November 2010
Governing like a CEO

Gov. Mark Parkinson's business-like approach has Kansas in the black and companies looking to expand.

by Ron Starner, Site Selection Magazine

November 2010
Vita Craft cookware hits Crown Center store shelves

Shawnee-based Vita Craft has announced that Function Junction is one of the first stores to carry its new retail cookware line, Veggie.

by Shawnee Dispatch

November 2010
Kansas ranks #13 on Site Selection's 2010 Top State Business Climate Rankings

Site Selection evaluates the states annually using a four-part index of criteria linked to the magazine’s proprietary New Plant database of new and expanded facilities and a survey of corporate site selectors indicating their preference for for state business climates. Kansas was not included on the list in 2009, and was #21 in 2008 and 2007.

by Mark Arend, Site Selection Magazine

November 2010
Social media helps local businesses better engage customers and boost revenue

Here's how to make it do the same for yours.

by Chris Brogan, Entrepreneur Magazine

November 2010
Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Board of Regents invest $1.6 million in Energy Network of Education and Training

The Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Board of Regents will invest $1.6 million in the Energy Network of Education and Training (EnergyNET), a system of Kansas public higher education institutions collaborating to provide enhanced workforce training for the state’s energy industry.

Kansas Department of Commerce

November 2010
Development-ready sites and creative funding priority to build Shawnee economy

About 45 people gathered Oct. 27 for an economic development summit organized by the city and the chamber of commerce. Their goal was to refine and prioritize the city’s economic development strategies.

by Sara Shepherd, The Shawnee Dispatch

November 2010
Shawnee discusses economic development

Business and community leaders met to discuss, refine and prioritize the city's economic development strategies for the future.

by Jessica Marshall, Johnson County Sun

October 2010
Award-winning Straub Construction helped shape and build KC's history

What do the largest municipal water park in Kansas (Salina's Kenwood Cove Water Park below), the renovation space in 909 Walnut (above), and a $29 million construction project for Goddard School District have in common? They are just a few of the projects entrusted to Straub Construction, an award-winning general contractor with 90 years of experience specializing in builder contractor services.

by MetroWireKC

October 2010
Missouri and Kansas small biz could get $401 Million

U.S. Treasury Department has announced state allocations for new funding initiative.

by Kansas City Small Business magazine

October 2010
Forbes ranks Kansas as 10th best state for business

Kansas nabbed 10th place on Forbes’ new “Best States for Business” list, improving last year’s rank of 15th.

by Kansas City Business Journal

View the Forbes rankings

October 2010
Site Consultants rank Kansas No. 3 for workforce development programs

Kansas has the No. 3-ranked workforce development programs in the nation, according to an Area Development magazine survey of site location consultants.

Kansas Department of Commerce

View the complete Survey

August 2010
Congratulations to Dave Huston, Olson Manufacturing & Distribution for being named as the 2010 Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champion for Kansas

National federation’s Kansas office honors Shawnee businessman for 2nd straight year.

Shawnee Dispatch

August 2010
Kansas named a Top 10 state in eight of 20 categories in Business Facilities magazine's 2010 Rankings Report

Kansas was a Top 10 state in: Economic Growth Potential (10), Biotechnology Strength (5), Biofuels Manufacturing Research (10), Alternative Energy Industry (10), Wind Energy Manufacturing (3), Quality of Life (3), Employment Leaders (5) and Best Education Climate (3).

Shawnee Dispatch

View the complete 2010 Business Facilities Rankings Report: State Rankings.

August 2010
Kansas grabs No. 3 ranking in "Top Deals and Hot Markets" Report

The annual ranking by Southern Business & Development magazine examines 17 Southern states on their business recruitment and retention projects that create and/or retain jobs and capital investment and then ranks them by points per million residents.

Kansas Department of Commerce

View the complete Report.

August 2010
Kansas ranked No. 7 in Annual Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States Report

The annual Pollina report analyzes all 50 states by examining 31 site location factors controlled by state governments, including taxation, human resources, economic incentive programs, economic development efforts and infrastructure.

Kansas Department of Commerce

View the complete Top 10 rankings.

July 2010
Shawnee Economic Development Council Award Area Businesses at
Business Appreciation Luncheon

Local businesses received awards from the Shawnee Economic Development Council (SEDC) for their continuous support and contributions to the city.

July 2010
Shawnee to honor businesses

We are excited to be honoring the many companies that contribute to our tax base, create quality job opportunities for area residents, and reflect positively on the Shawnee community.

Sun Publications

July 2010
Kansas ranks No. 11 in CNBC’s annual Top States for Business report

Of those 10 categories, Kansas ranked among the Top 10 in three ─ transportation, economy and cost of living. Iowa (No. 6) was the only Midwestern state ranked ahead of Kansas.
Kansas Department of Commerce

View the complete Top 10 rankings at www.cnbc.com/id/37554006/.

July 2010
Magazine taps Shawnee among nation’s “Best Places to Live”

Shawnee once again is among the nation's Best Places to Live, according to Money magazine.
Shawnee Dispatch

July 2010
Shawnee ranks # 17 in Money's list of America's best small cities

Shawnee among small cities that boast plenty of jobs, great schools, safe streets, low crime, lots to do, charm, and other features that make a town great for raising a family.
Money Magazine

June 2010
Kansas awarded Silver Shovel Award by Area Development magazine for job creation, capital investment

The award recognize states that drive significant job creation through innovative policies, infrastructure improvements, processes and promotions that attract new employers and investments in expanded facilities.

Kansas Department of Commerce

View the full review of this year’s Gold & Silver Shovel Award winners at www.areadevelopment.com/awards.

June 2010
KC ranks among better spots to look for work, study says

Among the 50 largest metro areas, Kansas City ranks 17th as the least-difficult place to search for work.
by Diane Stafford, Kansas City Star

June 2010
$77.5 million in Recovery Zone Bonds available for business, public improvement projects

Press Release announcing Recovery Zone Facility Bond application acceptance July 1-23

Recovery Zone Facility Bond Application due July 23

Recovery Zone Economic Development Bond Application due July 23

June 2010
Site Selection magazine names Kansas a Top 10 state in Competitiveness Award

The Competitiveness Awards evaluate states on criteria such as capital investment, new facilities created, existing facilities expanded, jobs created and jobs retained. This is the second consecutive year Kansas has made the Top 10.
Kansas Department of Commerce

View the complete Site Selection article and Competitiveness Awards rankings.

June 2010
Kansas Department of Commerce names Straub Construction Co. a Business Appreciation Month winner

Business Appreciation Month is the Department’s annual celebration of Kansas businesses and their contributions to their communities and the state economy.
Kansas Department of Commerce

May 2010
Lexmark to purchase Shawnee software firm for $280 million

Company officials said that Perceptive will retain its name and its headquarters will remain in Shawnee.
Shawnee Dispatch

May 2010
Metcalf Bank agrees to buy four branches of First National Bank of Olathe

The deal would give the $1 billion Metcalf a larger area footprint, including the two First National Bank of Olathe locations in Shawnee.

by Mark Davis, The Kansas City Star

April 2010
Kansas City ranks #37 on Best Places for Business and Careers

Forbes' 12th annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers looks at the 200 largest metro areas. They ranked areas on 12 metrics including costs (business and living), job growth (past and projected), income growth, educational attainment and projected economic growth. They also factored in quality of life issues like crime, cultural and recreational opportunities as well as net migration patters. Lastly they examined the percentage of subprime mortgages handed out over a three-year stretch and the number of highly ranked four-year colleges in the area.
by Kurt Badenhausen, Forbes

April 2010
Perceptive Software Inc. and SKC Communication Products Inc. Win 2010 Champions of Business Award

The 2010 Champions of Business award is given by the Kansas City Business Journal to area companies exhibiting sustained excellence, including areas like financial success during a three-year period, innovation and community involvement.
by Jonna Lorenz, Kansas City Business Journal

April 2010
Kansas' Economy Is Holding Its Own

Shawnee mentioned as metro community that would support light industrial and mixed-use developments, as well as serve professional services firms.
Business Xpansion Journal

Don't miss the Shawnee Economic Development Council advertisement on second page of article spread.

April 2010
Shawnee Named a "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation
Shawnee is also the recipient of a Tree City USA Growth Award for completing activities that strengthened our local tree care program.

April 2010
Shawnee Company, Bio-Microbics, finalist for 2010 Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award
Governor Mark Parkinson will announce the winner June 29 at the Kansas Cavalry Encampment, the state’s annual business awards ceremony.

Kansas City Business Journal

View Evaluation Criteria and finalist profiles

March 2010
KCP&L Named Highest Ranked Utility in J.D. Power and Associates' Midwest Large Business Customer Satisfaction Study
Kansas City Power & Light

March 2010
Johnson County Receives American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Recovery Zone Facility
Bond Allocation

Letter describing Recovery Zone Facility Bond Program

Applications due April 15

March 2010
K-7 & 55th Street/Johnson Drive Interchange Project Work to Begin

Weather permitting, beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 29, access to and from Johnson Drive from both northbound and southbound K-7 will be closed for construction.

Kansas Department of Transportation

March 2010
Brookings Institution puts KC among 20 strongest U.S. metros

In a study of quarterly indicators of economic recession and recovery in the nation's 100 largest metro areas, the Kansas City region is cited as one of 20 strongest metro during the recession.

by Howard Wial and Alec Friedhoff, Brookings Institution

March 2010
City Council moves forward on improvement district

Public hearing set to consider creation of its first Community Improvement District.

by Caroline Boyer, Shawnee Dispatch

March 2010
KC economy has weathered recession fairly well, according to analysis of 100 metro areas

The area is ranked in the top 20 "strongest-performing" U.S. metropolises.

by Diane Stafford, The Kansas City Star

March 2010
The Five Best Roads in America

Reader’s Digest has ranked Kansas highways #1 in the nation.

by Michelle Crouch, Reader's Digest

View the video of the news conference celebrating the news: Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson and former governors Mike Hayden and Bill Graves discuss READER'S DIGEST ranking of Kansas as possessing the nation's top road system.

March 2010
Cities where the recession is easing

Kansas City ranks in top 10 metros where jobs are projected to grow and the housing crisis is stabilizing.

by Francesca Levy, Forbes

February 2010
The Land Source, KCTerra Land Realty and Stag Commercial merge

Kansas City Business Journal

February 2010
Mayor's State of the City Address at the February Shawnee Chamber of Commerce luncheon

February 2010
Council approves first step in creation of Community Improvement District

by Caroline Boyer, Shawnee Dispatch

February 2010
Stag Commercial banks on office, retail for Commerce branch

by Rob Roberts, Kansas City Business Journal

January 2010
Kansas City advances as new-business haven

by G. Scott Thomas, Kansas City Business Journal