• Executive Briefing
• Economic Sector Targets
• Business Development Resources
• Community Living
• Site Location Database
• Current Publications
• Sites and Buildings
• International Business Development
• About GO Topeka
• Archives
• Contact Us
• Confidentiality Commitment
• Resources, Publications & Maps
• Visual Gallery

Print Page

Pdf Page

Add To Report

Report Center

Business Assets of Topeka/Shawnee County

Food Manufacturing/Processing
Download brochure

Central location in America’s Breadbasket makes access to raw materials convenient and distribution a piece of cake

1. Excellent Interstate access and plenty of industrial sites
2. Home to major food companies like Frito Lay and Bimbo Bakery
3. Topeka can help production operations quickly get up and running and product out the door. Central location makes for timely delivery throughout North America. Within one day, goods shipped by truck reach 25% of US population, 90% by day two.
4. K-State expertise in Food Science Institute. Nationally and Internationally recognized in food chemistry, food microbiology, food safety, cereal science, food engineering, and human nutrition
5. American Institute of Baking- major center for wheat and related grain product research and development in the world. Provides research and technical services including: consulting for production and quality issues, ingredient testing, audits of ingredients and finished product quality.

Animal Health/Biomedical
Download brochure

1.  Area unique for animal health industry. Home to Hill’s Science and Technology Center, NBAF and animal science research in the KC to Manhattan Corridor.
2. Kansas is ranked number five state in the nation in Biotechnology Strength (Bus. Facilities Magazine, 2010)
3. Upcoming development of KC Animal Health Innovation Center in KC.
4. Kansas selected for the NBAF (lab to protect food supply and agriculture economy)
5. Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research lab at K-State
6. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Science and Technology Center- 40% of animal science research in the world is conducted in Topeka
7. Hills has mapped the cat and dog genome, 95% application to human science as it relates to nutrition, areas of focus are diabetes and obesity
8. KS Bioscience fund is available for expansion of bioscience activity
9. Topeka/Shawnee County- local incentive funding
10. More than 100 companies in animal health and nutrition located between Manhattan, KS and Columbia, MO
11. Four of top 10 animal health companies in the world located in the corridor
12. Three of top 10 largest distributors are headquartered in KC region.

Back Office
Download brochure

1. Security, Accessibility, Affordability.
2. Entrepreneurship in this field is already happening in Topeka/Shawnee County.
3. Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as 300-employee Security Benefit/se2 (a home grown success story) prove that the market has the cost environment, infrastructure, and talent pool needed to thrive.
4. Google’s recent decision to bestow its 1Gbps fiber network in Kansas City points to the region’s strengths for IT infrastructure.
5. Topeka’s close proximity to Kansas’ two largest university campuses is another plus.
6. Firms seeking educated, affordable labor willing to work non-traditional hours should look no further than students and graduates at neighboring universities.
7. Workforce with strong background in both technical and customer support.
8. Low cost utilities, a stable business climate, and easy access to major markets, top off the many reasons why Topeka is an ideal location for back office operations and data centers

Logisitics and Distribution
Download brochure

1. Center of national transportation network linking to major interstate highways both north/south and east/west. Companies get product to market quickly and efficiently
2. Region has 5 intermodal yards and served by two Class 1 rail companies. KS in top 10 in US in railroad mileage with 4776 miles of track.
3. Forbes Field Air Logistics Facility is a logistics hub with ample sites available. 12,800 ft runway, can land any aircraft in the world
4. Major national logistics centers already here- Target Distribution Center, Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center.
5. Close to new intermodal facility in Baldwin, KS.
6. KTA opportunity for trucks to haul multiple trailers on sections of this highway reducing overall transportation costs.
7. GAIN program is proactively fielding needs and concerns of logistics companies in the region.
8. Washburn Tech, Washburn University, Heartland Works- provide training programs needed for logistics.
9. KS maintains fifth best road and highways system in the nation. 140,270 total road and street miles, 10,607 highway miles. Major trucking hub with 1,072 private carriers, 366 intrastate for-hire carriers, and 8,604 Kansas based motor carriers with intrastate and/or interstate operating authority in KS.
10. Commercial air service is only one hour drive from Topeka at Kansas City International Airport.

Clean Energy
Download brochure

1. Centralized location, easier to get product to market
2. Within 60 miles of KU and KSU, both universities conduct research in solar, energy storage/alternative energy.
3. Westar Energy’s award of stimulus funds for Smart Grid development.
4. KS ranked number 2 in nation in terms of wind energy potential.
5. Located in nation’s wind belt
6. State of KS machinery and equipment tax exemption and PEAK program lower cost of doing business
7. Homegrown energy is abundant. Ingenuity with countless professionals in the fields of biology, chemistry and agricultural sciences.
8. KS passed Renewable Energy Standards Act requires major utilities to have 15% of energy capacity from renewable sources by 2016 and 20% by 2020.
9. Aggressive incentives for solar and wind energy manufacturing.
10. KSU Biomass Institute is comprehensive education and research program dedicated to biomass study and energy derived from its production.

More Industry Advantages

• Kiplinger’s Top 10 City for the Next Decade.(2010)
• Topeka's cost of living consistently ranks 8 to 10 points below the average based upon the ACCRA Cost of Living Study.
• Cost of energy is 30% below national average.
• Cost of doing business is 14% lower than the national average.
• State and local taxes are 11% below the national average.
• Well educated workforce. The percent of Topeka's population (25 years and over) having a bachelor's degree or higher is greater than the national average.
• Outstanding higher education opportunities are available at Washburn University, Kansas State University, University of Kansas and Emporia University with enrollment totaling 63,000 and annual graduates of 13,500.
• Kansas is a right-to-work state.
• Heartland Works, Inc. adds value to companies by helping to recruit, analyze jobs and screen potential employees for employment opportunities.
• The Washburn Institute of Technology works with employers to develop specific technical training programs.

Local and State Incentives

• Up to a ten-year property tax exemption on real property
• Free land available in Central Crossing Commerce Park and Kanza Fire Commerce Park
• No property taxes on machinery and equipment newly acquired or placed into service in Kansas after July 1, 2006
• Workforce training funds
• Industrial revenue bond financing
• State income tax credits
• Kansas Bioscience initiatives expected to generate over $500 million over the next 10 to 15 years
• Additional local incentives based upon number of jobs, average hourly wage and capital investment
• High Performance Incentive Program
• Sales Tax Incentive for construction

Topeka/Shawnee County as a Business Location

Topeka, Kansas

“Top Ten City of the Next Decade”

In the July, 2010 edition of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, Topeka was recognized as one of the “Top Ten Cities for the Next Decade”. This recognition is a great summary of what is happening in the community…growth, business growth and an energetic focus on the future.

Even during the height of the Great Recession, Topeka and Shawnee County experienced stellar economic growth. In 2009, GO Topeka, the economic development organization for the community, announced five major projects involving 2,000 jobs and $352.5 million in capital investment.

The unemployment rate has been less than 7% during the recession, far less than the national average. The diversity of different economic sectors including manufacturing, financial services, healthcare and government provided insulation to the economic downturn. The community is experiencing a manageable one percent population growth from in-migration.

Topeka and Shawnee County has embarked on an ambitious visioning program called Heartland Visioning to foster and sustain activities that will enhance the community’s quality of life and growth. Major projects include downtown revitalization with the restored Capitol as the centerpiece, the development of the Topeka Regional Competitiveness Center to support new and existing businesses in the community, and the North Topeka Arts District (NOTO). Topeka and Shawnee County are on the move!

For more than 150 years, Topeka has been in the middle of everything, right in the nation’s heartland. With its centralized location, Topeka is a perfect place for transport with access to major Interstates (I-70 and I-35) and railroad arteries that allow for inexpensive, simple shipment and delivery for business sites.

Announced in October 2009, GO Topeka has started development of+ Kanza Fire Commerce Park, a 1,018-acre business megapark just south of town to complement the existing 500 acre Central Crossing Commerce Park. Bisected by US-75—a four-lane, interstate grade, divided highway—with access on site, the new mixed-use park features easy access to I-70 and I-335, 6,000 feet of rail frontage and a close proximity to Forbes Field that has a 12,000-foot runway for air freight transport. This park is built to be smart with a sustainable design, energy efficiency, walking trails, water features, 130 acres of green space and shared energy sources.

Major new locations and expansions have included The Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center, Goodyear, US Foodservice, Frito-Lay, Bimbo Bakeries USA/Allen Foods, Del Monte and PTMW.

Topeka doesn’t just make it easy to relocate here—we also make it an affordable place to do business. The Topeka/Shawnee County area has a cost of doing business 15% lower than the national average, with an index of 85 according to Moody’s Economy.com, and a cost of living 10% lower than the national average. And because all machinery and equipment in Topeka is exempt from personal property taxes, Topeka is a less expensive to do business. Topeka also has the ability to offer incoming companies the most aggressive, flexible local incentive package in the Central United States.

Topeka is also proud of the workforce it has available to incoming businesses. The city is located in the heart of the Kansas knowledge corridor, with four universities in a 60-mile radius—The University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Washburn University and Emporia State University. These universities have a combined enrollment of approximately 60,000 and an average graduation rate of more than 12,000 students per year. With many of these students remaining in the area, the city’s workforce is able to exceed national trends with 89.4% of Shawnee County’s population age 25 or older having a high-school equivalent or higher education (compared to 84.5% nationally) and 36% of the population in the area holding a bachelor’s degree or higher (compared to 27.5% nationally). Topeka is also home to the Washburn Institute of Technology, which offers premier training programs through its partnerships with area businesses. With a workforce among the most educated and well-trained in the nation, Topeka will continue advancing as a leader in the state and region.

Topeka’s WE CAN DO THAT attitude will help you relocate, expand and grow your business here. We have the land available and ready to develop, and we’ll work with local officials to make sure you can transition quickly and smoothly into your new home here. But we don’t stop once you’re here. GO Topeka has programs in place to help your business continue to grow after locating here with incentives to help you expand and a staff working hard to ensure Topeka remains one of the most business-friendly environments in the nation.

Topeka and Shawnee County have the right strategic alliances to grow new, innovative industries. Beyond providing one of the friendliest environments for science and innovation, we have the technical capabilities, the centralized location to make distribution simple and cost effective, and the smart and willing workforce perfect for emerging and established industries.

Topeka/Shawnee County, Kansas welcomes and encourages new business and champions our existing employers. We encourage new directions and offer solutions, not headaches and have the track record to prove it. Aggressive incentives, a highly skilled and educated workforce, central location to markets, and a new 1,000 acre business park await your company. WE CAN DO THAT!

"Lohmann & Rauscher made the strategic decision to locate our North American headquarters in Topeka based on our ability to better serve the U.S. market and our customers from a central location. We have customers on both coasts. Also, the cost of running a business is not as high in Topeka as it would be on either coast."
-Michael Hall, President, U.S. subsidiary of Lohmann & Rauscher International

"Although Reser's Fine Foods has 12 plants throughout the country, our strongest presence is in Topeka. Our experience with the Topeka workforce has been extremely positive. Since opening our 35-employee salad facility in Topeka in 1991, we have grown to three facilities in Topeka, with a total of more than 765 employees."
-Tony Kunis, General Manager, Reser's Fine Foods, Inc.

"Our central location — with shorter distances to both coasts and shorter shipping times — allows us to sell a fresher product. This helps us to compete both regionally and nationally. We ship our freshly roasted specialty coffee beans to all 50 states."
-Fred Polzin, Co-Founder, PT's Coffee Company

“We’re proud of our efforts to retrofit this nearly 30-year-old-building and make it more environmentally friendly. Achieving LEED EB Gold standards is another significant step on our company's sustainability journey, and solidifies our place as a leader in Kansas and in the United States. And we’re grateful that we had the support and resources to make it happen here in Topeka. I know the best is yet to come for our company and this entire community.” - Allen Moore, Director of Engineering/Maintenance for Frito-Lay Topeka.

“The Go Topeka Team has been wonderful. The level of assistance, support and welcome they provided has validated our decision to build our new bakery in Topeka. They continue to reach out to us regularly to ensure all of our needs are fully met. We are excited about the future opportunities we have in Topeka working with GO Topeka, business professionals, and community”.

“GO Topeka sat down and talked to me about how they could facilitate growth in my operation. We had some other resources in another city we were considering using but the help that I got from Topeka was incredible. Not just from the incentive stand point but they helped me understand the tax abatement procedures and put me in contact with area business leaders for assistance that eventually made my decision to grow and expand in Topeka very easy. My experience has been nothing by positive. “ – Brent Boles, President, Schendel Pest Control, Topeka, Kansas

“One of the best features of Topeka is our diversity of industry. Topeka is not tied to one particular industry. When you look at this diversity coupled with a lower cost of doing business this is a compelling reason for companies to locate here. Plus, when you look at the Eastern and Western seaboards, and see what is going on in the economy on either coasts you can establish your business here for a lot less than you would in Los Angeles, or New York.” –Dave Keith, President and CEO, se2 Corporation.

“In the future working in a physical structure is going to become less of a requirement. Employees will be working for a virtual corporation because of all the technology we have readily available. Topeka allows that to happen right now. Our corporate headquarters can be housed here with the great quality of life and lower cost of doing business yet have the resources from all over the world at our fingertips.” Dave Keith, President and CEO, se2 Corporation.

“We offer superior K-12 education in Shawnee County. If Topeka finds out there is a company that needs employees with a specific skill set, then we can re-tool ourselves very quickly to provide those skills through collaboration with Washburn Technical Institute and the local area school districts.” Brenda Dietrich, Superintendant USD 437

“Jump on board now, because the train is heading out of the station. Topeka is on the move. The next 10, 15, 20 years in Topeka are just going to be dynamic.” Garry Cushinberry, CoreFirst Bank& Trust

“Topeka has an outstanding community of great employees. This region has one of the most highly educated work forces of anywhere in the nation.” Maynard Oliverius, Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center

“There are several great things about doing business in Topeka-low cost of living, central location, good labor market, the people. I travel a lot and I’ll tell you, the nicest people on earth are here.” Jeff Taylor, PT’s Coffee Roasting Company

“Topeka is an amazing community with a core of young leaders mixed in leaders that are seasoned; working together to make our community even better. We are a thriving, diverse, growing community.” Michelle de la Isla, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity.