The annual event brought together 2,000 local civic and business leaders to celebrate the region’s successes, including $766 million in capital investment and 2,400+ jobs
KANSAS CITY – Nov. 16, 2023 – Today, the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) hosted the KC region’s largest business luncheon to recognize another high-performing year and rally leaders from across the 18-county region.
In 2023, KCADC and its partners attracted 14 companies to the region, representing $766 million in capital investment, 2,407 jobs, $123 million in wages and 4 million square feet of space. Pointing to major new investments from companies including Ace Hardware, Chick-fil-A Supply, DSM, URBN and more, speakers at the Annual Meeting emphasized that KC’s momentum continues to drive forward.
“When our business community comes together, we all perform better. By creating positive and memorable experiences we attract new jobs and investment to our KC region,” said Ora Reynolds, president and CEO of Hunt Midwest and KCADC Board of Directors co-chair. “Hunt Midwest and KCADC work together to transform the landscape of every community and relationship we touch by focusing on a customer-first approach.”
KCADC called on leaders to think big and embrace the power of partnership as the region continues to thrive in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing and distribution, animal health, technology, data centers and more.
Attendees were emboldened to capitalize on this momentum to empower Kansas City’s spotlight on the global stage, accentuated by major sports wins and the FIFA World Cup™ in 2026. Annual Meeting keynote speaker and owner of the Savannah Bananas baseball phenomenon, Jesse Cole, echoed this opportunity with his “Fans First” philosophy, sharing how leaders can create unforgettable experiences and foster passionate fans for both their businesses and the region as a whole.
“The secret of the KC region is out, and showing up big right now will shape our region’s future for decades to come,” said Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council. “We have a strong pipeline of companies considering the region that could bring even more big wins in 2024. It’s all of us, together, making it happen.”
Consistently ranked as a top regional economic development group, KCADC serves as an essential resource for locating businesses and talent to the region and was recently recognized as a finalist in the City Nation Place Awards for Best Communications Strategy. To learn more about KCADC and its business and talent attraction strategies for the region, visit onekc.org.
About the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC)
Serving the 18-county, two-state Kansas City area, the Kansas City Area Development Council is an economic development nonprofit that promotes the region’s business and lifestyle assets to companies and talent around the world. Working closely with its two states, and 50-plus county and community partners, the region has attracted more than 64,000 new jobs over its 45-year history. KCADC also leads the efforts behind the KC Animal Health Corridor, KC SmartPort, TeamKC, KC Heartland and KC Global Design. | onekc.org