< Previous78 KANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD n Kansas, whether you’re a company or entrepreneur looking to bring a new idea to life, there’s a good chance that your greatest resource in achieving new goals is housed at Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute (TDI). For economic development professionals, patent attorneys and manufacturing clients in the state, the university’s resources have aided in building a network centered around the institute’s support services for the past 30 years. by ALEXIS ELMORE I INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES: Reasons to Put Trust in Kansas INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIESKANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD 79 “The overwhelming majority of projects come to us from outside of the university and we use the technical expertise of K-State to add value to the project and help move it toward commercialization. We also assist in moving university technologies into the marketplace as well,” says K-State Technology Development Institute Executive Director Jeffrey Tucker. Since 2004, K-State has been designated within the University Center program by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. This recognition represents U.S. institutions and higher education that are critical assets in the development of thriving economic ecosystems. In this way, being identified as a University Center has opened the door for both state and federal funding which allows TDI to remove barriers for small companies to gain access to expertise and equipment, advance regional technology-based economic development and ensure TDI has the most up-to-date technology on hand to support these processes. At any given time, TDI has about 20 to 30 projects in development, some ranging from idea conceptualization to commercialization assistance in a number of leading industries. TDI students are employed as paid interns and are able to work directly with full-time engineering staff on development projects. This opportunity allows students to immerse themselves in the entire process from concept generation to patent application and prototyping. More often than not, this system has created a direct path for students to secure employment with the respective companies they work with. “It benefits both the company and the student,” says Tucker, “in that the student is already knowledgeable about the company and product line and the company is able to hire a new employee that can hit the ground running.” In 2023 alone, TDI has helped produced innovative technology such as a 3-D wire scanning system for railways, seat belt “convincer” devices for Kansas Highway Patrol, a sanitation conveyer system for organic produce operations and custom automation equipment for a life sciences entrepreneur, just to name a few. By playing an essential role in the state’s innovative ecosystem, TDI is a key asset in not only boosting regional entrepreneurs and companies, but in aiding talent retention. In creating a sort of one-stop-shop for the entire scope of resources one would need, Kansas Kansas State’s Technology Development Institute works with companies and entrepreneurs to bring innovative ideas to life. Photo courtesy of Kansas State University Technology Development Institute80 KANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD has cemented itself as a profitable tech hub, creating high-skilled and high-quality jobs. “Kansas is a great place to live. The majority of the students that we have here would love to stay in Kansas if there are employment opportunities for them,” says Tucker. “We become excited when we can help a small company develop a new product line that allows them to add people and create opportunities to allow our students to stay in Kansas and help to grow and expand those companies.” A HUB FOR BIOMANUFACTURING Academia plays a vital role in advancing innovative technology through its R&D capabilities. Moving forward, collaborating with local organizations on a greater level works to create an abundance of opportunity for all players involved. October 2023 brought the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s announcement potentially designating the Kansas City region as the new Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub or KC BioHub. Out of 198 applicants, the region was one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs selected due to potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors. The Tech Hubs Program was made possible through authorization from the CHIPS and Science Act, aiming to create globally competitive innovation centers, create jobs and strengthen U.S. economic and national security. With this designation in the initial phase of the Students and companies work together on advancing new technology, creating new job opportunities for graduates through this collaboration. Photos courtesy of Kansas State University Technology Development InstituteKANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD 81 program, KC BioHub will move toward phase two in applying for a maximum of $75 million in federal funding. Human and animal health have been an innovative focus here that has drawn in over 300 life science companies, representing the highest industry concentration anywhere in the world. A growing number of industry leaders like Pfizer, MilliporeSigma, Johnson & Johnson, Altasciences and Quest Diagnostics have experience operating in the region, proving to be a strategic location decision. “Tech Hub designation validates our intentional focus on collaboration and innovation in the KC region and builds upon our strong foundation of excellence in life sciences over the past two decades,” said Dennis Ridenour, president and CEO of BioNexus KC. “With our robust ecosystem, assets and inclusive approach, the KC region is poised for long-term growth in technology innovation. Along with strengthening our economy, Tech Hub designation will accelerate our mission to be a global leader in biomanufacturing.” Leveraging the biomanufacturing and life sciences ecosystem that both Kansas and Missouri have spent two decades building in the KC region, BioNexus KC was selected to lead over 60 partnering organizations in increasing vaccine production and advancing other preventative technologies. Among the partner organizations is BioKansas, which represents the region’s largest group of contract research organizations (CRO) and contract manufacturing organizations (CMO). This long-standing network is bolstered by industrial and academic partnerships in the state, which will work alongside the KC BioHub to shape a comprehensive and sustainable workforce to address current and future needs within the domestic bioscience ecosystem. “BioKansas is thrilled with the recent Tech Hub designation for the Kansas City region and the future of R&D in Kansas since this will undoubtedly strengthen the entire bioscience ecosystem in the region,” says BioKansas Assistant Director of Communications and Government Affairs Janae Bell. “Our organization has consistently endeavored to nurture a skilled and diverse workforce equipped to tackle the challenges of the ever-evolving life sciences industry. This recognition will only serve to attract more attention, talent and investment to the region, fostering collaboration and innovation in bioscience R&D.” For BioKansas, this announcement was a long-awaited move in line with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives in cultivating a robust, modernized bioscience enterprise. The organization has long called for support in establishing key infrastructure for companies, community and policymaker involvement for scientific outreach programs and investment in new or existing companies in the space. This designation puts those needs in perspective and allows the region to exercise and advance its industrial expertise. “We look forward to working with partners within the region to bridge the gap between academia and industry by supporting early- stage bioscience startups. Providing funding, mentorship and resources to help translate academic research into commercial products will be critical for growth in the region,” says Bell. “Additionally, cluster development or innovation hubs where academia, industry and government organizations can collaborate, share knowledge and provide support networks can be considered to enhance translating this knowledge into the commercial marketplace.” “ The KC region is poised for long-term growth in technology innovation. Along with strengthening our economy, Tech Hubs designation will accelerate our mission to be a global leader in biomanufacturing. ” — Dennis Ridenour, President and CEO of BioNexus KCFrom presidential history to outer space, the Sunfl ower State never disappoints. by RON STARNER Expect the Unexpected in Kansas TOURISM 82 KANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD Cowboys and horses. Photo courtesy of Kansas Tourism Kayaking on the Kaw River, Pottawatomie County. Photo courtesy of Kansas Tourismooking for a good place to learn about World War II, UFO sightings or the World’s Largest Belt Buckle? You’ve come to the right place. Kansas offers all of that and more in a plethora of tourist attractions sure to satisfy almost any taste. Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe says to expect the unexpected when you visit her home state. From Topeka to Wichita and everywhere in between, the Sunfl ower State blooms brightly with attractions you won’t fi nd anyplace else. Take Abilene and Lindsborg, for example. Both were named recently to the exclusive list of the top 14 “Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA” by TravelAwaits. Abilene, a town of 6,500 people in Dickinson County, ranked fi rst for the third straight year, while McPherson County’s Lindsborg, with 3,500 residents, came in at No. 5. KANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD 83 L Lindsborg is often referred to as Little Sweden USA by the many travelers who frequent it for the annual Swedish Festival and other gatherings. Photo courtesy of Kansas Tourism Coronado Heights Castle, Lindsborg. Photo courtesy of Kansas Tourism84 KANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD “I was not surprised,” says Jobe. “Abilene is known as the home of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. It is one of my favorite places to visit. Abilene is also home to the World’s Largest Belt Buckle. You walk up these stairs and then stand behind the belt buckle like you are wearing it. We constantly have people visiting here to take their photo with it.” Lindsborg, meanwhile, continually reinvents itself, says Jobe. “They are always adding something new,” she says. “Lindsborg is a hidden little gem. It is called Little Sweden USA. They have an annual Swedish Festival. It is just beautiful country, and they have a great arts scene.” Abilene, Lindsborg and a whole bunch of other places combined to deliver record-setting years for tourism in Kansas since 2020. According to the most recent data on visitor traffic, total visitor spending in 2022 surpassed pre- COVID levels, says Jobe. “People are spending more than they did before the pandemic.” Kansas attracted 36.4 million visitors in 2022, marking an increase of 2.7 million tourists from 2021. “Meanwhile, 2021 was a record year for our state parks,” notes Jobe. “We are seeing those trends continue. People are still looking for wide-open spaces, and they are finding them in Kansas.” The Kansas Tourism report quantifies the total economic impact of tourism in Kansas at $12.5 billion in 2022. The sector accounted for 88,509 jobs and generated $777 million in state and local revenue that year too, according to the study. Visitor spending was up $717 million to $7.7 billion. Eisenhower Statue, Abilene. Photos courtesy of Kansas TourismKANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD 85 Even more visitor spending could be on the way soon, thanks to $30 million in tourism grants approved by Governor Laura Kelly and awarded to 18 recipients who will use the funds to develop and improve tourism sites statewide. In many ways, says Jobe, the visitor appeal of Kansas is the state’s best-kept secret. “We have wonderful breweries, wineries and steakhouses all around Kansas. And whoever would have expected to find the UFO Capital of Kansas in the Geneseo City Museum?” Where else are you going to find dog hair from Venus, a Saturn laboratory spacecraft, or a gentleman who tells tales of a UFO experience he had in 1972? Drive 90 minutes northwest of Wichita, and you will find that in this quirky museum in 200-resident Geneseo in Rice County. With any luck, local author and historian Jim Gray, dressed in full cowboy garb and 10-gallon hat, will greet you at the door and give you the guided tour. And if you happen to be an interplanetary traveler, don’t worry. A welcome sign in town politely says, “Spaceships Welcome.” “ People are still looking for wide-open spaces, and they are finding them in Kansas. ” — Bridgette Jobe, Director, Kansas Tourismhen Katharine Lee Bates wrote “America the Beautiful” and penned the lines “amber waves of grain,” “spacious skies” and “the fruited plain,” she could have been describing almost any rural vista in Kansas. The Sunfl ower State is not just representative of America at its most beautiful and scenic. It is America. No one knows this better than the state’s 2.9 million residents, 1.6 million of whom live in smaller communities. These are the places where the fruit is planted, the grain is grown and the skies are the brightest shades of blue. They are also the places where industry is happening at a level not seen before in Kansas. Looking for wide open spaces for your growing business? Look no further than one of the 600 small towns in Kansas. As Russell Deputy City Manager Kayla Schneider likes to say, “Even though we are small, we are mighty.” Russell, located in Central Kansas at the intersection of Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 281, may have just 4,416 residents, but it’s big enough to support growing companies like John O. Farmer Inc. and PureField Ingredients, which recently announced a $300 million expansion to beef up its wheat protein business in the center of the country. They’ve got plenty of company. Kansas is coming off back-to-back Governor’s Cup wins in Site Selection magazine’s annual tally of corporate expansion activity by state. In 2021 and 2022, Kansas landed more private capital investment projects per capita than any other state in the nation. A huge chunk of these plant investments went to small towns. Rural communities fl ex economic muscle across the Sunfl ower State. W SMALL-TOWN STRENGTH 86 KANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD Downtown Fort Scott. Photo courtesy of Kansas Department of Commerce ‘Even Though We Are Small, by RON STARNERKANSAS: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD 87 TWO CASES IN POINT: •Michelin Tire/Camso is investing $100 million to increase production capacity for rubber tracks for farm equipment in Junction City. •Pure Imagination Studios will spend $41 million and add 101 new workers as part of a 58,000-sq.-ft. expansion project in Salina. Success like this propelled seven micropolitan areas in Kansas to be ranked among the top 100 small towns in the country in project performance during calendar year 2022, according to Site Selection magazine. McPherson ranked the highest, tied for ninth, with seven qualifying projects. The other small towns to make this list included Hutchinson, Salina, Winfield, Dodge City, Emporia and Pittsburg. To be counted as a micropolitan area by the U.S. Census Bureau, a community must have an urbanized area of at least 10,000 people but less than 50,000 and include at least one county. By that definition, America has 543 micro areas. Every year, Dr. William Fruth, founder of POLICOM.com, evaluates every single one of them on 24 categories of economic performance and growth and measures each community’s overall performance against every other. Based upon his findings, five small towns in Kansas rank among the top third of all micros in the country. The state’s highest-performing micro, per POLICOM, is Ottawa, which places No. 51 in 2023, up a remarkable 144 places from its No. 196 ranking in 2020. Dodge City checks in at No. 70, followed by Salina (127), McPherson (152) and Garden City (184). Ottawa is also the fastest-rising small town in the state and one of the quickest gainers in the whole country. GRANTS THAT KEEP GIVING One reason Kansas’ small towns perform so well is because the state regularly invests a bevy of resources into them. Two of the more well- known programs are the Kansas Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ) and Kansas Murals. Under the ROZ program, Kansas has designated 95 counties as Rural Opportunity Zones, qualifying them for significant added benefits. Designated counties are able to offer the following financial incentives to new full-time residents: a 100% state income tax credit and/or student loan repayment assistance. Kansas Murals began in 2022 and by mid-2023 some 35 murals had been completed across 24 Kansas communities. All were beneficiaries of the Office of Rural Prosperity’s (ORP) Rural Mural and Public Art Grant Program. The grants help towns of less than 10,000 people create new murals and other works of public art that beautify and enhance public gathering places and serve to draw new visitors. Over the past two years, the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission has added 14 artists to its Mural and Public Art Roster. “These beautiful, creative and artistic murals help personalize the communities where they were created,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said. “Kansas is such a special place and as our Rural Mural program continues to grow, I look forward to how it will showcase the uniqueness that each community brings to our state.” Lawrence. Photo courtesy of Kansas Department of CommerceNext >