to middle-income households, from their base in Kansas City, in large parte because they’ve been able to replicate cor- which had a median income of approx- porate cultural values of employees as they have moved into new markets. imately $54,000 in the United States.” That bit of insight, it seems, is not lost vestments from national powers like Ford That puts this region significantly on people who work in Kansas City. The Motor Co. and General Motors. ahead of such markets as Los Angeles, simple fact is that high-level executives The Midwestern work for which Houston, Orlando and San Antonio, as are likely to have a pretty good life wher- America’s heartland is famous is ground- well as peer intermountain cities of Col- ever they go. But an employee in the Kan- ed on a demographic reality: Com- umbus, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, St. Louis sas City area can have a better life at that pared to coastal populations, there are and Cleveland (all below the 30-percent comparatively few big cit- level for bachelor’s degree attainment). ies in the vast expanse be- In a knowledge economy, that kind tween the Rockies and the of educational attainment can make a . The difference. And it’s one reason why the vast majority of people in Kansas City metro area boasted a 3.4 per- these cities are just a gen- cent unemployment rate in the spring eration or two removed from of 2019—nearly half a point below the na- the farm, where concepts of tional average of 3.8 percent. self-reliance and, yes, even The downside of that? There is, at entrepreneurship weren’t just this point in the economic cycle, a ma- lifestyle choices, but basic jor quest for talent across both blue- survival skills. collar and white-collar industries, that Home-Grown | Founded in nearby Lenexa, Kan., in 1989, And perhaps a piece of isn’t likely to let up as the demographic Olathe-based Garmin has grown to be a global leader in the productivity here comes trends have been chipping away at college GPS and wearable technology. from a work force that is enrollment for nearly a decade.

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 43 DESTINATION KANSAS CITY BUSINESS CULTURE Business Climate and Economic Conditions

BISECTED BY A STATE LINE, THE KANSAS CITY REGION IS AN AMALGAM OF ECONOMIES THAT HAVE BOTH LOCAL AND STATE COMPONENTS. THAT CAN SEND SOME MIXED MESSAGES ABOUT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.

The bad news—if you’re a bad- in Kansas start at 4 percent, but for place); Kansas weighs in at No. 21, with news-first sort of person—is that Kan- those with income above $50,000, the $1,490 per capita in this category. sas slipped from No. 4 to No. 7 in the rate will rise to 7 percent. That puts it Business taxes alone, however, don’t 10-state region that includes Missouri in a tie for 20th-highest nationwide. tell the whole story, as health-policy gu- and the bordering states, and from No. In either case, it looks a lot rosier than rus have often pointed out. The Show- 23 a year ago to 28th this year in the over- California’s 8.84 percent levy, but not Me State has the lowest cigarette tax all nation. So says the Tax Foundation, as inviting as the zero-tax rates on corp- in the nation, 17 cents a pack; compare which crunches a great many variables to orate income you’d find in Texas, , that with the highest levy, $4.35 a pack, produce its annual rankings of the states. Nevada, South Dakota, Washington or in New York. The 6-cent per gallon- The good news if you’re in the Wyoming. age tax on beer also was the nation’s Kansas City area? Missouri jumped to Individual income taxes. Kansas has lowest. Advocates for higher taxes to No. 1 in the region, and 14th nationally, three brackets—3.10 percent, 5.25 per- curb consumption say both of those for the pro-business aggregation of taxes cent, 5.7 percent, with the highest mar- factors contribute to social ills that im- covering corporate and individual pose hidden costs on business. income, sales and property levies, A statistic of some note to and workers’ compensation taxes. companies with large fleets of Then again, with the way state vehicles is the gasoline tax. legislative bodies, including the There, Missouri’s 17.35-cent one in Kansas, have embraced levy is second-lowest among higher taxes on multiple fronts, states, while Kansas ranks No. all Missouri had to do to ascend 33 at 24.03 cents per gallon. the rankings, basically, was hold If, after all that, you still serve: On a national level, Iowa believe that a business-climate (ninth regionally, 40th nationally) ranking index is your thing, matched the five-spot fall of Kansas, you can always turn to orga- while (10th/45th) gave nizations that focus more on Illinois (eighth/36th) a run for its business than policy, and un- money with identical plunges of derstand it from that perspec- seven spots. So with 2020 upon tive. us, here’s where things stand in the Kan- ginal rate applying to income above Take, for example, the Forbes annual sas City region. $30,000 for individuals, and $60,000 index of Best States for Business, which Sales taxes. Missouri has a statewide for married filing jointly. That gives it an bases its ratings on a matrix of six busi- base sales tax of 4.225 percent; in Kan- average yield of 5.4 percent, according ness factors—business costs, labor sup- sas, it is 6.5 percent. Because most every to the Tax Foundation. Missouri has been ply, regulatory burden, economic cli- municipality (and school, sewer, water, peeling back thin layers of taxation in mate, growth prospects and quality of fire or library district, etc.) has its own recent years, reaching a 5.7 percent levy life. sales-tax levy, you can find thousands that is roughly comparable to Kansas’. Some of those are more measurable of permutations. Taken as a whole, the Property taxes. This is the area than others, of course, and things can city and state sales taxes average 8.13 where residents can be thankful they get fuzzy when trying to assess some- percent in Missouri (14th-highest na- don’t have “D.C.” as part of their geo- thing like quality of life; one man’s tionwide) and 8.67 percent in Kansas graphic designation—the nation’s capi- quality might be another’s misery. Mis- (8th-highest). tal extracts, per capita, $3,535 from souri and Kansas fare lukewarm in those Corporate income taxes. Missouri residents each year, highest in the na- ratings—Missouri rose four spots to No. has a flat 6.5 percent levy on taxable in- tion. By comparison, Missouri was way 18 in 2018, and Kansas surged 11 spots to come, lower than 29 other states. Rates down on the list, at $971 (good for 39th No. 28.

44 I NGRAM’ S Regional Publications Ingrams.com Much of what your team needs to succeed in business is delivered each month in Ingram’s Missouri’s and Kansas’ leading business publication since 1975

[email protected] Q 816.842.9994 KC’S 50 LARGEST EMPLOYERS Ranked by Total Employment (excluding government agencies)

Number of Rank Employees Company Name Company Headquarters # of Locations 2019 KC Area/ Address Gross Revenues Type of Company Year Established KC Area/ 2018 Firmwide Phone, Fax, Website Firmwide 2018/2017 Primary Business KC Area/Firmwide Firmwide Top Area Executive 1. 18,500 Wal-Mart (Stores and Distribution Center) $500,034,000,000 Publicly Held Bentonville, Ark. 49 John Cessna, General Manager 1. 2,300,000 3300 K-68 Highway, Ottawa, KS 66067 $469,162,000,000 Discount Retail 1970 10,800 785.242.4555, Fax: 785.229.3004, www..com 1950

2. 14,500 Cerner Corporation $5,400,000,000 Publicly Held N. Kansas City, Mo. 2 Brent Shafer, Chairman & CEO 2. 29,500 2800 Rockcreek Pkwy., #601, Kansas City, MO 64117 $4,425,270,000 Health-Care IT 1979 43 816.221.1024, Fax: 816.474.1742, www.cerner.com

3. 11,280 Saint Luke’s Health System $6,874,551,596 Private/Non-Profit Kansas City, Mo. 22 Melinda Estes, President & CEO 5. 11,834 10920 Elm Ave., Kansas City, MO 64134 $6,110,134,999 Hospital Services 1994 33 816.932.3820, www.saintlukeshealthsystem.org 1882

4. 10,419 University of Kansas Health System $7,864,781,000 Health Authority Kansas City, Kan. 5 Bob Page, CEO 3. 9,557 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160 $7,269,632,000 1906 11 Tammy Peterman, Kansas City President 913.588.5000, www.kumc.edu

5. 9,100 HCA Midwest Health DD Public Company Kansas City, Mo. 9 Mel Legarde, CEO 4. 199,000 903 E. 104th Street, Ste. 500, Kansas City, MO 64131 Subsidiary 2003 9 816.508.4000, 816.508.4036, www.hcamidwest.com Health Care 1968

6. 7,186 Children’s Mercy Hospital $2,929,459,543 Private, Not-for-Profit Kansas City, Mo. 8 Paul Kempinski, President & CEO 7. 7,007 2401 Gillham Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108 $2,830,645,732 Pediatric Health 1897 10 816.234.3000, Fax: 816.842.6107, www.cmh.edu

7. 6,600 Ford Motor Co. Claycomo Assembly Plant $160,300,000,000 Publicly Held Dearborn, Mich. 1 Daryl Sykes, Plant Manager 6. 199,000 8121 N.E. US Hwy. 69, Claycomo, MO 64119 $157,600,000,000 Vehicle Manufacturing 1906 108 816.459.1249, Fax: 816.459.1188, www.ford.com 1903

8. 5,500 Sprint Corp. $33,600,000,000 Publicly Held Overland Park, Kan. 25 Michel Combes, CEO 8. 28,500 6220 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park, KS 66221 $33,350,000,000 Telecommunications 1898 1,501 913.794.1000, www.sprint.com

9. 5,000 NPC International $1,600,000,000 Privately Held Overland Park, Kan. Jon Weber, COO/Interim CEO, Pizza Hut 9. 37,000 7300 W. 129th St., Overland Park, KS 66213 $1,385,804,000 Restaurants 1962 1,599 Carl Hauch, President & CEO, Wendy’s 913.327.3121, www.npc.com

10. 4,950 Evergy $4,270,000,000 Publicly Held Kansas City, Mo. 5 Terry Bassham, CEO — 5,000 P.O. Box 418679, Kansas City, MO 64141 $4,150,000,000 Utilities 1882 7 816.556.2200, Fax: 816.556.2924, www.kcpl.com

11. 4,900 United Parcel Service $43,600,000,000 Publicly Held Atlanta, Ga. 9 Scott Davis, Chairman & CEO 10. 481,000 223 N. James St., Kansas City, KS 66118 $54,127,000,000 Transportation 1963 3,000 800.742.5877, Fax: 913.541.3783, www.ups.com 1907

12. 4,400 Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technology $41,802,000,000 Publicly Held Morristown, N.J. 1 John Ricciardelli, President 11. 114,000 2000 E. 95th St., Kansas City, MO 64141 $37,655,000,000 Manufacturing 1949 26 coun- 816.997.2000, Fax: 816.997.3331, www.kcp.com 1885 tries

13. 3,800 Stormont-Vail Healthcare $2,123,099,199 Non-Profit Health Care Topeka, Kan. 35 Robert Kenagy, President & CEO 16. 3,830 1500 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604 $1,927,752,424 1884 785.354.6000, Fax: 785.354.6926, stormontvail.org

14. 3,760 Garmin International Inc. $3,347,000,000 Publicly Held Olathe, Kan. 3 Cliff Pemble, President & CEO 13. 11,651 1200 E. 151st Street, Olathe, KS 66062 $2,715,680,000 GPS Technology 1989 DD 913.397.8200, Fax: 913.397.8282, www.garmin.com

15. 3,700 Burns & McDonnell $3,512,000,000 Private/Employee- Kansas City, Mo. 4 Ray Kowalik, Chairman, President & CEO — 7,000 9400 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64114 $2,945,762,265 Owned 1898 34 816.333.9400, Fax: 816.333.3690, burnsmcd.com Engineering

16. 3,573 UMB Financial Corp. $1,333,659,000 Publicly Held Kansas City, Mo. 51 Mariner Kemper, Chairman 22. 3,543 1010 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106 $1,040,474,000 Banking 1913 113 Jim Rine, President & CEO 816.860.7000, Fax: 816.860.5694, www.umb.com

17. 3,395 Truman Medical Centers $954,433,885 Non-Profit Health-Care Kansas City, Mo. 2 Charlie Shields, CEO 15. 3,395 2301 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO 64108 $1,003,650,164 Provider 1962 2 816.404.3786, Fax: 816.404.3779, www.trumed.org

18. 3,337 Mosaic Life Care $1,354,384,858 Non-Profit Health-Care St. Joseph, Mo. 60 Mark Laney, CEO 12. 3,354 5325 Faraon St., St. Joseph, MO 64506 $1,041,590,000 Provider 1984 816.271.6000, Fax: 816.271.6590, mymosaic.com

19. 3,101 Black & Veatch $3,300,000,000 Private, Employee- Kansas City, Mo. 4 Steve Edwards, President & CEO 17. 10,500 11401 Lamar Ave., Overland Park, KS 66211 $3,300,000,000 Owned/Engineering/ 1915 100 913.458.2000, Fax: 913.458.3035, www.bv.com Construction

20. 3,060 Prime Healthcare Services DD Private, For-Profit Ontario, Calif. 4 Luis Leon 18. 30,000 1000 Carondelet Dr., Kansas City, MO 64114 DD Health Care 2014 43 816.942.4400, Fax: 816.943.2840, st.josephkc.com 2001

21. 3,050 Amazon $232,089,000,000 Publicly Owned Seattle, Wash. 3 Nikki White, Director of Operations 19. 566,000 6925 Riverview Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102 $178,000,000,000 Internet Retailer 1998 140 855.556.5214, www.amazon.com 22. 2,950 McDonald’s $21,030,000,000 Publicly Held Chicago, Ill. 49 Scott Rockwell, VP/General Manager 21. 375,000 10801 Mastin, Ste. 400, Overland Park, KS 66210 $22,820,000,000 Fast-Food Restaurant 1955 14,146 (U.S.) 913.217.3800, www.mcdonalds.com Chain 36,899 (global) 23. 2,800 Triumph Foods $1,400,000,000 Privately Owned St. Joseph, Mo. 1 Mark Campbell, CEO 26. 2,714 5302 Stockyards Expy., St Joseph, MO 64504 $1,540,638,000 Manufacturing 2006 2 816.396.2700, Fax: 816.396.2807, triumphfoods.com 2006

24. 2,772 North Kansas City Hospital $1,752,742,716 Municipally Owned North Kansas City, 36 Kerri Jenkins, Sr. Vice President and COO — 2,772 2800 Clay Edwards Dr., North KC, MO 64116 $1,716,545,379 Health-Care Provider Mo. 36 816.691.2000, www.nkch.org 1958

25. 2,725 AT&T $170,800,000,000 Publicly Held Dallas, Texas 106 Craig Unruh, Missouri President 25. 280,000 500 East Eighth St., Kansas City, MO 64106 $160,500,000,000 Telecommunications 1885 2,200 Steve Hahn, Kansas President 785.276.8201, Fax: 785.276.1988, www.att.com 1885

List was compiled from surveys of individual companies, interviews with organizational officials and public records in Missouri and Kansas.

46 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com KC’S 50 LARGEST EMPLOYERS Based on Employees at Private, Public & Non-Profit Co. in KC Area

Number of Rank Employees Company Name Company Headquarters # of Locations 2019 KC Area/ Address Gross Revenues Type of Company Year Established KC Area/ 2018 Firmwide Phone, Fax, Website Firmwide 2018/2017 Primary Business KC Area/Firmwide Firmwide Top Area Executive 26. 2,680 J.C. Penney Catalog Distribution Center & Stores DD Publicly Held Retail and Olathe, Kan. 9 Heather Krueger, General Manager 28. 116,000 10500 Lackman Rd., Lenexa, KS 66219 Distribution DD 1,060 913.541.2350, Fax: 913.541.2361, www.jcpenney.com 1902

27. 2,670 Hallmark Cards, Inc. $3,900,000,000 Private/Family-Owned Kansas City, Mo. 5 Donald Hall, Jr., Chairman 29. 28,000 P.O. Box 419580, Kansas City, MO 64141 $4,000,000,000 Private Expressions 1910 14 Mike Perry, President & CEO 816.274.8006, Fax: 816.274.7555, www.hallmark.com

28. 2,540 Olathe Health $1,354,384,858 Private/Non-Profit Olathe, Kan. 34 Stan Holm, President & CEO 30. 2,540 20333 W. 151st St., Olathe, KS 66061 $998,795,800 Hospital Services 1948 34 913.791.4200, Fax: 913.791.4313, www.ohsi.com

29. 2,500 BNSF Railway $20,835,000,000 Publicly Held Fort Worth, Texas 7 John L. Williams, General Manager — 41,000 4515 Kansas Ave., Kansas City, KS 66106 $19,548,000,000 Rail Transport 1869 200 (Kansas Division) 913.551.4479, Fax: 913.551.4285, www.bnsf.com 1849

30. 2,415 AdventHealth Shawnee Mission $2,350,015,050 Private/Non-Profit Winter Park, Fla. 18 Sam Huenergardt, President & CEO 32. 2,415 9100 W. 74th St., Shawnee Mission, KS 66204 $1,382,800,000 Hospital Services 1962 18 913.676.2000, Fax: 913.676.7792, shawneemission.org 1973

31. 2,350 Commerce Bank $1,390,000,000 Publicly Held Kansas City, Mo. 71 Kevin Barth, Chairman & CEO 33. 4,689 P.O. Box 419248, Kansas City, MO 64141 $1,082,430,000 Banking 1865 340 Rob Bratcher, KC Market President 816.234.2391, Fax: 816.234.2356, commercebank.com

32. 2,260 General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant $147,000,000,000 Public Company Pontiac, Mich. 12 (U.S.) Steve Notar Donato, Plant Manager 34. 209,000 3201 Fairfax Trafficway, Kansas City, KS 66115 $152,400,000,000 Vehicle Manufacturing 1987 913.573.7000, Fax: 913.573.7909, www.gm.com 1908

33. 2,200 UnitedHealthcare $226,000,000,000 Minnetonka, Minn. 3 Rob Broomfield, Regional President 20. 270,000 9900 W. 109th St., Ste. 200, Overland Park, KS 66210 $163,300,000,000 DD 422 in U.S. 913.663.6500, www.unitedhealthgroup.com 1977

34. 2,088 William E. Herzog Enterprises (Herzog Contracting) $897,000,000 Rail manufacturing and St. Joseph, Mo. 1 Brad Lager, President & CEO — 2,088 600 S. Riverside Rd., St. Joseph, MO 64502 $645,000,000 maintenance 1969 816.233.9001, www.herzogcompanies.com 1969

35. 2,000 Orbital ATK $6,740,000,000 Manufacturing Arlington, Va. 1 Rick Lavelock, Vice President 37. 16,000 P.O. Box 1000, Independence, MO 64051 $4,780,000,000 1940 and General Manager 816.796.5220, Fax: 816.796.5237, www.atk.com 1990

36. 1,950 $40,052,000,000 Public Company Springdale, Ariz. 1 Chris McMurrough, Plant Manager 35. 113,000 19571 Whitfield Road, Sedalia, MO 65301 $38,260,000,000 Food Processing DD 660.826.9991, www.tyson.com 1935

37. 1,900 Farmers Insurance Group DD Privately Owned Los Angeles, Calif. 8 Steve Crosetti, Missouri State Executive 24. 23,000 17000 W. 119th, Olathe, KS 66061 Insurance 1953 DD Dana Russell, Kansas State Executive 913.661.6300, Fax: 913.469.5940, www.farmers.com 1928

38. 1,900 Quest Diagnostics $7,600,000,000 Publicly Held Madison, N.J. 1 Patrick James, Senior Medical Director 36. 45,000 10101 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219 $7,709,000,000 Medical Diagnostics 1967 913.888.1770, www.questdiagnostics.com

39. 1,637 Securitas Security Services (North America unit) $30,800,000,000 Publicly Held Parsippany, N.J. 2 Daniel Arnold 39. 260,000 3101 Broadway St., Ste. 900, Kansas City, MO 64111 $28,000,000,000 Security Services 1850 350 Area Vice President 816.360.1600, Fax: 816.360.1699, www.securitas.com

40. 1,610 YRC Worldwide $5,092,000,000 Publicly Held Overland Park, Kan. 1 Darren Hawkins 38. 32,000 10990 Roe Ave., Overland Park, KS 66211 $4,891,000,000 Transportation 1924 President/COO 913.696.6100, www.yrcw.com

41. 1,595 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. $8,168,000,000 Publicly Held Akron, Ohio 1 Dusty Douglas, Manufacturing Director 41. 64,000 2000 N.W. Highway 24, Topeka, KS 66618 $8,212,000,000 Tire Manufacturing 1898 15 (U.S.) 785.295.7111, Fax: 785.295.7347, www.goodyear.com 40 (Global)

42. 1,550 Security Benefit Corp. $4,265,679,409 Privately Owned Topeka, Kan. 1 Michael Kiley, President & CEO — 1,550 1 SW Security Benefit Pl, Topeka, KS 66636 $4,700,000,000 Financial Services 1892 (800) 888-2461, www.securitybenefit.com

43. 1,530 TransAm Trucking DD Privately Owned Olathe, Kan. 1 Johnny and Trudy Jacobson, Owners 42. 1,570 15910 S. 169 Hwy., Olathe, KS 66062 Transportation 1987 2 913.324.7177, Fax: 913.324.7049, www.transamtrucking.com

44. 1,506 LMH Health $829,751,456 Municipally Owned Lawrence, Kan. 56 Russell Johnson, President & CEO — 1,506 325 Maine, Lawrence, KS 66044 $822,271,830 Health-Care Provider 1921 56 785.505.5000, Fax: 785.505.5230, www.lmh.org

45. 1,505 Foxwood Springs DD Privately Owned Chicago, Ill. 1 Robert Woolrich, Executive Director 43. 60,000 1500 Foxwood Drive, Raymore, MO 64083 Retirement 1974 816.331.3111, www.foxwoodsprings.org Communities

46. 1,501 CenturyLink $23,123,000,000 Publicly Held Monroe, La. 1 Tom McEvoy, Sr. VP-IT Consulting 44. 47,500 5454 W. 110th St., Overland Park, KS 66211 $24,128,000,000 Telecommunications 1968 913.323.4637, www.centurylink.com

47. 1,490 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas $2,259,038,151 Non-Profit Topeka, Kan. 1 Matt All, President/CEO 46. 1,572 1133 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66629 $1,774,957,053 Health Insurance 1942 785.291.7000, www.bcbsks.com

48. 1,400 H&R Block $3,100,000,000 Publicly Kansas City, Mo Jeffrey Jones, President/CEO 40. 87,500 One H&R Block Way, Kansas City, MO 64105 $3,036,000,000 HeldTax, Financial & 1955 12,000 816.854.3000, Fax: 816.932.1977, www.hrblock.com Accounting Services

49. 1,375 State Street $11,982,000,000 Publicly Held Boston, Mass. 1 Tom Forrester, Sr. Vice President, KC 47. 30,060 801 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO 64105 $11,770,000,000 Financial Services 1782 24 U.S. Market Leader 816.871.4100, www.statestreet.com 83 (Global)

50. 1,330 U.S. Bank $25,775,000,000 Publicly Held Minneapolis, Minn. 77 Tim Petty, KC Market President 48. 64,260 9900 W. 87th St., Overland Park, KS 66212 $22,057,000,000 Banking 1863 3,151 Mark Jorgenson, Group President, U.S. 913.652.5150, Fax: 913.652.5111, www.usbank.com Community Banking

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 47 Where there’s a helpful smile in every aisle.

BEST GROCERY STORE Ingram’s BEST OF BUSINESS in Kansas City

SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW DESTINATION KANSAS CITY LIFESTYLES

A City That Sparkles | The annual Celebration at the Station events in Downtown Kansas City are fixtures of life that draws crowd of more than 100,000 together to celebrate major holidays.

Quality of Life

THERE’S A REASON SO MANY PEOPLE REFER TO KANSAS CITY AS THE MOST EASTERN WESTERN CITY, THE MOST WESTERN EASTERN CITY, THE BIGGEST SMALL TOWN, THE SMALLEST BIG TOWN, AND SEVERAL OTHER CATCHPHRASES.

All of them are meant to sum up that are so friendly. Kansas City is a great and Kansas Citians, for the most part, Kansas City has the amenities of that of city, and I’m not sure that most people have it good in this category. The metro a larger metropolis without being over- know that.” area consistently ranks among the best whelming, both in size and cost. And The area’s quality of life might have in the country compared to other large legend has it, the people are pretty nice. something to do with that, rubbing off cities when it comes to daily travel times Zia Lohrasbi found all of that out on residents’ overall demeanors. to work. Sure, there are construction when he started at Hallmark about a High housing costs can put anyone projects that can cause headaches, but year ago. A week into the job, the in a disagreeable mood, and compared it’s not the same kind of nightmare one Washington State native who was to other cities with as much to offer in can face in California’s big cities, East totally unfamiliar with the area when the way of great schools and entertain- Coast hubs or Chicago or Dallas. hired, had a disaster at his new apart- ment, the prices in the Kansas City area But it’s easy to get to those places. ment. On one of his first days at work, are very low. It’s not uncommon for visi- Being in the center of the country, most Lohrasbi found out that a fire had tors from one of the coasts to experience major U.S. cities are short flights from broken out at his new place. reverse sticker shock when finding out Kansas City International Airport, which But this major problem turned out a monthly mortgage or rent payment of has a reputation for its easy access and to be a blessing. Hallmark office work- a local, exclaiming: “You pay that for is undergoing a nearly $2-billion facelift. ers found out what had happened, this!?” The housing stock is varied with In the health-care realm, there are pulled together $700 for him to purchase a variety of price points, architectural strong nationally ranked hospital orga- new necessities, helped him find a new styles in varied urban and suburban nizations on either side of the Kansas- home, and the event led to a network settings, offering something for nearly Missouri state line, including the Uni- of co-worker friends. every taste, as long as it doesn’t call versity of Kansas Health System, Saint Lohrasbi’sexperience,thoughveryper- for an ocean or mountain view. Luke’s Health System, HCA Health Mid- sonal, encapsulates what so many people A lack of a life-sucking commute west, Prime Healthcare and numerous say when they visit the area: “The people time can also make for a kinder resident, specialty and community hospitals. The

Ingrams.com DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 49 DESTINATION KANSAS CITY LIFESTYLES

widespread availability of those facilities throughout the metro area give it high marks on several national health-care index ratings. There are high-ranked schools, pub- lic and private, on either side of the bor- der. Though the public-school system in Kansas City, Mo., proper is going through a long-winded overhaul, several of the surrounding districts have very strong reputations, and there are plenty of well- regarded private institutions around the metro. Past high school, there are sev- many universities and colleges in the area in addition to the University of Missouri Kansas City, which is the largest higher education facility in the metro area and includes medical and law schools. On a Roll | Hundreds of bike trails, some built for the flatlanders, Kansas City is known as the City of others for the serious bikers, throughout the Kansas City region. Fountains due to its 48 publicly operated spouts in the municipality and “Paris of including Swope Park, which totals more Mix all of these elements with vibrant the Plains” for its 148 miles of boulevards than 1,800 acres with several recreat- arts, entertainment, food and sports and parkways that meander through the ional options, including the Kansas City scenes, and many residents don’t think region. Zoo; Starlight Theatre, an outdoor venue Hallmark’s Lohrasbi is exaggerating There is also much natural beauty, that brings international acts; and sev- when he simply describes Kansas City as with countless city and suburban parks, eral sports fields. . . . “great.”

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50 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com DESTINATION KANSAS CITY LIFESTYLES Hospitality and Tourism

KANSAS CITY HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED A COOL DESTINATION FOR VISITORS WHO GUSH ABOUT ITS BARBECUE, SHOPPING VENUES, NIGHT LIFE AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER GOOD REASONS TO CHECK OUT THE HIDDEN GEMS HERE.

Those are still center stage, but now next few years, including the National the Legends Outlets, all Kansas destin- there is a bigger on the area, along with League of Cities, the National Associa- ations in themselves, attract shoppers additional world-class options, especially tion of Credit Management, Building from hundreds of miles away. in the sports realm, for visitors to enjoy Owners and Managers Association In- Another attraction that brings trav- and several more places for them to stay ternational and the American Occu- elers from a several-state area is the on their trip. pational Therapy Association, not to World of Fun theme park and its attached The centerpiece will be the $325- mention Cerner’s Annual Health Confer- Oceans of Fun which include seven million Loews Kansas City Convention ence, which is booked through 2021. roller coasters and three water rides. Center Hotel which is currently under Events in the works will contribute The , with its annual construction downtown and will feature $174 million to the local economy, rodeo and fall events that bring in near- 800 rooms and 60,000 square feet of according to a Visit KC report last year. ly 300,000 visitors per year, is another meeting and event space. Also on the While they are here, many visitors big draw. For gambling fans, the area is major-capacity end, the 970-room Kan- to Kansas City will shop. Some might also home to casinos along the Missouri sas City Marriott Downtown recently come here solely for that reason. The River, including Ameristar Kansas City underwent a $40 million renovation. Country Club Plaza’s Spanish-style ar- and Harrah’s North Kansas City. Meanwhile, several smaller hotels have chitecture has been a draw for nearly a Autumn always means an influx of opened, or are planned, in the urban century with its high-end mall stores visitors to see the Kansas City Chiefs core, including The Crossroads Hotel, and restaurants, and is known by many play at , and that’s the 21c Museum Hotel, the Hotel Indigo in the shopping-center industry as a bound to ramp up significantly, thanks Kansas City Crossroads, and the Holiday national development icon. Surroun- to the theatrics of Patrick Mahomes, the Inn Express Downtown. ding the city, there are also some shop- team’s MVP quarterback, and its quest That influx of rooms has set the table ping meccas under the roofs of single toward an elusive Super Bowl appear- for several large meetings hitting the mega stores. The cavernous Nebraska ance. Chiefs games had the sixth-highest Kansas City Convention Center over the Furniture Mart and IKEA, along with attendance in the league last year and

Aging Gracefully | For nearly 100 years, shopping and enter- tainment excursions in the Kansas City area have been defined by one experience: The Country Club Plaza. The crown jewel in a rich assortment of retail and entertain- ment venues around the region, the Plaza is a one-of-a-kind local treasure with a national reputation.

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 51 DESTINATION KANSAS CITY LIFESTYLES

are sure to see a boost with the anticipa- tion of the 2019 playoff season. Also in the fall, NASCAR fans con- verge to the Kansas Speedway every year for races in October, as well as in May, and other events take place at the track throughout the year. Soccer has made a major impact in Kansas City over the last several years, with the addition of MLS team Sporting KC, and that has brought some major international matches of late to the metro area, as Kansas City competes to be a host of 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be decided in 2020. Host cities stand to gain about $620 million economic activ- ity. As a potential warmup, Children’s Making Tracks | Since construction of the Kansas Speedway nearly 20 years ago, the Kansas Mercy Park in June had the U.S. Men’s City region has been a popular fixture on the NASCAR and racing circuits. National Team playing Panama and another match between Guyana versus en’s Basketball Championships are on team’s Kauffman Stadium is considered Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, Euro- tap at the Sprint Center downtown every one of the best ballparks in the country pean pros Bayern Munich and AC Milan March through 2024, equating millions to watch a game. With a new ownership played in July. of dollars in economic impact. team in place, led by Kansas City busi- In college basketball, the Big 12 And though the Royals have slumped a nessesman John Sherman, fans anticipate Conference Phillips 66 Men’s and Wom- bit from their days, the a bright future.

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52 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com DESTINATION KANSAS CITY LIFESTYLES Entertainment and Culture

“IT HAS LONG BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SINGLE BEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD IS ARTHUR BRYANT’S BARBECUE AT EIGHTEENTH AND BROOKLYN IN KANSAS CITY.” CALVIN TRILLIN OF THE NEW YORKER FAMOUSLY PENNED THAT TRIBUTE. BUT HE WAS ONLY TOUCHING THE SURFACE OF WHAT DEFINES KANSAS CITY.

Defining Moments | As the world’s largest barbecue competition, the American Royal’s World Series of Barbecue is a cultural touchstone for thousands of residents each year in Kansas City, where smoked meats and tangy sauces have places of their own on the food pyramid.

Many in Kansas City, and beyond, metro. Meanwhile, several other eateries, can Jazz Museum in the 18th and Vine might very well agree with the famous representing different global cuisines and district, which has its own attached club, author, but even if they don’t, visitors independent-business ideas, are constant- the Blue Room, and is near other venues, and residents alike are bound to con- ly opening around the metro area. And if such as the Green Lady Lounge. clude that being a serious restaurant chain restaurants are your thing, most of Live music is abundant throughout town is one of the area’s many enter- the country’s biggest players can be found town, at rock clubs such as the Record tainment and culture attributes. in the Kansas City area. Bar, in the Crossroads; Knuckleheads, First, the barbecue. Kansas Citians In some of the most food-filled neigh- in the Northeast neighborhood; and the will argue over what’s the best in town borhoods, the arts also have a strong pres- Uptown Theater, near Westport. Kansas much the same way that New York- ence. On the first Friday of every month, City’s many independent record stores ers debate over the best pizzeria or the Crossroads area’s galleries are open to also have regular free live performances Philadelphians fret over the top chees- the public, and artists display their work featuring local acts. Outdoor venues that esteak joint. Arthur Bryant’s is certainly on the streets and in galleries along with attract out-of-town musicians and other a much-lauded first pick, as is Gates live music and food trucks. The Country performers include Starlight Theatre, in BBQ, Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, Club Plaza, the area’s best-known shopping the beautiful, sprawling Swope Park, and Joe’s and Slap’s BBQ. And visitors from district, has an annual art fair in the sum- Providence Medical Center Amphithe- all corners of the earth come to sample mer, as does the Westport neighborhood, ater, in Bonner Springs, Kan. them all. which is known for its restaurants, bars For more high-brow tastes, the strik- Almost as traditional as barbeque in and nightlife-entertainment. ing arch-shaped Kauffman Center for the the metro is its Mexican cuisine, which Jazz and nightlife go hand in hand, Performing Arts, downtown, features per- has been an area fixture for generations and Kansas City is known as one if its formances by the Kansas City Symphony, on Southwest Boulevard; around Kan- historical hubs. Visitors can learn about the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the sas City, Kan.; and other pockets of the its history and influence at the Ameri- Kansas City Ballet, as well as out-of-town

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 53 DESTINATION KANSAS CITY LIFESTYLES

For all ages jellyfish, octopus and other species. The and families, there adjacent Crown Center mall offers shop- is the Kansas City ping and dining next to an urban outdoor Zoo, which sits on space. more than 200 Nearby is historic Union Station Kan- acres in Swope sas City, which, in addition to servicing Park. Divided by two Amtrak routes, is home to Science region of the wor- City, which has 120 interactive displays, ld, visitors can see as well as travelling exhibitions. Also lions, elephants, in Union Station is the Arvin Gottlieb polar bears, kanga- Planetarium, which underwent a sizable roos and hundreds renovation and expansion in 2017. of other animals. A seasonal family draw is the Worlds South of the city, of Fun and Oceans of Fun theme park Making Waves | The Sea Life Aquarium in Downtown Kansas City ‘s in Overland Park, complex, which counts seven roller coas- Crown Center is a popular draw with families in the region. Kan., is the Over- ters, three water rides and several other land Park Arbor- entertainment attractions. In the late musical guests and other events. Mean- etum & Botanical Gardens, which sits on summer and fall is the Kansas City Re- while, in the Hyde Park neighborhood 300 acres and is undergoing a $12.4- naissance Festival, which features medi- is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, million capital campaign. eval-themed games, rides, performances, which has 40,000 works in its collection In the Crown Center area, home of food and other entertainment. from all over the world across Hallmark Cards’ headquarters, Legoland Plenty of outdoor activities in the area time periods ranging from ancient to con- Discovery Center has several impressive don’t cost a dime, with the abundance temporary, including pieces by Picasso, exhibits and hands-on activities. Next of parks in around the city that have ath- Caravaggio, Monet, and other famous door is the Sea Life Kansas City Aquari- letic fields, nature trails, and, of course, artists. um, which is home to seahorses, sharks, barbecue pits. Visit Arnie! Explore Our Linne’s two-toed sloth can be found hanging around in the Kansas City Zoo Discovery Barn!

OPEN DAILY | kansascityzoo.org | 816.595.1234

54 Ingram’s Regional Publications Ingrams.com TOP AREA CONVENTION & MEETING FACILITIES Ranked by Total Square Footage

Rank Company Name Square Feet of No. of Meeting Rooms 2019 Address Exhibit Space/ Sq. Ft. Meeting Rooms Facility Management Year Built, 2018 Phone, Website # Breakout Halls Capacity of Largest MR Owner Company Renovated Special Services Top Events of 2019 Facility Manager Events Centers/Exhibit Halls 1. Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities 443,800 50 City of Kansas City of Kansas 1973 Includes H. Roe Bartle Cerner Annual Health Oscar 1. 301 W. 13th St., Ste. 100, Kansas City, MO 64105 6 229,715 City, Mo. City, Mo. 2007 Hall, 3-story conf. center Conference, Comicon McGaskey, Jr. 816.513.5000, www.kcconvention.com 20,000 and Municipal Auditorium

2. American Royal Complex 272,975 0 City of Kansas City of Kansas 1972 Kemper Arena, Hale American Royal Livestock Bob Wolfe 2. 1701 American Royale Ct., Kansas City, MO 64102 5 N/A City, Mo. City, Mo. 1992 Arena, Governor’s Expo. Show, American Royal Pro 816.221.9800, www.americanroyal.com N/A Bldg., Wagstaff Theatre Rodeo (PRCA)

3. Stormont Vail Events Ctr (formely KS Expocentre) 210,450 0 Shawnee Spectra 1986 Exhibition Hall, Landon Cirque du Soleil Corteo, Disney on Ice Kellen Seitz 3. 1 Expocentre Dr., Topeka, KS 66612 5 N/A County, Kan. 2019 Arena, Heritage Hall, Ag - Frozen, 20/30 Gala, KS Kids Wrestling, 785.235.1986, Fax: 785.235.2967, ksexpo.com N/A Hall, Domer Arena KS Best of Preps Banquet, Pig ‘N Pour

4. Overland Park Convention Center 119,000 12 City of Spectra 2002 High-speed Wi-Fi, parking & AWG Innov. Showcase & Annual Brett Mitchell 4. 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66211 12 40,000 Overland 2015 mktg services, 1,000 hotels w/i Meeting, Valu Merchandisers Co. 913.339.3000, www.opconventioncenter.com 5,000 Park, KS walking distance, in-house a/v Trade Show, KC Holiday Boutique

5. KCI Expo Center 70,000 8 Wheatbelt Inc., Michael Rose 2002 In-house exhibition MO Library Assoc. Conf., Midwest Michael Rose 5. 11730 N. Ambassador Dr., Kansas City, MO 64153 2 15,000 Kansas City 2018 services, a-v, food and Parent’s Assoc. Conf., P.E.O. 816.891.7694, www.kciexpo.com 400 beverage Sisterhood Convention & Dance

6. Crown Center Exhibit Hall 52,000 1 Crown Center Shane Somers 2000 High-speed Internet DD Jim Snow 6. 2323 McGee St., Kansas City, MO 64108 2 45,500 Redevelopment 2018 access, same-level load- 816.274.5916, www.crowncenter.com 1,800 Corporation ing docks, 20-foot ceiling

7. St. Joseph Civic Arena 40,000 4 City of St. City of St. 1980 Multi-service facility handles Amped Up Bull Riding, Kathy Brock 7. 100 N. Fourth St., St. Joseph, MO 64501 4 4,500 Joseph, Mo. Joseph, Mo. 2002 banquets, concerts, circus, Moila Shrine Circus, 816.271.4717, Fax: 816.232.9213, www.stjoemo.org 300 basketball, trade shows Crypticon KC Convention

8. Silverstein Eye Centers Arena 24,000 1 City of Spectra 2009 Outdoor Event Sign, 4 LED MO Mavericks, Shrine Larry Hovick 8. 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy., Independence, MO 64055 0 24,000 Independence N/A Display Walls, Ribbon Circus, MSHAA Basketball, 816.795.7577, independenceeventscenter.com 5,000 Board, Staging KC Comets, KC Phantoms

8. Pavilion at John Knox Village 24,000 5 John Knox John Knox 1976 Dance floor, permanent John Knox Village Gala, Lee’s Richard Leslie 8. 520 N.W. Murray Rd, Lee’s Sumitt, MO 64081 1 4,036 Village Village 2017 stage w/ lighting, LCD pro- Summit Chamber Annual 816.765.4707, www.thereardoncenter.com 140 jector, outdoor event sign Dinner, Saint Luke’s Boo Ball 10. Arvest Bank Theatre at Midland 23,300 1 Cordish Co. & AEG Presents 1927 Built-in stage, concert Kiewit Engineering Anne Hack 10. 1228 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64105 1 23,300 AEG Presents 2018 quality sound - theatrical Meeting, Barkley’s Annual 816.283.9900, www.arvestbanktheatre.com 620 (banquet) lighting, Meeting, Central Exchange

Hotel Meeting Space 1. Kansas City Marriott Downtown 93,000 42 KC Downtown KC Downtown 1985 Enclosed walkway to KC Cerner CHC, ETS, USA Rusty Macy 1. 200 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO 64105 42 93,000 Hotel Group Hotel Group 2010 Convention Center, walking Volleyball 816.421.6800, www.marriotthotels.com/mcidt 2,200 (theatre) distance to Power & Light

2. Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center 88,360 25 Crown Center Marriott Hotels 1980 High-speed Internet, DD Shane Somers 2. 2345 McGee St., Kansas City, MO 64105 22 42,860 Redevelopment 2019 24-hour business center 816.421.1234, sheratonkansascityhotel.com 2,300

3. Holiday Inn KCI Airport 70,000 12 Wheatbelt, Wheatbelt, Inc. 2006 On-Ste F&B, A/V and Exposition African Violet Society, Michael Rose 3. 11728 N.W. Ambassador Dr., KC, MO 64153 DD 15,000 Inc. 2012 Services, High-Speed Internet, HASSDA and Darts TOC 816.810.8440, www.holidayinn.com/kciairport 450 3 Large dock bays

4. The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center 45,500 22 Crown Center Marriott Hotels 1973 High-speed Internet DD Shane Somers 4. 1 East Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108 28 50,755 Redevelopment 2018 816.474.4400, westincrowncenterkansascity.com 2,100

5. Sheraton Overland Park Hotel 33,612 14 Overland Park Marriott 2002 Op1906 Bar/Grille, patio DD Bruce 5. 6100 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66211 14 33,612 Development International 2017 grill, indoor pool, whirlpool, Boettcher 913.234.2100, sheraton.com/overlandpark 1,228 Corp. fitness center

6. InterContinental Kansas City 29,000 16 The TPG Hospitality 1972 State of the art audio and DD Don 6. 401 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64112 16 28,000 Procaccianti 2017 visual services Breckenridge 816.756.1500, www.kansascityic.com 1,200 Group

7. Capitol Plaza Hotel 28,000 26 Shawnee Atrium 1998 In-house a/v, full banquet DD Dan Clarizio 7. 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66612 25 28,000 County Hospitality 2018 staff & menu, set-up & tear- 785.431.7200, capitolplazahoteltopeka.com 1,100 down crews, full-service

8. Adams Pointe Conference Center 25,000 10 RMC of Blue RMC of Blue 2000 Safe deposit boxes, indoor Blue Springs Mayor’s Bill Essmann 8. 1500 N.E. Coronado Dr., Blue Springs, MO 64014 10 19,433 Springs Springs 2008 and outdoor pool, fitness Prayer Breakfast, Blue 816.220.4400, www.adamspointecc.com 980 center, wireless internet Springs HS Band Dinner

9. Ameristar Casino & Hotel, Kansas City 24,770 8 Ameristar Ameristar 1997 Full service and catering DD Rod Centers 9. 3200 N. Ameristar Dr., Kansas City, MO 64120 DD 12,270 Casinos Casinos 2003 816.414.7000, Fax: 816.414.7221, pnkinc.com 900

10. DoubleTree by Hilton Kansas City - OP, KS 22,000 18 Hilton Hotels Hilton Hotels 1982 On-site audio/ visual staff, DD Darren 10. 10100 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210 11 14,675 Worldwide Worldwide 2011 2,400 sq. ft. Outdoor Venue, Chadwick 913.451.6100, www.doubletree.com 1,025 (theatre) Large Indoor Pool, Fitness Ctr

11. Hilton Kansas City Airport 21,000 20 Laurus TPG Hospitality 1974 On-site A/V and WiFi, All DD George Katz 11. 8801 N.W. 112th St., Kansas City, MO 64153 20 21,000 Corporation 2015 meeting space on one level, 816.891.8900, www.hiltonkci.com 700 (theater) 24-hour airport shuttle & par

12. Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center 19,000 8 Stoney Creek Stoney Creek 2015 Complimentary Wi-Fi & Business meetings, con- Kevin Klein 12. 18011 Bass Pro Drive, Independence, MO 64055 8 19,000 Investors of Investors of 2015 parking, experienced ferences, social events 816.908.9600, www.stoneycreekhotels.com 700-1,000 Independence Independence on-site planners, a/v equip.

13. Adam’s Mark Hotel & Coco Key Water Resort 18,000 19 WRDH WRDH KC 1972 Complimentary internet, DD Jason 13. 9103 E. 39th St., Kansas City, MO 64133 19 17,000 Hospitality Operations 2012 located directly across from Milbrandt 816.737.0200, www.adamsmarkkc.com 1,000 Truman Sports Complex

13. Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa 18,000 13 Penn National John Q. 1998 Luxury 4 diamond hotel, Arsenio Hall comedy Harold Roland 13. 7640 N.W. Tiffany Springs Pkwy, KC, MO 64153 DD 18,000 Gaming Hammonds 2010 meeting space & spa, gam- show, Stand up for 816.891.7788, kansascityairport.embassysuites.com 1,200 Hotel Mgmt. ing floor, restaurants Synergy, Bonne Sante

13. Radisson Hotel (formely Clarion Hotel) 18,000 9 Kansas Hotels Kansas Hotels 1971 Upgraded wireless DD Chris Krouse 13. 12601 W. 95th St., Lenexa, KS 66215 16 9,800 2018 internet, complimentary 913.217.1000, www.cpoverlandpark.com 250 parking, open atrium

Kansas City’s Business Media DestinationKansasCity.com 2020 55 KANSAS CITY AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES 22-County Kansas City Area

MISSOURI KANSAS

Belton Community Planning and Development Department Carolyn Yatsook Atchison Community Development Department Becky Berger 520 Main St., Belton, MO 64012 Economic Development Director 515 Kansas Ave., Atchison, KS 66002 City Manager 816.331.4331, Fax: 816.331.6973, www.belton.org 913.367.5524, Fax: 913.367.3092, www.cityofatchison.com

Blue Springs Economic Growth and Development Division Tom Cole Bonner Springs Community & Economic Development Amber McCullough 903 W. Main, Blue Springs, MO 64015 Economic Development Director 200 E Third St., P.O. Box 38, Bonner Springs, KS 66012 Assistant City Manager 816.622.4004, www.bluespringsgov.com 913.667.1703, Fax: 913.441.8199, www.bonnersprings.org

Cameron Economic Development Department Tim Wymes De Soto Economic Development Council Sara Ritter 205 N. Main St., Cameron, MO 64429 Community Development Director 33150 W. 83rd St., De Soto, KS 66018 Executive Director 816.632.2177, Fax: 816.632.1067, www.cameron-mo.com 913.583.1585, Fax: 913.585.1821, www.desotoks.org

Cass County Corporation of Economic Development Bill Brown Elevate Edgerton! Partnership for Economic Development James Oltman 102 E. Wall St., Harrisonville, MO 64701 Executive Director 30750 W. 193rd St., Edgerton, KS 66030 President 816.380..8114, Fax: 816.380.8113, www.ccced.org 913.882.2500, www.elevateedgerton.com

Clay County Economic Development Council T.J. Berry Franklin County Development Council Paul Bean 1251 N.W. Briarcliff Pkwy., Ste. 25, Kansas City, MO 64116 Executive Director 109 E. 2nd St., Ottawa, KS 66067 President 816.468.4989, Fax: 816.587.1996, www.clayedc.com 785.242.1000, Fax: 785.242.4792, www.thinkfranklinco.org

DeKalb County Harold Allison Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce/GO Topeka Matt Pivarnik 109 W. Main St., Maysville, MO 64469 Presiding Commissioner 120 S.E. 6th Ave., Ste. 110, Topeka, KS 66603 President/CEO 816.449.5402, Fax: 816.449.2440 785.234.2644, Fax: 785.234.8656, www.GOTopeka.com

Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City Greg Flisram Jefferson County Economic Development Commission Pam Anderson 1100 Walnut, Ste. 1700, Kansas City, MO 64106 Interim President/CEO 300 Jefferson St., Oskaloosa, KS 66066 Economic Development Director 816.221.0636, Fax: 816.221.0189, www.edckc.com 785.403.0781, www.jfcountyks.com

Economic Development Sedalia–Pettis County Jessica Craig Joint Economic Development Organization Kevin Cook 3615 W. Broadway Blvd., 3rd Floor, Sedalia, MO 65301 Executive Director 215 S.E. 7th, Room 352, Topeka, KS 66603 Chairman 660.827.0884, Fax: 660.827.2550, www.sedaliamoed.com 785.368.3725, Fax: 785.368.3909, www.jedoecodevo.com

Excelsior Springs Economic Development Department Melinda Mehaffy Lawrence–Douglas County Economic Development Steve Kelly 201 E. Broadway, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024 Economic Development Director 718 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, KS 66044 VP, Economic Development 816.630.9594, Fax: 816.630.9572, www.cityofesmo.com 785.865.4425, Fax: 785.865.4400, www.edclawrence.com

Gladstone Economic Development Department Scott Wingerson Leavenworth County Development Corp. Steve Jack 7010 N. Holmes, Gladstone, MO 64118 City Manager 1294 Eisenhower Road, Leavenworth, KS 66048 Executive Director 816.423.4108, Fax: 816.436.2228, http://www.gladstone.mo.us 913.727.6111, Fax: 913.727.5515, www.LVCountyED.org

Grandview Economic Development Department Troy Nash Leawood Chamber of Commerce Kevin Jeffries 1200 Main St., Grandview, MO 64030 Economic Development Director 13451 Briar St., Ste. 201, Leawood, KS 66209 President/CEO 816.316.4869, Fax: 816.763.3902, www.grandview.org 913.498.1514, Fax: 913.491.0134, www.leawoodchamber.org

Harrisonville Economic Development Department Chris Arthur Lenexa Economic Development Council Blake Schreck 300 E. Pearl St., Harrisonville, MO 64701 Building Official 11180 Lackman Rd., Lenexa, KS 66219 President & Economic 816.380.8922, Fax: 816.380.8910, www.ci.harrisonville.mo.us 913.888.1414, Fax: 913.888.3770, www.lenexa.org Development Director

Higginsville Economic Development Department Donna Brown Merriam Community Development Department Chris Engel 1922 Main, P.O. Box 110, Higginsville, MO 64037 Economic Development Director 6200 Eby St., Merriam, KS 66202 Assistant City Administrator 660.584.2106, Fax: 660.584.2953, www.higginsville.org 913.322.5520, Fax: 913.322.5505, www.merriam.org

Hispanic Economic Development Corp. Pedro Zamora Miami County Economic Development Janet McRae 1722 Holly St., Kansas City, MO 64108 Executive Director 201 S. Pearl, Ste. 202, Paola, KS 66071 Economic Development Director 816.221.3442, Fax: 816.221.6458, www.kchedc.org 913.294.4045, Fax: 913.294.9163, www.thinkmiamicounty.com

Independence Council for Economic Development Tom Lesnak Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce Deb Settle 201 N. Forest Ave., Ste. 120, Independence, MO 64050 President 5800 Foxridge Dr., Ste. 100, Mission, KS 66202 President/CEO 816.463.3510, Fax: 816.254.1641, www.inedc.biz 913.262.2141, Fax: 913.262.2146, www.nejcchamber.com

Johnson County Missouri Economic Development Corporation Tracy Brantner Olathe Economic Development Council Tim McKee, CEO 300 N. Holden St., Ste. 301, Warrensburg, MO 64093 President 18001 W. 106th St., Ste. 160, Olathe, KS 66061 Shannon Latham 660.747.0244, Fax: 660.747.0620, www.growjocomo.com 913.764.1050, Fax: 913.782.4636, www.olathe.org Economic Development Director

Kansas City Area Development Council Tim Cowden Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council Beth Johnson 30 W. Pershing Rd., Ste. 200, Kansas City, MO 64108 President/CEO 9001 West 110th St., Ste. 150, Overland Park, KS 66210 Senior Vice President Economic 816.221.2121, Fax: 816.842.2865, www.thinkkc.com 913.766.7612, Fax: 913.491.0393, www.opedc.org Development

Kearney Area Development Council Shawna Searcy Shawnee Economic Development Council Ann Smith-Tate P.O. Box 291, Kearney, MO 64060 Executive Director 15100 W. 67th St., Ste. 202, Shawnee, KS 66217 President/CEO 816.628.3343, Fax: 816.628.4543, www.kearneyadc.com 913.631.6545, Fax: 913.631.9628, www.shawnee-edc.com

Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council Rick McDowell Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Corporation Greg Martinette 218 S.E. Main Street, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 President/CEO One New Century Parkway, Gardner, KS 66031 President & CEO 816.525.6617, Fax: 816.524.8851, www.leessummit.org 913.489.3990, Fax: 913.715.6008, www.swjocoksedc.com

Liberty Economic Development Corp. Ralph Boots Wyandotte Economic Development Council Greg Kindle 105 N. Stewart Court, Ste. 200, Liberty, MO 64068 Executive Director 727 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66101 President 816.883.2503, Fax: 816.883.2201, www.thinklibertymo.com 913.748.2272, Fax: 913.371.3732, www.wyedc.org

North Kansas City Office of Economic Development Sara Copeland 2010 Howell St., North Kansas City, MO 64116 Community Development Director 816.274.6000, Fax: 816.274.6000, www.nkc.org Missouri Department of Economic Development Kansas Department of Commerce

Parkville Economic Development Council Nathan Bevelle QRob Dixon, Director QDavid Toland, Secretary of Commerce 8880 Clark Ave., Parkville, MO 64152 Executive Director 301 W. High St., QBob North, Chief Counsel 816.741.7676, Fax: 816.741.0013, www.parkvilleedc.com P.O. Box 1157 1000 S.W. Jackson St., Ste. 100 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Topeka, KS 66612 Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission Norm Lucas 573.751.4962, Fax: 573.526.7700 785.296.3481, Fax: 785.296.5055 802 S Gordon St., Room 102, Concordia, MO 64020 Executive Director 660.463.7934, Fax: 660.463.7944, www.trailsrpc.org www.ded.mo.gov www.kansascommerce.gov

Platte County Econonomic Development Council Matt Tapp KC Area Core Counties: 11724 N.W. Plaza Circle, Ste. 400, Kansas City, MO 64153 Executive Director Clay QJackson QPlatte KC Area Core Counties: 816.270.2119, Fax: 816.270.2135, www.plattecountyedc.com Johnson QWyandotte Area Surrounding Counties in Missouri: Pleasant Hill Economic Development Department Shelby Teufel Area Surrounding Counties in Kansas: 203 Paul St., Pleasant Hill, MO 64080 City Administrator QAndrew Q Johnson QAtchison QLeavenworth 816.540.3135, Fax: 816.987.5141, www.pleasanthill.com QBuchanan QLafayette QDouglas Q Miami QCass QPettis QFranklin QShawnee Raymore Economic Development Department David Gress QClinton QRay QJefferson 100 Municipal Circle, Raymore, MO 64083 Economic Development Director QDeKalb QSaline 816.331.5000, Fax: 816.892.3068, www.raymore.com

Raytown Economic Development Department Missy Wilson 10000 E. 59th St., Raytown, MO 64133 Economic Development 816.737.6091, Fax: 816.737.6164, www.raytown.mo.us Administrator The economic development professionals of the 22-county greater Kansas City area Richmond Economic Development, Inc. Alicia Shaw welcome you to explore and invest in one 205 Summit St., Richmond, MO 64085 Economic Development Director of America’s most promising metro areas. 816.776.5304, Fax: 816.776.8216, www.cityofrichmond.org destinationkansascity.com Riverside Community Development Department Mike Duffy 2950 N.W. Vivion Road, Riverside, MO 64150 Director Community Development 816.741.3993, Fax: 816.746.8349, www.riversidemo.com Building a Greater Kansas City Since 1975 ingrams.com Q 816.842.9994 St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce Brad Lau 3003 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506 VP, Economic Development © Copyright 2019, Show-Me Publishing, Inc. Reproduction or use in any manner of editorial content without permission is prohibited. 816.364.4110, Fax: 816.364.4873, www.saintjoseph.com

56 I NGRAM’ S Regional Publications Ingrams.com The Thriving Communities of Kansas City Why should you invest in the greater Kansas City area? There are a thousand reasons, but they all start with a fertile land rich in resources and people who make it among the most productive regions in the world. From its agricultural productivity to its position firmly planted at the nexus of North American trade, Kansas City is a destination we hope your organization will invest and expand in. Our integrated Web sites will inform you of the many virtues that await you in the Greater Kansas City area.

Missouri Counties DestinationMissouri.com Q DestinationKansasCity.com Kansas Counties DestinationKansas.com Q DestinationKansasCity.com

Buchanan DestinationBuchananCountyMO.com Douglas DestinationDouglasCountyKS.com Cass DestinationCassCountyMO.com Franklin DestinationFranklinCountyKS.com Clay DestinationClayCountyMO.com Johnson (Kan) DestinationJohnsonCountyKS.com Jackson DestinationJacksonCountyMO.com Leavenworth DestinationLeavenworthCountyKS.com Johnson (Mo) DestinationJohnsonCountyMO.com Miami DestinationMiamiCountyKS.com Lafayette DestinationLafayetteCountyMO.com Wyandotte DestinationWyandotteCountyKS.com Pettis DestinationPettisCountyMO.com Platte DestinationPlatteCountyMO.com Ingrams.com Ray DestinationRayCountyMO.com DestinationKansasCity.com Saline DestinationSalineCountyMO.com 816.842.9994

DestinationJacksonCountyMO.com Q DestinationKansasCity.com The greater part of Kansas City, Mo., including Downtown, falls within Jackson County, Mo. With a central location and revitalized downtown, Jackson County is the most populous JACKSON COUNTY in the area, and growing. More than 700,000 residents live within its 604.5 square miles, MISSOURI VITAL STATS and more than half of the area’s top employers call the county home. Total Population, 2018 700,307 Some college, no degree 23.8% Construction, extraction, maintenance 7.5% 18 and over, 2018 535,035 Associate’s degree 7.1% Production, transportation 12.7% Median age, 2018 36.5 Bachelor’s degree 19.2% Median Household Income, 2018 $50,652 Population, 2017 698,895 Graduate or professional degree 11.0% Land Area (square miles) 604.5 Population change, 2010-2018 3.9% EMPLOYMENT STATUS Persons per square mile, 2018 1,115.3 Largest City Kansas City Population over 16 in labor force 66.2% County Seat Independence Population of city, 2018 491,918 Mean commute time 22.8 min County Government Information Total Housing Units, 2018 326,019 TOP EMPLOYERS County Executive - Jr. Median value, 2018 $131,500 Cerner Corp., Saint Luke’s Health System, [email protected] Average household size, 2018 2.42 HCA Midwest, Children’s Mercy KC, Truman 415 E. 12th St. Average family size, 2018 3.1 Medical Centers, Hallmark Cards, Kansas City, MO 64106 Homeownership rate, 2018 58.7% Burns & McDonnell, JE Dunn Construction Tel: 816.881.3333, Fax: 816.881.3133 EDUCATION TOP INDUSTRIES Population Over 25, 2018 508,153 Management, professional 36.5% www.co.jackson.mo.us High school or higher 89.9% Service 17.6% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Bachelor’s degree or higher 30.2% Sales and office 25.6% Missouri Office of the Secretary of State Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 High school or equivalent 28.8% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.2% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com

DestinationClayCountyMO.com Q DestinationNorthlandMO.com Vast in geographical area and rapid in growth, Clay County accounts for more than 246,000 Kansas City area residents. The county stretches from the north bank of the Missouri River, CLAY COUNTY across from Downtown Kansas City, north and northeast for some 30 miles. Features include MISSOURI VITAL STATS advanced infrastructure, a 7,000-acre recreational lake and a short commute to Downtown. Total Population, 2018 246,365 Some college, no degree 23.3% Production, transportation 12.2% 18 and over, 2018 186,991 Associate’s degree 8.5% Median Household Income, 2018 $65,675 Median age, 2018 36.8 Bachelor’s degree 21.7% Land Area (square miles) 397.3 Population, 2017 242,874 Graduate or professional degree 10.3% Persons per square mile, 2018 588.6 Population change, 2010-2018 11.0% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Liberty Largest City Liberty Population over 16 in labor force 70.0% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 31,507 Mean commute time 23.0 min Presiding Commissioner – Jerry Nolte Total Housing Units, 2018 98,926 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2016 $160,900 Cerner Corp., Ford Motor Co., North Kansas 1 Courthouse Square, Liberty, MO 64068 Average household size, 2018 2.6 City Hospital, , Ameristar Tel: 816.407.3600, Fax: 816.407.3601 Average family size, 2018 3.1 Casino, Harrah’s Casino Hotel www.claycogov.com Homeownership rate, 2018 69.1% TOP INDUSTRIES EDUCATION Management, professional 37.4% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Over 25, 2018 157,170 Service 18.0% Missouri Office of the Secretary of State High school or higher 92.9% Sales and office 23.5% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 31.9% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.7% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 29.2% Construction, extraction, maintenance 8.2% DestinationCassCountyMO.com Cass County is bordered on the north by Jackson County, the region’s most populous county, and on the east by rural Johnson County, Mo. Cass is among the fastest-growing counties CASS COUNTY in Missouri—its population climbed nearly 20 percent from 2000 to 2010. Cass County MISSOURI VITAL STATS offers rural charm, urban proximity and triple-A accredited school systems. Total Population, 2018 104,954 Some college, no degree 24.4% Production, transportation 12.8% 18 and over, 2018 79,555 Associate’s degree 8.4% Median Household Income, 2018 $65,352 Median age, 2018 39.5 Bachelor’s degree 16.8% Land Area (square miles) 696.8 Population, 2017 103,724 Graduate or professional degree 9.0% Persons per square mile, 2018 148.0 Population change, 2010–2018 5.5% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Harrisonville Largest City Belton Population over 16 in labor force 66.0% County Government Info Population of city, 2018 23,480 Mean commute time 27.8 min Presiding Commissioner – Bob Huston Total Housing Units, 2018 42,427 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2016 $165,800 Wal-Mart Stores, QuikTrip production site, 102 E. Wall St., Harrisonville, MO 64701 Average household size, 2018 2.6 Sioux Chief Manufacturing Co., Foxwood Tel: 816.380.8155, Fax: 816.380.8156 Average family size, 2018 3.1 Springs, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Home www.casscounty.com Homeownership rate, 2018 75.5% TOP INDUSTRIES EDUCATION Management, professional 35.3% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Over 25, 2018 68,556 Service 15.1% Missouri Office of the Secretary of State High school or higher 92.4% Sales and office 24.8% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 25.8% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.5% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 33.8% Construction, extraction, maintenance 11.5%

DestinationBuchananCountyMO.com Q DestinationSaintJosephMO.com Buchanan County is carving out a presence as an economic hub for the four-state area of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. With its scenic parkway system and diverse BUCHANAN COUNTY landscape, this county offers an appealing alternative for growing businesses. Low crime, MISSOURI VITAL STATS top-notch health care and affordable housing have attracted new residents in recent years. Total Population, 2018 88,571 Some college, no degree 22.9% Production, transportation 12.2% 18 and over, 2018 68,874 Associate’s degree 7.0% Median Household Income, 2018 $46,652 Median age, 2018 37.1 Bachelor’s degree 11.06% Land Area (square miles) 408 Population, 2018 89,065 Graduate or professional degree 6.8% Persons per square mile, 2018 218.6 Population change, 2010–2018 -0.7% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat St. Joseph Largest City St. Joseph Population over 16 in labor force 59.8% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 76,442 Mean commute time 17.4 min Presiding Commissioner – Lee Sawyer Total Housing Units, 2018 38,804 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $114,800 Mosaic Life Care, Triumph Foods, Wal-Mart 411 Jules St., Room 101 Average household size, 2018 2.56 Stores, American Family Insurance, Sara Lee St. Joseph, MO 64501 Average family size, 2018 3.0 Food and Beverage Tel: 816.271.1503, Fax: 816.271.1569 Homeownership rate, 2018 63.2% TOP INDUSTRIES www.co.buchanan.mo.us EDUCATION Management, professional 37.4% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Over 25, 2018 59,828 Service 18.0% Missouri Department of Commerce and Housing High school or higher 89.2% Sales and office 23.1% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 18.5% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.7% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 40.8% Construction, extraction, maintenance 8.2%

DestinationPlatteCountyMO.com Q DestinationNorthlandMO.com Nearly 20 percent of the land area of Kansas City, Mo., lies within Platte County, which is separated from Downtown Kansas City by a small stretch of Clay County. The Missouri River PLATTE COUNTY forms the county’s western boundary. It is one of the most prosperous and fastest-growing MISSOURI VITAL STATS counties in the area, home to Kansas City International Airport and over 101,000 residents. Total Population, 2018 102,985 Some college, no degree 23.2% Median Household Income, 2018 $74,199 18 and over, 2018 77,179 Associate’s degree 7.7% Land Area (square miles) 420.2 Median age, 2018 38.2 Bachelor’s degree 23.8% Persons per square mile, 2018 212.6 Population, 2017 101,187 Graduate or professional degree 18.5% County Seat Platte City Population change, 2010–2018 15.3% EMPLOYMENT STATUS, 2018 County Government Information Largest City Parkville Population over 16 in labor force 70.8% Presiding Commissioner – Ron Schieber Population of city, 2018 6,772 Mean commute time 23.3 min. [email protected] Total Housing Units, 2018 42,366 TOP EMPLOYERS 415 Third St., Ste. 105 Median value, 2018 $204,900 ADT Security Systems, Argosy Casino, Platte City, MO 64079 Average household size, 2018 2.52 Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital Tel: 816.858.3334, Fax: 816.858.3329 Average family size, 2018 2.9 TOP INDUSTRIES www.co.platte.mo.us Homeownership rate, 2018 65.2% Management, professional 45.2% EDUCATION Service 14.7% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Over 25, 2018 68,782 Sales and office 18.6% Missouri Office of the Secretary of State High school or higher 95.3% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.1% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 42.5% Construction, extraction, maintenance 10.3% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 22.1% Production, transportation 10.2% THE THE POWER BOOK COMING JANUARY 2020 POWER BOOK ?>:MNKBG@BG@K:FL:P:K=PBGG>KL DUAL ISSUE SPECIAL RATE (Save 40% on Both Ads) Advertise in THE POWER BOOK and in our January edition

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TAB SPONSOR (Six Tab Sponsors. Industry Protected) POWER BOOK LAUNCH PARTY SPONSOR Q Company name published on the front cover Q Full-page color ad in The Power Book—choice position Q Logo and company profile perhaps including top Q Publicly recognized at the Launch Party Event and Signage executive photo featured in front of The Power Book Q Company name on masthead and collateral materials Q Two full page color ads (front and back) printed on Q Company name on all ads promoting The Power Book coated cardstock. (Your logo will be printed on back of tab) Q 20 complimentary copies of The Power Book Q Publicly recognized at the Launch Party Event and Signage Q 10 complimentary subscriptions to Ingram’s Q Company name on masthead and collateral materials Q Use of 8x ad rates for all other ad inserts in Ingram’s Q Company name on all ads promoting The Power Book Investment: $4,500 Q 30 complimentary copies of The Power Book Q 15 complimentary subscriptions to Ingram’s The Launch Party will likely be held in early January, at which Q Use of 12x ad rates for all other ad inserts in Ingram’s time we’ll release the 2020 edition of The Power Book and Ingram’s monthly edition. Hundreds of clients and VIPs will attendand. Investment: $7,000 (3 year commitment. First option to renew) (Sponsorship rates are net prices. No other discounts apply) Single Page Tab Sponsorship may be available for $4,500 CLOSING DATE FOR THE 2020 EDITION OF THE POWER BOOK INCLUDING INGRAM’S BOOK OF LEADS & LISTS IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 Claim Your Position or for information, please call 816.842.9994 Q [email protected] DestinationJohnsonCountyMO.com Q DestinationWarrensburgMO.com Johnson County, Mo. residents enjoy the serenity of a smaller community and the conve- niences of a big city, with Kansas City just 45 minutes to the west. Warrensburg, its main JOHNSON COUNTY community and county seat, is a vibrant city with a strong employment base and home to the MISSOURI VITAL STATS University of Central Missouri, which contributes to an active cultural scene. Total Population, 2018 53,652 Some college, no degree 23.7% Production, transportation 12.2% 18 and over, 2018 42,344 Associate’s degree 9.3% Median Household Income, 2018 $50,689 Median age, 2018 29.9 Bachelor’s degree 17.2% Land Area (square miles) 829.28 Population, 2017 53,897 Graduate or professional degree 11.2% Persons per square mile, 2018 63.4 Population change, 2010–2018 2.0% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Warrensburg Largest City Warrensburg Population over 16 in labor force 59.9% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 20,168 Mean commute time 22.7 min Presiding Commissioner – William Gabel Total Housing Units, 2018 22,388 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $142,800 Whiteman Air Force Base, University of 300 N. Holden St., Warrensburg, MO 64093 Average household size, 2018 2.48 Central Missouri, EnerSys Energy Products, Tel: 660.747.2112, Fax: 660.747.9332 Average family size, 2018 2.93 Western Missouri Medical Center www.jococourthouse.com Homeownership rate, 2018 59.8% TOP INDUSTRIES EDUCATION Management, professional 37.4% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Over 25, 2018 30,916 Service 18.0% Missouri Office of the Secretary of State High school or higher 92.0% Sales and office 23.5% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 28.4% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.7% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 30.6% Construction, extraction, maintenance 8.2%

DestinationPettisCountyMO.com To the east of Johnson County, Pettis County has seen modest growth, with a 2018 pop- ulation exceeding 42,000. The county seat and largest city, Sedalia, is rich in musical PETTIS COUNTY history and home to the Missouri State Fair, as well as the State Fair Community College. MISSOURI VITAL STATS Total Population, 2018 42,542 Some college, no degree 23.2% Production, transportation 22.7% 18 and over, 2018 31,649 Associate’s degree 9.8% Median Household Income, 2018 $43,097 Median age, 2018 37.5 Bachelor’s degree 11.4% Land Area (square miles) 682.2 Population, 2017 42,558 Graduate or professional degree 6.3% Persons per square mile, 2018 61.9 Population change, 2010–2018 0.8% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Sedalia Largest City Sedalia Population over 16 in labor force 60.3% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 21,718 Mean commute time 19.4 min Presiding Commissioner – David Dick Total Housing Units, 2018 18,311 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $144,145 Tyson Foods, Bothwell Regional Health Pettis County Courthouse, 2nd Fl. Average household size, 2018 2.58 Center, Wal-Mart Stores, State Fair 415 S. Ohio Ave. Average family size, 2018 3.16 Community College Sedalia, MO 65301 Homeownership rate, 2018 67.24% TOP INDUSTRIES Tel: 660.826.5000 EDUCATION Management, professional 27.9% www.pettiscomo.com Population Over 25, 2018 28,073 Service 18.6% High school or higher 83.8% Sales and office 20.8% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Missouri Office of the Secretary of State Bachelor’s degree or higher 17.7% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.7% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 High school or equivalent 33.0% Construction, extraction, maintenance 9.3% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com

DestinationLafayetteCountyMO.com Lafayette County’s development has flourished in the past 10 years as companies have lined up along . Odessa and Concordia have seen increased business, and LAFAYETTE COUNTY retail has prospered in Higginsville, while Lexington maintains its reputation as a land- MISSOURI VITAL STATS mark stop for tourism and to enjoy its rich history. Total Population, 2018 32,598 Some college, no degree 21.0% Production, transportation 18.0% 18 and over, 2018 25,114 Associate’s degree 7.1% Median Household Income, 2018 $52,557 Median age, 2018 41.0 Bachelor’s degree 12.2% Land Area (square miles) 628.4 Population, 2017 32,641 Graduate or professional degree 6.1% Persons per square mile, 2018 53.1 Population change, 2010–2018 -2.3% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Lexington Largest City Odessa Population over 16 in labor force 61.8% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 5,195 Mean commute time 26.5 min Presiding Commissioner – Harold Hoflander Total Housing Units, 2018 14,826 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $122,600 Tyson Foods, Meyer Foundation, AP Products, 1001 Main St., Lexington, MO 64067 Average household size, 2018 2.42 WinCup Radner Holdings, Tel: 660.259.4315, Fax: 660.259.6109 Average family size, 2018 2.95 Wal-Mart Stores Homeownership rate, 2018 74.1% TOP INDUSTRIES Sources: U.S. Census Bureau EDUCATION Management, professional 27.4% Missouri Office of the Secretary of State Population Over 25, 2018 22,557 Service 18.3% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 High school or higher 88.8% Sales and office 27.5% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com Bachelor’s degree or higher 18.3% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.8% High school or equivalent 42.4% Construction, extraction, maintenance 13.2% DestinationSalineCountyMO.com Named for its salt springs, Saline County lies to the east of Lafayette County. The county line is approximately 45 minutes from KC suburbs. With a 2018 population of 12,708 the SALINE COUNTY county seat of Marshall accounts for more than half of the population and is home to MISSOURI VITAL STATS Missouri Valley College, the fighting Owls of Marshall High and turn-of-century Victorian homes. Total Population, 2018 22,895 Some college, no degree 20.4% Production, transportation 21.6% 18 and over, 2018 17,426 Associate’s degree 5.1% Median Household Income, 2016 $41,567 Median age, 2018 38.2 Bachelor’s degree 11.5% Land Area (square miles) 755.5 Population, 2017 22,660 Graduate or professional degree 7.2% Persons per square mile, 2018 30.0 Population change, 2010–2018 -2.0% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Marshall Largest City Marshall Population over 16 in labor force 60.3% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 12,708 Mean commute time 16.5 min Presiding Commissioner – Kile Guthrey Total Housing Units, 2018 10,150 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $92,800 Cargill Meat Solutions, Fitzgibbon Hospital, 19 Arrow St., County Courthouse Average household size, 2018 2.47 Wal-Mart Stores, Missouri Valley College Marshall, MO 65340 Average family size, 2018 3.05 GE Energy Tel: 660.886.7777, Fax: 660.886.2603 Homeownership rate, 2018 68.6% TOP INDUSTRIES EDUCATION Management, professional 29.8% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Over 25, 2018 15,142 Service 19.5% Missouri Office of the Secretary of State High school or higher 84.1% Sales and office 19.2% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 18.7% Farming, fishing, forestry 1.3% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 39.9% Construction, extraction, maintenance 8.6%

DestinationRayCountyMO.com Nearly 77 percent of Ray County residents own their homes, enjoying both the country lifestyle and the easy commute to Kansas City. Richmond is the county seat and largest RAY COUNTY city, with highways funneling through to provide quick access to its borders. The county MISSOURI VITAL STATS attracts businesses with low labor costs and plentiful land resources. Total Population, 2018 22,883 Some college, no degree 20.9% Production, transportation 21.3% 18 and over, 2018 17,569 Associate’s degree 6.2% Median Household Income, 2018 $57,270 Median age, 2018 41.8 Bachelor’s degree 10.3% Land Area (square miles) 568.81 Population, 2017 22,855 Graduate or professional degree 4.1% Persons per square mile, 2018 41.3 Population change, 2010-2018 -2.6% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Richmond Largest City Richmond Population over 16 in labor force 61.4% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 5,655 Mean commute time 31.2 min Presiding Commissioner – Bob King Total Housing Units, 2018 10,011 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $129,700 Wal-Mart Stores, Shirkey Nursing and 100 W. Main St. Average household size, 2018 2.6 Rehabilitation Center, Ray County Memorial Richmond, MO 64085 Average family size, 2018 3.09 Hospital, Ideal Industries, Inc. Tel: 816.776.4507, Fax: 816.776.4512 Homeownership rate, 2018 77.5% TOP INDUSTRIES EDUCATION Management, professional 26.0% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Over 25, 2015 15,756 Service 15.6% Missouri Office of the Secretary of State High school or higher 88.2% Sales and office 21.5% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 14.4% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.6% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 46.7% Construction, extraction, maintenance 12.0%

Ingram’s Media continues to launch many entirely new and very dynamic Web sites—one for each area city, county and for entire Kansas City region (see the list of Web sites on page 3) InPrint Ingrams.com is a sophisticated, database-driven Web site that allows access to a massive amount of information, OnLine news and relevant and useful business data. The DestinationKansasCity.com and other Destination sites are loaded with dependable and up-to-date information and Anytime resources about every city and county throughout the region. These integrated Web sites are designed to educate and attract investment to the KC area and to the bi-state region. DestinationMissouri.com and DestinationKansas.com Claim your Position are the anchors for 500 Destination Web sites Ingram’s is building at DestinationKansasCity.com, for cities, counties and districts to serve the interests of residents, Ingrams.com or any of the business professionals, site consultants and expanding companies. Destination Web sites Ingrams.com and the above-mentioned Web sites are part of the DestinationUSA.com infrastructure. Ingram’s is proud On-line ads and strategic interactive positioning opportunities are available to serve the communities throughout Missouri and Kansas. For information, please call 816.842.9994 or e-mail [email protected] DestinationJohnsonCountyKS.com Johnson County, Kansas, lies directly across the state line from the affluent southwest corridor of Kansas City, Mo. Between 2000 and 2010, its population grew by 20 percent, and JOHNSON COUNTY it’s still growing. Johnson County leads both the metropolitan area and the state of Kansas KANSAS VITAL STATS in growth and prosperity, and continues to attract new residents and businesses alike. Total Population, 2018 597,555 Some college, no degree 19.1% Production, transportation 7.4% 18 and over, 2018 444,566 Associate’s degree 7.5% Median Household Income, 2018 $81,121 Median age, 2018 37.6 Bachelor’s degree 34.1% Land Area (square miles) 473.4 Population, 2017 591,198 Graduate or professional degree 20.6% Persons per square mile, 2018 1,168.2 Population change, 2010–2018 9.8% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Olathe Largest City Overland Park Population over 16 in labor force 72.1% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 192,536 Mean commute time 20.7 min Chair. Board of County Commissioners – Ed Eilert Total Housing Units, 2018 244,459 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 16 $232,500 Sprint, Wal-Mart Store, Farmers Insurance 111 S. Cherry, Ste. 3300 Average household size, 16 2.52 Group, Black & Veatch, Garmin, Optum Rx, Olathe, KS 66061 Average family size, 2018 3.08 Waddell & Reed Tel: 913.715.0430, Fax: 913.715.0440 Homeownership rate, 16 70.8% TOP INDUSTRIES www.jocogov.org EDUCATION Management, professional 51.0% Population Over 25, 2018 388,234 Service 12.8% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau High School or higher 95.7% Sales and office 23.9% Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 54.6% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.1% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 14.5% Construction, extraction, maintenance 4.9%

DestinationWyandotteCountyKS.com Wyandotte County lies west of Downtown Kansas City, Mo. The smallest county in Kansas by geography, it has the largest proportionate population and is home to more than 161,000 WYANDOTTE COUNTY residents. Wyandotte County has shifted its outlook and enjoyed an influx of new retail, KANSAS VITAL STATS and a transformation that can be traced to the change in government in the late 1990s. Total Population, 2018 165,324 Some college, no degree 21.7% Production, transportation 19.5% 18 and over, 2018 117,391 Associate’s degree 7.2% Median Household Income, 2018 $42,783 Median age, 2018 33.7 Bachelor’s degree 11.3% Land Area (square miles) 151.6 Population, 2017 167,931 Graduate or professional degree 5.4% Persons per square mile, 2018 1,039.0 Population change, 2010–2018 5.0% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Kansas City, KS Largest City Kansas City, KS Population over 16 in labor force 65.6% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 152,938 Mean commute time 21.5 min Chair of the Commission – Mayor David Alvey Total Housing Units, 2018 67,730 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $92,800 University of Kansas Health System, General 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, KS 66101 Average household size, 2018 2.72 Motors, KU Medical Center, Unified Govt. of Tel: 913.573.5010, Fax: 913.573.5020 Average family size, 2018 2.73 Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS www.wycokck.org Homeownership rate, 2018 57.5% TOP INDUSTRIES EDUCATION Management, professional 23.5% Population Over 25, 2018 102,821 Service 21.3% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau High school or higher 80.1% Sales and office 23.3% Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 20.3% Farming, fishing, forestry 01% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 33.1% Construction, extraction, maintenance 12.4%

DestinationDouglasCountyKS.com Q DestinationLawrenceKS.com One of the most prosperous counties in Kansas, Douglas County retains rural charm while offering easy access to Kansas City’s amenities. Home to the University of Kansas, DOUGLAS COUNTY Lawrence keeps up its reputation as a cultural center. This college community is the KANSAS VITAL STATS largest city in the county and draws residents from around the nation. Total Population, 2018 121,436 Some college, no degree 22.2% Production, transportation 9.1% 18 and over, 2018 95,540 Associate’s degree 8.0% Median Household Income, 2018 $54,370 Median age, 2018 29.2 Bachelor’s degree 23.9% Land Area (square miles) 455.9 Population, 2017 120,793 Graduate or professional degree 23.4% Persons per square mile, 2018 243.1 Population change, 2010–2018 9.6% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Lawrence Largest City Lawrence Population over 16 in labor force 69.2% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 96,892 Mean commute time 20.4 min County Commission Chair – Michelle Derusseau Total Housing Units, 2018 51,073 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $188,100 University of Kansas, Lawrence Memorial 1100 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KS 66044 Average household size, 2018 2.43 Hospital, Vangent, Berry Plastics Corp., Tel: 785.832.5100, Fax: 785.832.5268 Average family size, 2018 2.98 Hallmark Cards, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. www.douglas-county.com Homeownership rate, 2018 51.2% TOP INDUSTRIES EDUCATION Management, professional 44.1% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing Population Over 25, 2018 67,159 Service 19.9% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 High School or higher 95.3% Sales and office 23.9% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com Bachelor’s degree or higher 50.0% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.6% High school or equivalent 18.7% Construction, extraction, maintenance 5.4% DestinationLeavenworthCountyKS.com Located in the northwestern corner of the Kansas City area, Leavenworth County is home to Fort Leavenworth and the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College, which attract LEAVENWORTH CO. military personnel from around the country. The Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth and KANSAS VITAL STATS several other prisons represent the county’s leading industry, correctional facilities. Total Population, 2018 81,352 Some college, no degree 20.5% Construction, extraction, maintenance 7.6% 18 and over, 2018 61,794 Associate’s degree 9.7 Production, transportation 10.1% Median age, 2018 37.3 Bachelor’s degree 19.7% Median Household Income, 2018 $70,022 Population, 2017 81,095 Graduate or professional degree 12.9% Land Area (square miles) 462.8 Population change, 2010–2018 6.7% EMPLOYMENT STATUS Persons per square mile, 2018 164.7 Largest City Leavenworth Population over 16 in labor force 57.7% County Seat Leavenworth Population of city, 2018 36,210 Mean commute time 22.6 min County Government Information Total Housing Units, 2018 29,790 TOP EMPLOYERS Chair of Commissioners – Doug Smith Median value, 2018 $171,000 Fort Leavenworth, Lansing Correctional [email protected] Average household size, 2018 2.69 Facility, Cubic Defense Applications Group, 300 Walnut St., Suite 225 Average family size, 2018 3.34 Northrup Grumman, Cushing Memorial Leavenworth, KS 66048 Home ownership rate, 2018 68% Hospital, Hallmark Cards Tel: 913.684.0417, Fax: 913.684.0410 EDUCATION TOP INDUSTRIES www.leavenworthcounty.org Population Over 25, 2018 54,581 Management, professional 37.1% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau High School or higher 89.7% Service 22.7% Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing Bachelor’s degree or higher 32.6% Sales and office 22.5% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 High school or equivalent 26.8% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.1% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com

DestinationMiamiCountyKS.com Miami County is thriving. The population has climbed nearly 16 percent since 2000, and now approaches 33,000 residents. The surge led to an increase in higher-priced homes as MIAMI COUNTY urbanites sought the fresh air, open spaces and low crime of rural living. Directly south of KANSAS VITAL STATS affluent Johnson County, Miami County is an easy drive to Kansas City. Total Population, 2018 33,680 Some college, no degree 36.6% Production, transportation 12.7% 18 and over, 2018 24,995 Associate’s degree 9.4% Median Household Income, 2018 $63,501 Median age, 2018 41.7 Bachelor’s degree 17.4% Land Area (square miles) 575.7 Population, 2017 33,461 Graduate or professional degree 8.5% Persons per square mile, 2018 57.0 Population change, 2010–2018 2.7% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Paola Largest City Paola Population over 16 in labor force 66.2% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 5,670 Mean commute time 27.9 min County Commission Chair – Danny Gallagher Total Housing Units, 2018 13,927 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $181,100 Lake Mary Center, Wal-Mart Stores, 201 S. Pearl St., Ste. 200 Average household size, 2018 2.53 Taylor-Forge Engineering Systems, Paola, KS 66071 Average family size, 2018 3.04 Olathe Health Tel: 913.294.5844, Fax: 913.294.9163 Homeownership rate, 2018 78.0% TOP INDUSTRIES www.miamicountyks.org EDUCATION Management, professional 33.1% Population Over 25, 2018 22,327 Service 15.1% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau High school or higher 94.9% Sales and office 25.0% Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 25.9% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.7% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 32.4% Construction, extraction, maintenance 13.4%

DestinationFranklinCountyKS.com Franklin County, a leading agricultural area, is gaining a reputation as a distribution hub for Kansas. Located along Interstate 35, the area enjoys easy access to transportation, FRANKLIN COUNTY resulting in major manufacturing and distribution development in the past few years, KANSAS VITAL STATS including a Walmart center that serves the Kansas City area. Total Population, 2018 25,631 Some college, no degree 19.6% Production, transportation 20.4% 18 and over, 2018 19,403 Associate’s degree 10.3% Median Household Income, 2018 $53,167 Median age, 2018 40 Bachelor’s degree 16.7% Land Area (square miles) 571.8 Population, 2017 25,733 Graduate or professional degree 9.3% Persons per square mile, 2018 45.5 Population change, 2010–2018 -1.4% EMPLOYMENT STATUS County Seat Ottawa Largest City Ottawa Population over 16 in labor force 67.4% County Government Information Population of city, 2018 12,267 Mean commute time 23.7 min Chair, County Commission – Rick Howard Total Housing Units, 2018 11,213 TOP EMPLOYERS [email protected] Median value, 2018 $121,700 Wal-Mart Logistics, American Eagle 315 S. Main Average household size, 2018 2.53 Outfitters, AdventHealth Ottawa, Ottawa, KS 66067 Average family size, 2018 3.01 Cargotec Solutions, Ottawa University Tel: 785.229.3434, Fax: 785.229.3419 Homeownership rate, 2018 72.1% TOP INDUSTRIES www.franklincoks.org EDUCATION Management, professional 25.2% Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Population Over 25, 2018 21,506 Service 14.4% Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing High school or higher 92.5% Sales and office 24.8% Ingram’s Magazine • 816.842.9994 Bachelor’s degree or higher 26.1% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.7% Ingrams.com • DestinationKansasCity.com High school or equivalent 36.6% Construction, extraction, maintenance 14.6% INGRAM’S 46TH YEAR

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