Securing large-scale projects in any industry is never a solo effort—it’s a team sport. As the saying goes, “Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.” This rings especially true when the stakes are high. To win big, it takes collaboration across various conditions and stakeholders: state and local leadership, a pro-business environment, supportive communities, utility partners, a dynamic innovation ecosystem, and a highly skilled workforce.
While measurable business incentives—such as tax breaks, infrastructure support, and access to capital—are often top of mind when companies evaluate location options, it’s the intangible factors that make all the difference for long-term success. These are the elements that can’t easily be quantified but are critical to ensuring a project’s sustainability and growth over time.
One of the most significant intangibles is how well a project aligns with the region’s economic development strategy. A successful project isn’t about financial incentives alone. It’s about how it fits into a broader vision for the region’s growth and development. When regions invest strategically in industries, they create fertile ground for policy, innovation, workforce development, and the kind of collaborative ecosystem that drives sustained success.
In the case of the KC Animal Health Corridor, this kind of long-term thinking has been key to our rise as a global hub for animal health and bioscience over the last twenty years. The Corridor doesn’t attract companies simply because of its incentives—it draws them because of the strong partnerships, the supportive infrastructure, and the commitment to advancing the industry’s future. Over the last two decades, the Corridor has developed a unique ecosystem where innovation, collaboration, and workforce development thrive, fueling not only short-term wins but also the long-term growth of the animal health sector.
Ultimately, the success of large-scale projects depends on strong business incentives, a pro-business environment and a region that invests in its industries. Regions that align their economic strategy with emerging trends and foster an environment where collaboration and innovation can flourish will win. The Animal Health Corridor is a prime example of what’s possible when the right elements come together to build a sustainable, thriving industry.