KEY QUOTE: "[Governor Kelly] added a key to Kansas attracting businesses has been the willingness to ensure companies have the infrastructure they need. 'You have to have good, solid, sustainable infrastructure in order to be able to attract,' she said."

Kelly talks infrastructure importance to economic development at summit
Josh Witt | Wichita Business Journals 
July 13, 2022  

As Kansas looks to take advantage of at least $3.8 billion in funding during the next five years from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, improving the state's infrastructure can go hand in hand with economic development momentum. That was one of the primary messages from Gov. Laura Kelly at the first Kansas Infrastructure Summit, which kicked off Wednesday at Wichita State University's Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

The newly-created Kansas Infrastructure Hub, which coordinates state agencies and local entities as they administer and apply for funding available through the the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is putting on the event.

As Wichita and Sedgwick County look at how to best capitalize on BIL funding, Kelly said those involved in economic development locally have a strong track record of being "very, very engaged, whether we’re talking about transportation, or whether we’re talking about recruiting businesses, growing jobs here in the community."

Kelly said Kansas has made significant strides in economic development in recent years. This year, Kansas received top honors in Area Development magazine's Gold Shovel Awards for major economic development projects initiated in 2021 and Site Selection's "Governor's Cup" for having the most qualifying new and expanded facilities, per capita, of any state last year.