GAF is constructing a new shingle plant in Newton, creating more than 130 jobs. The $300-million investment received a “Deal of the Year” Award from Business Facilities magazine.
K-State’s new innovation hub and corporate engagement space in the Edge District will drive research commercialization, industry partnerships and economic growth.
Commerce now awards Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) on a rolling basis throughout the year. This check was presented to Caney for the state’s first ever regional water project in rural Kansas.
The third annual Rural Health and Prosperity Grants 101 Workshop took place in Emporia. At the workshop, agencies shared valuable information on grant opportunities to support communities and organizations across the state.
Kansas made history in 2025 — and the story of our state is being rewritten for the world.
More than $30.4 billion in committed private sector investment. More than 82,500 jobs created and retained. And all of that since 2019. These are far more than just numbers — they represent the bold, prosperous new Kansas under construction right now.
And, speaking of construction, did I mention we’re about to become the smallest state in the nation to host an NFL franchise, with a domed stadium that will be used year-round.
That’s the new Kansas.
As the future “Home of the Chiefs,” we’re not just punching above our peers, we’re in a league of our own — at the top of the economic development world. And none of this could have happened without our committed Kansas champions and local partners who are driving success across every region of our state.
The opportunities are limitless in Kansas today. And together, we’re making big plays — by turning one-time pipe dreams into tangible realities — through audacious imagination, a culture of collaboration and unwavering work ethic.
That’s the new Kansas.
Our team is deliberate when deciding how to dedicate precious resources. With an eye on return on investment (ROI) and following the Kansas Framework for Growth, we are creating opportunities that will deliver benefits for current Kansas residents — and open the door for even more to join us here in the “Sunflower State.”
That’s the new Kansas.
Our cooperative and holistic approach to economic growth continues to transform Kansas — through next-generation jobs and business investment as well as countless quality-of-life wins in communities of all sizes.
And there is no time to slow down. With all eyes on Kansas, opportunities continue to arise. We will continue chasing — and embracing — them.
Thank you for your partnership in building this new, more prosperous, Kansas.
Ad Astra Per Aspera,
David C. Toland
Lt. Governor and Secretary of
Commerce
Governor Kelly and Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt announced a new public-private partnership that will bring the Chiefs to Kansas.
While landing the Chiefs was a team effort, Chief Counsel Bob North and Legislative Director Rachel Willis deserve All-Star recognition for their tireless efforts.
Lt. Governor Toland spoke at the grand opening of Heartland Coca-Cola Production Campus in Olathe, celebrating their more than $400-million-dollar investment.
2025 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT
LEGEND
Business Development
In-State Offices
Successes
Quality Places
CDBG Grants
ROOMS Grants
TAPS Grants
SIGNS Grants
FRAME Grants
SHOVL Grants
International
K-Globe Grants
Exporter of the Year Finalists
Workforce Development
Workforce Centers
Kansas Arts Commission
Kansas Arts Commision Grants
Office of Broadband Development
Office of Broadband Development Grants
Kansas Tourism
Tourism Grants
Love, Kansas Grants
Office of Rural Prosperity
HEAL Grants
SEED Grants
Rural Mural Grants
Towns Grants
Rural Champions Grants
ROZ Counties
IN-STATE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REGIONS
BUSINESS RECRUITMENT REGIONS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP NOTE
2025 stands as the strongest year in Kansas history for committed capital investment. Across the Business Development Division, we’ve seen record-breaking momentum as communities of every size positioned themselves for growth. With 68 counties reporting economic successes this calendar year, Kansas continues to demonstrate that innovation, talent and opportunity are not confined to metro areas – they are statewide strengths.
Our teams have worked relentlessly to modernize our project pipeline, strengthen collaboration with regional partners and align our recruitment strategy with the priorities outlined in the Kansas Framework for Growth. As a result, 2025 delivered the Kansas City Chiefs to Kansas and more than $9.5 billion dollars in committed private sector capital investment, the highest annual total achieved in state history.
We’ve seen transformative expansions from global leaders like Merck Animal Health, Fiserv and Owens Corning, each affirming that Kansas offers a competitive, stable and forward-looking environment for business. Beyond large-scale projects, our regional teams have supported numerous in-state expansions of existing companies that continue to create high-quality jobs and sustain our communities.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to building on this foundation: expanding our international footprint, deepening our workforce partnerships and positioning Kansas as the premier destination for advanced manufacturing, food systems and emerging industries like next generation aviation and clean energy.
The future of business in Kansas is bright, and together we’re creating a new standard for sustainable, aggressive statewide growth.
BY THE NUMBERS
A Merck Animal Health employee working at the company’s manufacturing facility in De Soto, the heart of the Animal Health Corridor.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1 2 3
Historic Capital Investment
Kansas broke records in 2025. Economic development projects generated more than $9.5 billion dollars in committed capital investment — marking the strongest single-year total in state history. Key sectors saw major investments, including Aerospace and Defense, Animal Health and Bio Sciences, and Fintech. Additionally, the Kansas City Chiefs announced their plans to build a state-ofthe-art domed stadium and headquarters in Kansas. Together, these projects are strengthening both the reputation and the long-term economic competitiveness of Kansas.
Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Launch
Following the passage of Senate Bill 98, Commerce successfully launched the Data Center Sales Tax Exemption, establishing a competitive incentive tool for large scale data center investment in Kansas. Since implementation, the program has generated strong interest from data center operators evaluating projects across rural, micropolitan and metropolitan communities statewide — demonstrating broad demand. This interest reflects confidence in Kansas infrastructure, energy capacity, workforce and the state’s ability to responsibly support large capital development projects.
Kansas Small Business Office
Launched in July, the Kansas Small Business Office is dedicated to empowering small businesses across the state with the resources, connections and support they need to prosper. They will serve as a vital link between entrepreneurs and state government. One of the office’s first activities was establishing ConnectKS, an online platform with a searchable database that simplifies access to business resources statewide.
Kansas City Chiefs - Johnson County and Wyandotte County Committed Capital Investment: $4B
New and Retained Jobs: 4,000
Intervet, Inc. dba Merck Animal Health - De Soto Committed Capital Investment: $860M
New and Retained Jobs: 483
Fiserv - Overland Park Committed Capital Investment: $175M
New and Retained Jobs: 2,000
Owens Corning Insulating Systems LLC - Kansas City Committed Capital Investment: $219.2M
and Retained Jobs: 80
CVR Refining CVL - Coffeyville Committed Capital Investment: $184.2M
National Beef Packing Company LLC - Liberal Committed Capital Investment: $198.9M
National Beef Packing Company LLCDodge City Committed Capital Investment: $184.2M
Great Plains Manufacturing Incorporated - Salina
Committed Capital Investment: $148.7M
New and Retained Jobs: 50
Cormor, Inc. - Wellington Committed Capital Investment: $97.6M New and Retained Jobs: 20
Advisors Excel LLC- Topeka
Committed Capital Investment: $73.5M
New and Retained Jobs: 150
12,306 COMMITTED NEW AND RETAINED JOBS
$9.5 BILLION COMMITTED PRIVATE SECTOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT
LEADERSHIP NOTE
In 2025, the International Division continued to advance Kansas’ global trade and investment presence in the face of evolving global market conditions. While shifting tariff policies introduced new complexities to international commerce, our team remained focused on building resilient partnerships, identifying alternative market opportunities and supporting Kansas companies in navigating the changing trade landscape.
Exports are critical to bringing outside revenue into Kansas and strengthening our GDP. Our team is helping
Kansas companies expand globally, and in 2025 we continued two key programs — K-GLOBE and the Exporter’s Roundtable — designed to engage companies at different stages of export readiness. A central priority is identifying new-to-export companies and providing the tools, connections and guidance they need to succeed.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) also remained a top focus. Governor Laura Kelly traveled to Ireland and Spain to pursue investment opportunities. Lt. Governor David Toland led missions to the Paris International Airshow and to Germany, followed by trips to Japan and Taiwan to strengthen FDI ties in Asia and participate in the Japan Midwest Association Conference. Our team also advanced investment and partnership discussions in Vietnam, Singapore, the Netherlands and Poland.
Through our Global Resources division, we support broader state economic development priorities. This includes supply chain optimization, workforce recruitment and retention, and educational partnerships. The team also tracks global economic and political trends that could affect Kansas businesses and crafts international strategies to keep our state competitive and resilient. Lastly, the team has cultivated strong diplomatic relationships between our top economic trading partners through our Industry Engagement Days and individual familiarization tours of Kansas to showcase our state’s top sectors and develop stronger bilateral partnerships.
Together, these efforts are building a stronger global foundation for Kansas’ growth.
Lt. Governor Toland visited Germany to meet with leaders and business partners looking to invest in Kansas.
The International Division visited the Kansas State University Veterinary School at One Health Industry Days.
Assistant International Director April Chiang attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Bimini Pet Foods’ expansion in Topeka.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1 2 3
Growing Foreign Direct Investment
Our FDI team — working in collaboration with our international representatives in Germany and Japan — secured $358.5 million in foreign direct investment and 80 new jobs for the state. In addition, leadership and the international team identified and developed new project leads through trade missions throughout the year.
Strengthening Global Partnerships
Our Global Resources team established valuable new partnerships with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and NASBITE International, enhancing training opportunities and access to export finance and insurance tools for Kansas businesses. As a result of the partnership with EXIM, the Kansas Department of Commerce International Division was awarded the Regional Export Promotion Program (REPP) Member of the Year Award.
Enhanced Export Support
The Export Promotion team executed nine Exporter Roundtables to reach exporters or potential exporters in their communities across Kansas. This program enabled us to reach over 200 individuals, who now are aware of our programs and strategies for conducting export business successfully. In addition, the Export Promotion team combined the KITMAP and KITSAP programs to become a new streamlined grant program called K-GLOBE.
Economic Development Representative Chang Lu discussed business development opportunities in Kansas.
Governor Laura Kelly and Commerce staff traveled to Ireland during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic — using this time to discuss fruitful international partnerships.
International Director Laura Lombard and Deputy Secretary Joshua Jefferson visited with Ambassador to the U.S. Hilda SukaMafudze of the African Union to discuss exports and the export goals of the future.
KANSAS ARTS COMMISSION
LEADERSHIP NOTE
Last year’s restructuring of the Kansas Arts Commission’s (KAC) competitive grants program has produced measurable results. Kansas’ $1.46 million investment in arts and culture helped to support projects reaching into nearly every corner of the state. These 130 awards are an important part of the non-profit arts community’s astounding economic impact. Most of those grants, $1.34 million of them, required dollar-for-dollar matching funds, though the impact is much larger than that: our grantees spent a total of $10,669,809 on their projects while they brought in $10,772,508 in income through those related projects, a total of $21.4 million in activity. The organizations we supported sustained 983 jobs and created 364 new ones.
We are especially excited to have received additional funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to expand our Arts in Medicine (AIM) program. Since 2017, KAC’s partnership with Emporia State University’s Art Therapy graduate program has provided tailored art therapy services to patients, clients, caregivers and medical personnel at health organizations. This partnership is now expanding to include Drama Therapy at Kansas State University, Music Therapy at the University of Kansas, and the University of Kansas Medical Center, with the intent to design and assess a pilot program for statewide, multi-discipline AIM expansion.
The LG Desk Concerts concluded filming its second season in October. The musical television series showcases Kansas musicians performing in Lieutenant Governor Toland’s office. KTWU continues to manage video production and distribution to PBS stations, while Kansas Public Radio has joined the project to produce audio content and feature the performances in their programming. This season’s featured artists include CMT and ACMA award-winner Chely Wright –a Wellsville native– and American Jazz Walk of Fame inductee Bobby Watson of Lawrence.
Lawrence-based duo The Twangles performed at the Free State Frame Studio as a part of the 2025 Downtown Lawrence Music Crawl. Photo credit: Pete Romano.
The City of Liberal held a ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of the “Welcome to Liberal” mural. Photo credit: Nicolette Young, City of Liberal
Children and parents listened to a presentation in the Regional Creatives exhibition at the Wichita Art Museum. Photo credit: Naama Marcos.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1
LG Desk Concerts Win Telly Award
LG Desk Concerts, KAC’s musical television series produced in partnership with Topeka’s PBS affiliate, KTWU, won a Bronze Award from the Telly Awards for Entertainment Television Series. Inspired by NPR’s beloved Tiny Desk Concerts, the show offers a Kansas-centered take on this format, featuring performances from native Kansas artists at the historic desk in the Lieutenant Governor’s office within the beautiful Kansas Statehouse. The second season of the show will debut in February 2026.
2
National Endowment for the Arts funding
KAC received additional NEA funding to support celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the arts. Through a partnership with Humanities Kansas, we will bring the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s “Declaration 1776” traveling exhibition to over 40 Kansas locations, offer free presentations on America’s founding led by Kansas Humanities speakers, and facilitate public readings of the Declaration of Independence in communities statewide.
3
Governor’s Arts Awards
In March, KAC hosted the newly revitalized Governor’s Arts Awards in Topeka, celebrating the achievements of artists, arts organizations and advocates across the state. The most prestigious award of the night, the Governor’s Award for the Arts, was presented to Leavenworth’s Melissa Etheridge. More than 100 artists, representatives of arts organizations, advocates and supporters gathered in Topeka to celebrate the impact of Kansas’ vibrant arts and culture community.
16 ARTIST PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED
7,351 ARTISTS SERVED
130 ARTISTS IN THE KANSAS TOURING AND PUBLIC ART ROSTERS
KAC grants were awarded in each of the counties in blue.
Bobby Watson during a taping of the LG Desk Concert series.
On July 28, 2025, America250 officially will launch “Our American Story” on the National Mall. KAC is supporting Humanities Kansas with its “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” traveling exhibition.
NedRa Bonds received the Arts Legacy Award at the 2025 Kansas Governor’s Arts Awards.
KANSAS TOURISM
LEADERSHIP NOTE
Kansas Tourism continues to deliver on our mission of inspiring travel to and throughout the state, maximizing the positive impact of tourism on Kansas communities and the state’s economy. Last year, Kansas welcomed 38.4 million visitors who spent $8.2 billion, supporting local businesses and communities across the state.
Our “To The Stars” brand gained momentum through an engaging spring and summer marketing campaign built around themed itineraries, generating over 229 million impressions across all platforms. We continued to invest in encouraging Kansans to explore their home state through in-state TV segments and through the popular, award-winning Sunflower Summer program.
KANSAS! Magazine celebrated its 80th anniversary with a special exhibit at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka while continuing to earn national recognition. For Kansas Day, we launched the highly successful KANSAS! Kids issue, delivered to every fourththrough sixth-grader in the state.
In October, we co-hosted the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) Summit with Visit Wichita, welcoming nearly 200 international content creators. Kansas Tourism organized themed immersive tours for 60 of these attendees, resulting in global storytelling that will deliver long-lasting visibility for the state.
The Mobile Visitor Center continued to bring Kansas to new audiences, traveling over 20,000 miles throughout Kansas and seven surrounding states, showcasing our attractions and experiences.
Looking ahead, Kansas Tourism is building on this momentum as we prepare to maximize upcoming opportunities, including the World Cup, America 250 and the Route 66 Centennial.
4,609,524
350,000
75,000
Kansas family found thrill and enjoyment at Tanganyika Wildlife Park.
Fellow Commerce staff checked out the spin wheel at the new Tourism Mobile Visitor Center.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1
Expanding the “To The Stars” Brand
Our “To The Stars” brand gained momentum through an engaging spring and summer marketing campaign built around themed “Constellation” trips. These itineraries inspired travelers to explore unique Kansas adventures and delivered more than 229 million impressions across all platforms.
2
Inspiring the Next Generation
For Kansas Day, we launched the highly successful KANSAS! Kids issue, designed to spark pride and curiosity in students. Distributed to every fourththrough sixth-grader in the state, this special edition highlighted Kansas history, culture and attractions in a fun, age-appropriate way — helping the next generation connect with their heritage.
3
Showcasing Kansas to the World
In partnership with Visit Wichita, Kansas Tourism co-hosted the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) Summit, welcoming nearly 200 national and international travel content creators to the state. To present Kansas in an authentic and memorable way, we curated immersive, themed tours for 60 attendees, showcasing diverse destinations and cultural experiences. These firsthand adventures will generate compelling global storytelling through blogs, social platforms and media channels—creating long-lasting visibility and strengthening Kansas’ reputation as a travel destination.
16,000+ MILES DRIVEN BY THE MOBILE VISITOR CENTER
$1,100,683 AWARDED IN TOURISM GRANTS TO 54 PROJECTS
428 REGISTERED AGRITOURISM BUSINESSES
197,375 SUNFLOWER SUMMER TICKETS CLAIMED
Travelers visited the Route 66 mural in Galena.
The cover of Kansas! Magazine Kid’s version highlighted the Exploration Place in Wichita.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
LEADERSHIP NOTE
The Marketing and Communications team has the honor of promoting the good work of the agency and 2025 kept our team busy with countless good news stories to tell.
Consider just a few examples:
On the business side of things, Panasonic had a grand opening of its $4 billion EV battery manufacturing plant in De Soto. Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling had its grand opening in Olathe and so did Hilmar Cheese in Dodge City. Merck Animal Health announced it would invest almost
$900 million in De Soto. Fiserv is going to create a strategic fintech hub in Johnson County, creating 2,000 new high-paying jobs.
Our Quality Places Division has incorporated the Kansas Community Empowerment Program under their wing. The Kansas Small Business Office launched ConnectKS to connect small business owners, entrepreneurs and community builders with the resources, relationships and opportunities they need to thrive. Job fairs regularly took place. We offer so many grants, we need an entire guide to share the story with communities, companies and organizations. We have grants for housing, delapidated buildings, arts, quality of life, innovation, workforce readiness and tourism attractions.
International missions were taken around the world in search of markets for Kansas companies and foreign direct investment opportunities here in the Sunflower State. There were significant broadband investments via Broadband Acceleration Grants, the Freestate Middle Mile Network, and we’re oh, so close on the BEAD program.
We had huge award ceremonies such as To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards and the Governor’s Arts Awards – and won big awards for the Sunflower Summer program, the reorganization of Quality Places, and our Community Impact Tour.
In short, it’s been a banner year for Kansas. Keep up with the news with our many newsletters, email distribution, kansascommerce.gov, YouTube, and our social media channels on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X.
BY THE NUMBERS
100
714
28,030 AVERAGE MONTHLY WEBSITE USERS
Marketing and Communications team members celebrated another successful To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards event in Pittsburg.
Deputy Chief of Staff Ryan Wills and Marketing Director Pat Lowry discussed new ideas for upcoming speaking engagements.
Lt. Governor Toland at the grand opening of the $4 billion Panasonic Energy battery manufacturing facility in De Soto.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1 2 3
Business Marketing
Special emphasis has been placed on providing better marketing support for a very productive Business Development team. MarComms has kept busy creating Commerce branded proposals, flyers and social media posts that assist the sales team. In addition, we are determining best email marketing practices to maximize our reach with site selectors.
To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards
A record-setting crowd of almost 500 people ventured to Pittsburg for our agency’s biggest event of the year, the To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards ceremony. All of our team’s skills were put to work with press releases, remarks, slideshow, videos, photographs and social media. Even with new staff onboard, the crowd was treated to a seamless, top-notch production.
Staff Directory
MarComms completely revamped how Commerce staff appear in the online Staff Directory, which makes sorting by division easier, quicker navigation to individual associates, and seamless coding on the backend that allows us to update every two weeks – or as needed.
41,376 FOLLOWERS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
18.37% AUDIENCE GROWTH OVER 2025
3,559,267 PAGEVIEWS IN 2025
The To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards event in Pittsburg had a record 431 businesses, organizations and individuals nominated in 11 categories.
Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed, Assistant Secretary Matt Godinez, Broadband Director Bill Abston, KanREN Executive Director Chris Crook, and IdeaTek Broadband Advocacy Ethan Kaplan during the Freestate Network groundbreaking.
BY THE NUMBERS
234 ACTIVE PROJECTS
OFFICE OF BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP NOTE
This year has been transformative for Kansas broadband. The Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) has made significant progress advancing connectivity to homes and businesses while also investing in digital opportunities.
KOBD awarded $13 million for digital opportunity programs deploying devices, public Wi-Fi, digital skills training and activating digital spaces. These programs continue to grow — offering cybersecurity camps, digital literacy, small business support, equipment distribution, community access to free public Wi-Fi, and more.
On the federal infrastructure investment, KOBD continues to complete construction projects for the Capital Project Fund (CPF) and the Lasting Infrastructure for Network Connectivity (LINC) grants, as well as break ground on the 470-middle mile Freestate Network, Kansas’ first open access nondiscriminatory middle mile network.
Commerce’s partnership with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) allows Kansas to invest through the Broadband Acceleration Grant. To date, the total investment is $71.7 million over the first five years of the ten-year program.
These projects bring high-speed connectivity, large data potential and critical network infrastructure to thousands of homes, businesses and rural institutions. As we invest in Kanas, its’ critical we steward these public dollars with intent and integrity. In 2025, field visits and compliance monitoring played a big part in that stewardship, ensuring build-out matches investment. Stories from residents of rural Kansas define how these connections are changing lives; enabling remote work, education, healthcare and economic opportunity.
Looking forward, KOBD is adapting to evolving federal policy and preparing the state to respond. We continue to make progress, and Kansas is positioned to bridge the digital divide.
$186.3M TOTAL GRANT AWARD INVESTMENT
75 ORGANIZATIONS AWARDED GRANTS ACROSS 105 COUNTIES
BILL ABSTON Broadband Director
Aerial internet service is restored after an outage in northeast Kansas.
Broadband Director Bill Abston and Program Manager Casey Russel reviewed technology and equipment during a site visit.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Capital Projects Fund Project Construction Complete
1 2 3
Kansas remains a top five state for broadband deployment, with all construction under the $83.5 million Capital Projects Fund program now complete. More than 24,000 Capital Projects Fund locations across the state now have access to highspeed internet, marking a major milestone in connecting communities.
Digital Opportunities
The advancement of Digital Opportunity programs provides paths for advanced educational outcomes, workforce readiness skills and economic opportunities through digital skills trainings, devices and access to public Wi-Fi. This is measured by monthly reports indicating how many Kansas have been served.
FREESTATE NETWORK PATH
BEAD Program
Kansas received approval of their $166.6 million BEAD final proposal National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This proposal will connect more than 26,000 unserved locations to reliable speeds of 100/20 Mbps. Efforts included Benefit-of-the-Bargain Round, which included a 90-day window to receive applications, provide technical assistance, public comment and adapt to evolving federal policy. By working closely with provider partners, KOBD ensured compliance while keeping Kansans at the center — advancing progress toward a high-speed future.
$13M DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FUNDING AWARDED
$6.7M BROADBAND ACCELERATION GRANT AWARD INVESTMENTS
27,741 LOCATIONS AWARDED
BY THE NUMBERS
2 ACCEL-KS PROOF OF CONCEPT DELIVERY PARTNERS
INNOVATION
LEADERSHIP NOTE
The Kansas Office of Innovation (KOI) has taken deliberate steps to strengthen collaboration across the state’s innovation ecosystem. Guided by our commitment to deeper engagement, we have worked with stakeholders to ensure that Kansas’ innovation community is empowered, aligned and equipped to deliver measurable impact. That work has yielded tangible results.
Innovation thrives where it is supported. We have connected key ecosystem stakeholders — government, universities, industry, nonprofits and foundations — to ensure that innovative ideas and products move seamlessly from concept to commercialization. We transformed our proof-of-concept model into the Accelerating Concept to Commercialization in Kansas (ACCEL-KS) initiative, delivered in partnership with Groover Labs (Wichita) and KU Innovation Park (Lawrence) to provide grant funding to at least 32 projects statewide, with 30% originating from rural Kansas.
Through these types of programs and partnerships, companies like Love Lifesciences have opportunities to validate the feasibility of its flagship UniPen device — a therapeuticagnostic injection platform — enhancing the company’s competitiveness and attracting private capital. Love Lifesciences is demonstrating how Kansas innovation programs move companies from proof of concept to scalable manufacturing, while anchoring high-value jobs and global market opportunity in the state.
The Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit (KAITC) program also continued to fuel startup growth. Last year, 28 companies leveraged nearly $5 million in tax credits to raise almost $10 million in growth capital from 93 investors.
The future is ripe for the picking. Together with ecosystem partners, the building of an innovation ecosystem that delivers for Kansas communities, for Kansas companies and for Kansans everywhere is fervently underway.
$800,000 IN PROOF-OFCONCEPT GRANT AWARDS
74 KANSAS STARTUPS PARTICIPATED IN THE GAMECHANGERS AND CHAMPIONS PITCH COMPETITION
11 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN THE GAMECHANGERS AND CHAMPIONS PITCH COMPETITION
Sophia Brouchard of NetWork Kansas with an entrepreneur at the Gamechangers and Champions event.
Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer Romaine Redman at Digital Health Day in Kansas City.
The Office of Innovation hosted a roundtable discussion with venture capital partners who are funding Kansas startups.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1 2 3
ACCEL-KS Launch
Launched in April 2025, ACCEL-KS is a statewide initiative designed to accelerate the commercialization of groundbreaking ideas and products by transforming them into market-ready solutions. The program invited proposals from Kansasbased incubators and innovation hubs to establish a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) program that identifies and supports idea- and early-stage entrepreneurs through technical assistance, mentorship, prototyping resources, and commercialization support. Groover Labs (Wichita) and KU Innovation Park (Lawrence) were selected to lead this effort, each receiving $400,000 to support at least 32 high-impact PoC projects statewide, with 30% originating from rural communities.
Gamechangers and Champions Pitch Competition
Gamechangers and Champions was a high-energy, innovation-driven event that aligned with the excitement of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Round in Wichita. This collaboration between the Kansas Department of Commerce and NXTUS united startups and hosted angel investors and innovation stakeholders for a day of activation, networking, education and competition. The event was designed to catalyze investments, support early-stage startups and strengthen Kansas’ innovation ecosystem through dynamic programming, strategic partnerships and a $20,000 prize money pitch competition that was won by VU Scholarships. The event drew 287 registered attendees.
North Carolina Delegation Trip
In July, the Kansas Department of Commerce led a delegation to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park to study one of the nation’s most successful innovation hubs. The visit underscored the value of inclusive growth, sustained investment and strong collaboration among universities, industry and government. Guided by these insights, Kansas is now advancing efforts to strengthen its innovation ecosystem by expanding funding opportunities, supporting local entrepreneurial networks and convening sector-focused events to drive statewide growth.
$4,810,470
$9,795,941
Plainview Beef Co. in WaKeeney uses automated sprinkler systems in a greenhouse environment to improve feed options for cattle. The company recieved support from local investors and Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credits.
Romaine Redman and Dorothy Harpool of the Barton School of Business presented the $20,000 cash prize to Andrew Marquez of VU Scholarship, winner of the 2025 Gamechangers and Champions pitch competition.
The Kansas delegation at NC Innovation during their visit to the North Carolina Research Triangle Park.
OFFICE OF RURAL PROSPERITY
LEADERSHIP NOTE
In 2025, the Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) took deliberate steps to expand the reach of our programs and ensure that more Kansas communities benefit from state resources. This year we launched the Towns Grant, a new initiative designed to deliver small scale, high impact quality-of-place projects in rural communities that have not received funding from Commerce in the last several years. Beyond funding, the program fosters local capacity, youth and volunteer engagement, and long term investment — ultimately helping more communities successfully compete for future projects.
This year also marked a significant milestone for the HEAL (Historic Economic Asset Lifeline) program, with over 100 building rehabilitation projects completed or underway across Kansas since its launch in 2021. HEAL continues to help transform long-vacant or underutilized downtown buildings into vibrant commercial centers that bring new businesses, housing, or community spaces to rural areas. These restorations strengthen local tax bases, and create economic opportunities needed to attract workforce, visitors and long-term investment.
Complementing HEAL’s physical revitalization efforts, the Rural Champions Program provided dedicated capacity development in 14 communities. Champions supported such projects as childcare solutions, food and housing access, business development, and grant-writing—filling critical staffing gaps that often limit rural communities’ ability to execute transformative projects. Their work helped communities access funding, accelerate timelines, and make measurable progress on economic priorities that directly support business growth and quality of life.
Together, HEAL, Towns, and the Rural Champion Program created a powerful impact in rural communities: investing in physical infrastructure while also strengthening the leadership and capacity needed to sustain long-term economic progress.
As we look to 2026, ORP remains committed to helping rural Kansas communities expand economic opportunity, strengthen local capacity and create vibrant, welcoming places where people want to live, work and belong.
A vibrant new mural in Oberlin, created with support from a SEED grant.
The 2025 Rural Champions cohort and ORP staff during a quarterly gathering in Topeka.
A completed HEAL grant project in Lindsborg – now a revitalized retail store called The Good Merchant.
Expanding Towns Grant Funding and Partnerships
1 2 3
This year, we strengthened our impact by partnering with the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation and Sunflower Foundation to expand Towns Grant funding. These collaborations helped communities across Kansas access the resources they need to grow, innovate and thrive through small-scale quality-of-place projects.
HEAL Program Surpasses 100 Restoration Projects
Through the HEAL (Historic Economic Asset Lifeline) program, we reached a major milestone — over 100 building restoration projects completed across Kansas since 2021. With $7 million in state investment, the program has leveraged $36.7 million in local investment — fueling new businesses, revitalizing downtowns and driving long-term economic growth in communities statewide.
Growing Public Art Through Murals
Our mural initiative continues to energize public spaces and foster community pride across Kansas. Through 57 grant awards distributed over multiple rounds, the program supported the creation of 115 new murals. These murals have transformed blank and dilapidated walls into vibrant expressions of local identity, creativity and culture.
390 CURRENT ROZ PARTICIPANTS
118 NEW ROZ APPLICANTS
108 BUILDINGS SAVED WITH HEAL PROGRAM
$3.5M TOTAL GRANT AWARDS
NUMBERS
LEADERSHIP NOTE OPERATIONS
The operations teams had an impressive year supporting the state’s economic growth. Our agency’s achievements are not possible without the contributions of Fiscal, IT, Human Resources, Regulatory Compliance, AJLA and the Athletic Commission.
Our HR team processed almost 9,000 candidate applications, reviewing and assisting management with hiring the best candidate.
The Fiscal crew implemented virutal monthly “Office Hours,” allowing anyone within the agency to ask questions related to policies/ procedures, forms, payments, etc. They processed approximately 7,000 fiscal items processed for the agency.
The Regulatory Compliance unit conducted reviews of the five Kansas Local Workforce Development Areas and various programs. All compliance findings and corrective action plans were resolved prior to the summary report publication. They also performed 2,572 Data Element Validation file reviews, performed 525 case file audits and processed 15 discrimination complaints.
The Legal team worked relentlessly to process 1,400 grants, contracts, addendums and letters that were drafted, reviewed and processed. At least 30 Kansas Open Records Act requests were received and resolved in an average of 23.5 days. 27 Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts (RHID) were approved and established. There were 22 active STAR Bond projects pending and Commerce engaged in at least 15 feasibility and visitation studies.
The Athletic Commission, which regulates and promotes combat sports, had 50 sanctioned events, including pro wrestling, pro boxing and hybrid mixed martial arts.
8,893
The new home to Kansas Commerce can be found at the Robert B. Docking State Office Building.
The Kansas Athletic Commission hosted boxing events featuring Tyrrell Herndon and Deontay Wilder.
Senior Administrative Specialist Elizabeth Katsbulas worked to ensure all things in Operations are completed efficiently and effectively.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Information Technology Team
The operations team led the charge for the agency’s move from the Curtis State Office Building to Commerce’s new space at the renovated Docking Building. Within two weeks, operations staff moved all Commerce associates and equipment to their respective offices and desks. During the moving process, the team also developed a more efficient filing system and organizational process — which included digitizing and archiving all important files. 1 2 3
IT removed all out-of-date servers and upgraded all devices to Windows 11 before the October 2025 deadline and implemented new security provisions to protect the agency including Tanium, BeyondTrust and Crowdstrike.
AJLA Redesign
AJLA launched a comprehensive redesign of America’s JobLink homepage. The enhancement to the flagship web-based labor exchange and case management platform delivers significant improvements for workforce development organizations. The new design features an intuitive, streamlined interface that improves navigation while enhancing accessibility standards. Users now experience more personalized interactions tailored to their specific needs, leading to a more effective and inclusive experience for our diverse client base.
Department Relocation
2,832 SERVICE DESK TICKETS RESOLVED
6,000 FISCAL PAYMENTS PROCESSED
1,300 DOCUMENTS COMPLETED THROUGH DOCUSIGN 98% POSITIVE LIVE CHAT RATING
Danny Decker carefully packaged the American flag to bring over to the new Docking Building.
IT Support Consultant Mike Armstrong worked to identify a computer problem with a Commerce employee.
Kansas Commerce promoted the America’s Job Link Alliance (AJLA) to encourage collaboration between workforce agencies.
Human Resources staff Lisa Smith and Angie Krahe worked together to solve a discrepancy in payroll to ensure an employee is paid out accurately and efficiently.
QUALITY PLACES
LEADERSHIP NOTE
2025 has been a year of momentum, collaboration and results for the Quality Places Division. Our work is rooted in a simple but powerful truth: thriving communities are the foundation of a strong Kansas economy. By investing in housing, broadband, downtown revitalization and statewide prosperity, we are helping communities of every size write their own success stories.
This year we took on new responsibilities, including assuming staff leadership of the Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) program, ensuring a smooth transition for communities statewide. At the same time, our team advanced broadband expansion through the federal BEAD program, laying the groundwork for long-term connectivity, digital opportunity and economic competitiveness. Through FRAME, HEAL and ROOMS, we continued to provide critical housing tools that empower local leaders to tackle shortages and revitalize neighborhoods. The Community Impact Tour once again showed us firsthand how these efforts are transforming main streets, rebuilding communities and sparking confidence in Kansas’ future.
We are also seeing record collaboration across state agencies, universities and the private sector. Whether through apprenticeships, site development or placemaking, the partnerships forged in 2025 will pay dividends for years to come.
Our division is proud to have earned four national and international awards this year, with Kansas honored for excellence in economic development using creative approaches to building quality places and showcasing community development. But the true measure of success is in the families moving into new homes, the businesses opening their doors downtown and the students stepping into broadband-enabled classrooms.
Together, we are proving that quality places create opportunity, and that when Kansas communities rise, our entire state rises with them.
BY THE NUMBERS
$256,196,876 IN LOCAL CAPITAL MATCHING INVESTMENT
28 DESIGNATED MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES
$24,729,181 AWARDED IN GRANTS
Representatives from communities across Kansas show their enthusiasm and display their big checks at the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award ceremony.
Commerce staff visited every community enrolled in the Kansas Community Empowerment [rogram to kickoff the transition of the program into the Quality Places Division.
One of eight “Pieces of Rice County” murals created through the EPIC initiative showcases local heritage and creative placemaking in Rice County.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Kansas Community Empowerment
The Quality Places Division successfully transitioned staff leadership of the Kansas Community Empowerment (formerly Kansas PRIDE) program back into Commerce and launched a Listening Tour, visiting 65 communities in 49 days to gather valuable feedback to guide the program’s future.
CDBG Project Wins National Award
The Youth Job Training project in Bartlett was selected for the Council of State Community Development Agencies President’s Award for Innovation. This national award honors innovative programs that address community needs and serve as models for other states. The Bartlett project used a $100K CDBG grant to expand a high school construction program into a year-round paid internship. Students gain real-world skills by building and selling homes, revitalizing the community and earning Kansas national recognition for innovation. This award reflects the creativity, commitment and collaboration of everyone involved. 1 2 3
Community Impact Tour
The Quality Places Division launched its inaugural Community Impact Tour, showcasing Commerce-funded projects across Kansas, which earned both a NADO Impact Award and IEDC’s Gold Award for Excellence in Economic Development.
projects in each of the counties
95 PROJECTS STATEWIDE
$4,630,000 AWARDED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT TAX CREDITS
65 COMMUNITIES VISITED DURING THE KANSAS COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT TOUR
The Community Impact Tour visited
in blue.
Community Service Program (CSP) tax credits helped attract new donors and inspire larger gifts, strengthening support for expanded services at a Wichita Public Library branch.
Three Rings Brewery commercial rehabilitation project in McPherson.
The Marysville HEAL 1.0 project revitalized a building that now is home to a beautiful flower shop.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Workforce Services play a pivotal role in supporting the Kansas economy and boosting community prosperity.
The Workforce Division (KANSASWORKS) offers robust resources to aid the unemployed and under-employed through programs like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, ReSpECTWORKS and Veteran Services. Workforce Services also provides training and development opportunities that enable individuals to acquire new skills or upgrade existing ones.
In 2025 plans were approved to form a unified region of a new Local Workforce Development Area — WorkforceOne. WorkforceOne will allow us to create a stronger foundation for workforce development in our communities by optimizing resources, decreasing administrative redundancy and aligning our efforts with the broader regional labor market. The mergers ensure we can continue to support economic growth, connect job seekers to training and careers, and help businesses find the skilled workforce.
Kansas Office of Apprenticeship continues to achieve success with registered apprenticeships through an increase in company participation, high employee retention and a strong return on investment for businesses. The state has expanded the program beyond traditional trades into new sectors like healthcare, IT, and education, supported by state-level grants and initiatives. Additionally, an added focus was placed on retaining talent. The Work-based Learning initiative, in partnership with the Local Workforce Development Boards, places an emphasis on exposing young adults to careers in their communities through work-based learning experience and internships.
Kansas continues to take a whole-family approach. KANSASWORKS staff are embedded within military installations at Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, and McConnell Air Force Base, where they provide on-site assistance to veterans, transitioning service members, spouses and family members. Programs such as the Kansas Employment Explorations Program (KEEP) tour and Department of Defense SkillBridge program are added benefits to retaining talent in Kansas.
BY THE NUMBERS
10,318
8,229
HR Recruiter Angie Krahe promoted Commerce job openings during a career fair in Junction City.
Assistant Secretary Mike Beene introduced KANSASWORKS services and resources to transitioning service members touring Topeka.
Commerce staff joined Governor Kelly, Wichita Mayor Wu and Yingling Aviation employees to celebrate the launch of an aircraft maintenance apprenticeship program.
TOP 3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1
Registered Apprenticeship
2025 marked another unprecedented year for the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, with employer participation surpassing 1,000 and new employerdriven programs launched to meet industry demands. Among these are the nation’s first pre-licensure Registered Nurse (RN) Apprenticeship, developed in collaboration with more than 60 healthcare employers; the Kansas Teacher Education program, which now has more than 350 active apprentices; and new aerospace and manufacturing programs, where apprentices can begin working and learning from companies like Panasonic, Textron and John Deere on day one.
3
Justice-Involved Programs
2
Virtual Job Fairs
KANSASWORKS continues to connect jobseekers and employers through a virtual platform. In 2025, 17 virtual job fairs have been held, drawing participation from 275 employers and 3,155 jobseekers, including 214 veterans and several international attendees. While many of these events have been open to all industries, others have targeted specific sectors — such as healthcare, transportation and construction — or aligned with national initiatives like “Hire A Veteran Day,” to help former and transitioning service members secure meaningful employment. KANSASWORKS also has used the platform to host weekend-long job fairs, providing jobseekers with greater flexibility to engage with employers through live chats and video interviews at times that best suit their schedules.
896,440
92,815
Our partnership with the Kansas Department of Corrections and re-entry organizations continued to yield strong results in 2025, driven by ongoing initiatives that provide workforce services and pathways to training and apprenticeships for justice-involved adults and youth, both during incarceration and following release. ReSpECTWORKS (Reentry Specialized Employment Counseling and Training) has supported 507 individuals exiting Kansas correctional facilities, with 78 percent earning a credential, 73 percent remaining employed into the second quarter after release, and fewer than 5 percent recidivating within one year — successfully below the 16 percent target. Other programs have reached individuals exiting federal facilities, including PROWD (Partners for Reentry in Workforce Development), which serves residents of re-entry centers in Leavenworth, Topeka and Wichita, and the Second Chance Act, which has provided employment and training support to nearly 20 women exiting the Topeka Correctional Facility as of October 1.
246,001
34,849
Potential apprentices learned about track construction and maintenance at a Union Pacific Railroad recruiting event in Kansas City.
Assistant Secretary Mike Beene emceed the Workforce Innovation Conference in Salina.
LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
LEADERSHIP NOTE
The Kansas Department of Commerce deeply appreciates the bipartisan support and genuine collaboration demonstrated by the Legislature, local elected officials and economic development stakeholders across the state. These fruitful partnerships, paired with a shared spirit of responsiveness and transparency, have been instrumental in making Kansas one of the best places in the nation to do business — and we are eager to continue these engagement efforts into the future.
The following highlights summarize key successes from the 2025 legislative session. We look forward to continuing discussions on economic development and the growth of the Kansas economy.
SB 98 DATA CENTER SALES TAX EXEMPTION SIGNED INTO LAW
• Provides a 20-year sales tax exemption for data centers that make at least a $250 million capital investment and create 20 new jobs.
HB 2037 TOURISM CLEANUP SIGNED INTO LAW (BUDGET BILL)
• Removes the grant distribution percentages between non-profits and private entities and grants now can cover 20 percent of project costs. The bill also adds three new representatives to the Governor’s Council on Travel and Tourism, which are the National Independent Venue Association, the Kansas Museums Association and the Kansas Sampler Foundation.
The Ad Astra statue atop the dome of the Kansas Capitol.
Young Kansans learned about Kansas’ state animal — the American Bison — at the Kansas Museum of History.
Legislative Director Rachel Willis spoke on the impact of the Love, Kansas campaign. The Kansas House of Representatives chamber.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
The Department of Commerce has been awarded the 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Commerce received the award for the agency’s work in the Special Event category that impacts the entire state population. IEDC singled out the five-day, 26-stop, 2,100+ mile Community Impact Tour that Commerce’s Quality Places Division took to highlight transformative projects across the state, engage with local stakeholders and celebrate community progress during National Community Development Week.
TOURISM DIVISION
Kansas Tourism received two national recognitions for its work on the Sunflower Summer program. One award, the Best Local Impact Campaign at the 2025 eTSY Awards, recognizes the outstanding success of the 2024 Sunflower Summer program, which provided Kansas families with school-aged children complimentary access to more than 200 attractions statewide. Nearly 500,000 tickets were redeemed – a 55 percent increase from the previous year. The second award, a Gold Award in the State Bridging Communities category at the 2025 ESTO Conference, honors campaigns that foster meaningful connections across diverse populations and regions by bringing bold ideas, data-driven creativity and deep community impact.
QUALITY PLACES DIVISION
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) bestowed an Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award upon the Kansas Department of Commerce for the transformation of the Quality Places Division. The Department of Commerce launched the Quality Places Division in 2024 as an effort to elevate quality-of-life initiatives and strengthen partnerships with local leaders. The NADO Impact Awards annually honor regional development organizations and its partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience and enhancing local economies.
INTERNATIONAL DIVISION
The International Division earned the Regional Export Promotion Program (REPP) Member of the Year Award. This honor from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) recognizes Kansas for its collaboration and commitment to supporting businesses in exporting, particularly by hosting several informative and impactful webinars. These webinars, hosted by Commerce, were designed to bring awareness and accessibility to EXIM programs for Kansas exporters, generating greater participation and engagement across the state.
KANSAS ARTS COMMISSION
The Kansas Arts Commission was recognized for its efforts in the LG Desk Concerts, a musical television series inspired by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, that takes place at the historic desk in Lieutenant Governor Toland’s office at the Kansas Statehouse. The LG Desk Concert received the Bronze Winner from the Telly Awards in the Entertainment Television Series catergory. The program was recognized for its creativeness in highlighting native Kansas musical artists. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens, showcasing the best work created within television and across all videos.
The historic Miller Building in Garden City is experiencing new life after its recent purchase and major renovation supported by a $30,000 Incentives Without Walls loan.
The Tourism Division attended the 2025 Educational Seminar for Tourism Organization (ESTO) Conference and was awarded the Gold Award in the State Bridging Communities category.
Assistant Secretary Matt Godinez and Quality Places Manager Sara Bloom accepted two Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards on behalf of the agency for the inaugural Community Impact Tour and the transformation of the Quality Places Division.
Assistant Director for Global Resources Laurie Pieper accepts the 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for the agency’s work in the Special Event category that impacts the entire state population.
2025 SUCCESSES
Commerce launches new chapter of Kansas Community Empowerment program.
Governor Kelly announces partnership with Fiserv to launch strategic Fintech hub in Overland Park.
Panasonic’s EV battery manufacturing facility grand opening in De Soto.
Kansas Tourism wins international gold for annual travel guide.
VU Scholarships wins the pitch competition at the Gamechangers and Champions event.
Governor Kelly celebrates the 2024 Governor’s Exporter of the Year: KSi Conveyors.
The Blueprint to Build program launches as a innovative, new Community Development Block Grant initiative.
International delegation visits Kansas for One Health Industry Engagement Days.
Dr. Cecil Riney wins an Arts Legacy award at the 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards.
Commerce staff celebrate the Chiefs announcement with Governor Kelly and Clark Hunt.
