Marketing and Communications

OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE

TRENT ARMBRUST

Director of Strategy for Technology and Bioscience

A NEW “NORTH STAR” FOR KANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

For the first time in more than 30 years, Kansas has embarked on a comprehensive strategic plan for economic development. The 1986 Redwood-Krider Report provided a blueprint for growth across Kansas for decades, but the economic landscape has changed dramatically since then, and it’s time that Kansas brings its approach into the 21st Century.

The Kansas Framework for Growth is an aggressive strategy to align our state’s strengths with the emerging opportunities across the global economy—and guide economic development at the state and local levels well into the future.

With the new realities brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the timing of this effort could not be more important. Kansas will be one of the first states to take a deep look at these new headwinds and build a forward-thinking plan to address challenges and embrace emerging areas for rapid growth.

The Kansas Department of Commerce worked with McKinsey and Brookings to provide a clear-eyed analysis of where we stand. With this data, we engaged hundreds of business and community leaders statewide to evaluate this information and determine a set of shared priorities for the Kansas economy. Through a virtual survey and town hall meetings all across the state, thousands of Kansans came together to help us chart this new path forward.

The Framework establishes a structure to help develop and unleash our state’s number one asset—our people. Through strategic activities in the areas of talent and innovation, we can help build resiliency in our state’s workforce and unlock the potential for new ideas to cultivate and become tomorrow’s prosperous businesses.

In addition, the Framework establishes mechanisms to leverage community assets and help direct strategic investment in a way that supports economic growth. With all of us pulling in the same direction, we can usher in a new era and a bright future for Kansas.

5 YEARS

STABILIZE AND REPOSITION (2021 – 2025)

Reverse negative trends and set a clear growth trajectory by building a foundation through initiation of new programs, policies, and investments.

10 YEARS

PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT (2026 – 2030)

As investments begin to yield substantive gains, they drive our competitive position in key economic outcomes to the top half of all states.

15 YEARS

REALIZE A “FUTURE PROOF” ECONOMY (2031 – 2035)

Modernized approaches will have become ingrained, effects will be compounded, and the return on investment will be evident as our

state has emerged in an elite tier, positioning itself for long-term competitiveness, and gaining a national reputation as a disruptor rather than the disrupted.