Kansas Chamber Releases Competitiveness Analysis, Proposes Strategic Action Agenda

The Kansas Chamber on Thursday released its Kansas Competitiveness Analysis and Strategic Action Agenda to make Kansas a top state to do business.

“The Chamber’s advocacy work at the statehouse focuses on reducing the burden government places on Kansas businesses so they can thrive, create more jobs, and invest in their communities. We launched the business community's Vision 2025 Action Plan because there’s still work to be done so Kansas can compete and win,” said Kansas Chamber President & CEO Alan Cobb. "Today's analysis and proposed strategic action agenda build on Vision 2025 and provide a path to making Kansas more competitive and a top state to do business."

The strategy development began with an assessment of the state’s economic reality and identifies future trends that will impact Kansas in the coming years. The Kansas Chamber partnered with Economic Leadership to research, review national best practices, and interview Kansas business, workforce development, and community leaders to learn about the challenges and successes happening across the state.

"Our analysis found that while Kansas has many strengths such as economic diversity and infrastructure, it lags behind in areas such as business climate, workforce growth, and innovation capacity," said Economic Leadership's Managing Partner Ted Abernathy. "To successfully compete, Kansas leaders - private and public - will need to prioritize continuous improvement in the state’s competitive environment."

The final step identifies and recommends ten specific actions to move Kansas from where it is to where we want to be. The recommendations focus on three areas crucial to the state's future: Workforce, Business Climate, and Innovation.

"Successful strategic action agendas are future-focused, realistic, actionable, appropriately resourced, and are regularly updated," said Cobb. "The Kansas Chamber looks forward to working with elected leaders and key stakeholders to put Kansas on a path of increased competitiveness that will boost prosperity for all Kansans."