Governor Colyer proclaims June as Business Appreciation Month

TOPEKA – Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. has issued an official Governor’s proclamation declaring June 2018 as Business Appreciation Month in recognition of the vital role businesses of all sizes play in strengthening the Kansas economy.

In his proclamation, Governor Colyer stated, “The State of Kansas recognizes the vast accomplishments of its entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses that contribute greatly to building and sustaining an economy that makes Kansas a great place to live, work and play.”

“We value the entrepreneurs and businesses across our state that risk their capital to innovate and grow their dreams into successful businesses right here in Kansas,” said Governor Colyer. “Our goal is to help businesses of all sizes to be successful, whether by providing resources and workforce services or protecting Kansas businesses against burdensome rules and regulations.”

Kansas businesses are thriving in a variety of industries including agribusiness, aerospace, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, energy, retail, professional services, and information technology. In fact, Kansas was just ranked by GoBankingRates.com as the 8th most economically diverse state in the U.S.

Kansas businesses provide approximately 1,147,400 jobs to Kansas residents, with eighty percent of jobs created by small to medium-sized businesses. The economic impact of these businesses isn’t just ripples felt locally, but around the world as more than 2,600 Kansas businesses exported over $11 billion of merchandise in 2017 to markets throughout the globe.

Robert North, Interim Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce, says, “Kansas businesses are the engines of economic growth. They better the quality of life in our state by creating jobs, investing in our communities and supporting local activities. In 2018, we are once again excited to honor the businesses in our state.”

The Kansas Department of Commerce will recognize the winners of the annual Business Appreciation Month awards at the Team Kansas awards banquet held in conjunction with the Kansas International Trade Day conference on June 5 at the DoubleTree hotel in Lawrence. The winner will take home the 2018 Governor’s Award of Excellence, the highest award given to a business by the state.

There were seventy-six businesses nominated for the 2018 Governor’s Award of Excellence. Finalists for this year’s award include:

Excellence Awards Finalists

Boot Hill Distillery – Dodge City

Liquid Art Winery & Estate – Manhattan

McFarlane Aviation, Inc. – Baldwin City

Standard Motor Products – Independence

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital – El Dorado