Laura Kelly Lands Largest Economic Development Project in Kansas History with $4 Billion Investment, 4,000 New Jobs

Panasonic Chooses the Kelly Economy in Kansas for One of the Nation’s Largest Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing Facilities

By working with both parties and steadily getting the state back on track, Gov. Laura Kelly just delivered a historic economic development opportunity, landing a deal with Panasonic Energy Co. to build one of the largest electric vehicle battery manufacturing facilities in America.

Panasonic will invest up to $4 billion — the largest economic development project in Kansas history — and create up to 4,000 direct new jobs.

The development, which was also praised by Kansas Republicans, will also have ripple effects throughout the regional and state economy, supporting an estimated 4,000 additional jobs created by suppliers and community businesses and 16,500 construction jobs.

This comes as Laura Kelly has already shattered records of new business investments coming to Kansas after she worked across the aisle to balance the budget and fund critical investments like infrastructure, public schools and more.

“Historic economic development projects, record-breaking business investment, national accolades for economic achievements — Gov. Laura Kelly continues to prove that her steady approach of working with both parties is exactly what Kansas needs,” said DGA Deputy Communications Director Sam Newton. “Gov. Kelly is doing more than making Kansas a better state to do business in. She’s cutting costs for working families, making Kansas a better state to call home — and she’s only just getting started.”

Here’s the latest news Kansans are reading about Gov. Kelly’s groundbreaking economic achievement:

• Kansas Reflector: “Gov. Laura Kelly prevailed in a whirlwind economic development competition Wednesday by landing a commitment from Panasonic Corp. to build the largest electric vehicle battery plant in the world…”

• Associated Press: “​​Kansas’ landing the project represented a big success for Kelly…The announcement also comes as Kansas finds itself flush with cash…”

• Fox4 KC: “Kansas approved a vast new business incentive program to better attract billion-dollar megaprojects, like the proposed Panasonic plant.”

• Kansas City Star: “Panasonic plans to build a $4 billion, 4,000-employee factory in Kansas to make batteries for the rapidly growing electric vehicle market, Gov. Laura Kelly announced…The announcement concludes a national search for a new site and a heated competition between state officials in Kansas and Oklahoma…”

• WIBW: “State officials are celebrating what they’re calling the largest economic development project in Kansas history…Kelly called it an investment that will benefit the entire state.