Jun 11, 2020
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the State of Kansas has collected another prestigious Silver Shovel for excellence in economic development.
Area Development magazine’s annual Silver Shovel award recognizes states for attracting high-value investment projects that create a significant number of new jobs in their communities. This year marks the 13th time Kansas has received the Silver Shovel award.
“This honor is further proof of why Kansas is a preeminent location for businesses to grow and thrive,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “From Day One, my administration has worked diligently to foster an environment that companies need when deciding where to locate and expand. As we move towards a cautious reopening, awards like this will continue to help in our efforts to spur economic development across Kansas.”
As the state’s leading economic development engine, the Kansas Department of Commerce works to help businesses and communities grow in Kansas. All business successes submitted for the Silver Shovel award were supported by Commerce’s business recruitment team.
“Economic development is a team sport, and we are so grateful at the Department of Commerce for our incredible partners in economic development, who we work with every day to achieve this level of success,” Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “We also appreciate Area Development for recognizing the hard work that goes into economic development.”
The Kansas Department of Commerce worked with various economic development organizations and partners across the state to select a sample of successful projects to submit for this award. The Top 10 are:
| Company | City | N/E | Job Creation | Investment | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Vision Aviation, PLLC | Salina | N | 900 | $5.2 million | Aerospace |
| A Place for Mom | Overland Park | N | 622 | $5 million | Back Office Operations |
| Advisors Excel Holdings, LLC | Topeka | E | 275 | $14.4 million | Insurance & Brokerage |
| CarMax Auto Superstores, Inc. | Olathe | N | 315 | $5 million | Back Office Operations |
| Empirical Foods, Inc. | Garden City | N | 300 | $252 million | Food Processing |
| Faith Technologies | Olathe | E | 780 | $38.5 million | Pre-fab Electrical Products |
| King of Freight | Wichita | E | 1,060 | $1.1 million | Freight Brokerage |
| Resers Fine Foods | Topeka | E | 301 | $54 million | Food Processing |
| SelectQuote Insurance Services | Overland Park | E | 968 | $10.1 million | Insurance Brokerage |
| Walmart | Topeka | N | 300 | $235 million | Logistics/Distribution |
To see the most recent business successes in Kansas, check out the Kansas Department of Commerce website.
The full report on Area Development’s Gold and Silver Shovel awards can be found here.
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