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Topeka/Shawnee County as a Business LocationTopeka, 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 summmary 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 Baleries 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!
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