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TOPEKA —
Using factors such as capital investment, new facilities created, existing facilities expanded, jobs created and jobs retained, Kansas ranks high in a recent study measuring business competitiveness.
Site Selection magazine named Kansas one of the nation’s 10 most competitive states for capital investment and new facility development. The publication is billed as a “leader for site selection consultants.”
The announcement was part of Site Selection’s annual Competitiveness Awards, which were unveiled in the magazine’s May edition. The Competitiveness Awards evaluate states on various criteria. The award marks the second consecutive year that the state has made the Top 10.
Virginia was listed as the top competitive states in the survey while Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Kansas rounded out the top 10.
“Our Top 10 finish in the Competitiveness Awards is just another example of how Kansas is one of the best states in the nation for business,” said Bill Thornton, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. “We’re excited to build on this success, and we look forward to another strong run of business development.”
The criteria included new and expanded facilities in 2009, total capital investment in new and expanded facilities, total new jobs created, State Gross Domestic Product per capita and state unemployment rate in February 2010.
The February 2010 unemployment rate was 6.8 percent, down from 7.2 percent in January and up from 6.2 percent in February 2009. In addition, two of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported yearly jobs gains in February. Most of those gains were in education and health services.
In southeast Kansas, Crawford County’s unemployment rate was marked at 7.8 percent with Cherokee County at 8.7 percent. Of the counties in the area, Allen County’s unemployment was the lowest at 7.6 percent and Montgomery County held the highest rate at 9.7 percent.
Bourbon County was at 7.6 percent, Neosho County was at 8.9 percent and Labette County’s unemployment rate was at 9.2 percent.
Statewide manufacturing lost 17,600 jobs over the year, a 9.9 percent decrease while professional and business services lost 10,000 jobs, a 7.1 percent decrease.
The state continued to see a decrease in its unemployment from March to April this year. The unemployment rate in the state went from 6.9 percent in March to 6.3 percent in April.
On the Web:
Site Selection magazine: http://www.siteselection.com
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140
Using factors such as capital investment, new facilities created, existing facilities expanded, jobs created and jobs retained, Kansas ranks high in a recent study measuring business competitiveness.
Site Selection magazine named Kansas one of the nation’s 10 most competitive states for capital investment and new facility development. The publication is billed as a “leader for site selection consultants.”
The announcement was part of Site Selection’s annual Competitiveness Awards, which were unveiled in the magazine’s May edition. The Competitiveness Awards evaluate states on various criteria. The award marks the second consecutive year that the state has made the Top 10.
Virginia was listed as the top competitive states in the survey while Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Kansas rounded out the top 10.
“Our Top 10 finish in the Competitiveness Awards is just another example of how Kansas is one of the best states in the nation for business,” said Bill Thornton, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. “We’re excited to build on this success, and we look forward to another strong run of business development.”
The criteria included new and expanded facilities in 2009, total capital investment in new and expanded facilities, total new jobs created, State Gross Domestic Product per capita and state unemployment rate in February 2010.
The February 2010 unemployment rate was 6.8 percent, down from 7.2 percent in January and up from 6.2 percent in February 2009. In addition, two of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported yearly jobs gains in February. Most of those gains were in education and health services.
In southeast Kansas, Crawford County’s unemployment rate was marked at 7.8 percent with Cherokee County at 8.7 percent. Of the counties in the area, Allen County’s unemployment was the lowest at 7.6 percent and Montgomery County held the highest rate at 9.7 percent.
Bourbon County was at 7.6 percent, Neosho County was at 8.9 percent and Labette County’s unemployment rate was at 9.2 percent.
Statewide manufacturing lost 17,600 jobs over the year, a 9.9 percent decrease while professional and business services lost 10,000 jobs, a 7.1 percent decrease.
The state continued to see a decrease in its unemployment from March to April this year. The unemployment rate in the state went from 6.9 percent in March to 6.3 percent in April.
On the Web:
Site Selection magazine: http://www.siteselection.com
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140
