Governor Kelly Announces Kansas Ranked #1 in Private Investment Per Capita for Second Straight Year

~State Wins Coveted Governor’s Cup from Site Selection Magazine~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas attracted the most private business investment per capita of any state in the country in 2022 and will receive the nation’s foremost economic development award, the Governor’s Cup from Site Selection magazine, for the second year in a row.  

“As governor, I have been determined to make Kansas a place where businesses want to invest, where there is an abundance of good-paying jobs, and where young people feel they can build their futures,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This award proves our efforts have paid off. The record-setting investment we’ve attracted will fuel prosperity in every corner of our state for generations to come.” 

For more than three decades, Site Selection has awarded the Governor’s Cup to the state with the most capital investment. In 2012, Site Selection established a second category for the state with the most qualified projects per capita. This allows states with smaller populations experiencing economic success to be recognized. Only one state is awarded this prestigious award annually. 

Qualified projects must have at least one of the following: 

• $1 million in capital investment 
• Creation of 20 new jobs 
• 20,000 square feet of new construction. 

“The Kelly Administration has spent the last four years hustling to bring new investment to all parts of Kansas and we’re just warming up,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Companies from across the globe are choosing to plant their roots in Kansas and we are proud to welcome them to the Sunflower State.”  

Kansas’ rankings with Site Selection magazine have improved each year since Governor Kelly was first elected. In 2019, Kansas was No. 20. The following year, Kansas moved up 10 spots. The state hit No. 1 in 2021 and was awarded its first Governor’s Cup. 

As of this morning, there are two Governor’s Cups in Governor Kelly’s office.

“The Governor’s Cups are widely regarded in the economic development industry as the leading recognition of states’ success in attracting qualified capital investment projects in total and per capita,” Mark Arend, Editor in Chief of Site Selection, said. “Kansas winning a second Governor’s Cup for the most qualified projects per capita in 2022 signals to location decision-makers that Governor Kelly and her economic development team are putting in place or refining the criteria most important to them.”

Today’s announcement adds to a series of economic development project accolades for the Kelly Administration in 2022. Kansas was one of just six states to receive the prestigious Gold Shovel Award from Area Development (second year in a row), recognized by Business Facilities with a Deal of the Year Impact Award for the Panasonic Energy project, and now a second Governor’s Cup.

A few top projects of 2022 that contributed to the Kansas winning the Governor’s Cup include: 

• Panasonic Energy, $4 billion investment, creating 4,000 jobs in De Soto 
• Scorpion Biologics, $650 million investment, creating 500 new jobs in Manhattan 
• Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co., $326 million investment in Olathe 
• Pratt Industries, $128 million investment, creating 78 new jobs in Park City 
• Goodyear Tire, $125 million investment, creating 40 new jobs in Topeka 

The full report on Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup Awards, which includes an interview with Governor Kelly, can be found here.

A video of Governor Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Toland making the announcement is available for media use here.