For nearly 40 years, KCADC has worked to define and promote our region’s assets to help maintain a competitive edge in the global economy.
The KC region’s booming industry clusters serve as a key component in validating the area’s competitive advantage. Industry clusters are related groups of organizations and companies in a specific geographic area that share complementary interests, capabilities and needs.
KCADC has focused a part of our attraction strategy around clusters because we know cluster companies they are likely to produce more economic growth, jobs and entrepreneurial activity than non-related companies.
Our industry specific cluster initiatives regularly receive recognition for their breadth and depth. Here are a few examples:
KC SmartPort: Logistics and Manufacturing
KC continues to grow as a distribution hub, providing between 60,000 and 70,000 jobs. Over the last 18 months, the number of companies that have selected KC for distribution has nearly doubled. Earlier this month, Kubota Tractor Corporation, the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-engineered and manufactured machinery and equipment, announced its plans to open a 436,866-sq.-ft. parts distribution center at Logistics Park Kansas City, creating a minimum of 75 jobs.
KCnext: Technology
Technology companies continue to locate in KC due to the high concentration of young, talented people living and working here. The Nerdery, a Minneapolis-based technology company, recently announced plans to add 100 jobs in the region based on the talent, resources and lifestyle available.
KC Animal Health Corridor: Biosciences and Animal Health
The KC Animal Health Corridor continues to draw animal health and biosciences companies to the region. The VET Recruiter ® recently announced it will open a new office in the Kansas City area in order to be closer to the concentration of industry in the Corridor. We also just learned of an additional $15M raised by two animal health companies we introduced at the 2014 KC Investment Forum.
TeamKC: Life + Talent
In November, KCADC branded its decade-old talent recruitment initiative as TeamKC, now serving more than 200 regional companies as they work to acquire and maintain a top-notch talent pool in KC. TeamKC provides area businesses with fully customizable and specialized content to help job candidates fall in love with Kansas City along with the job opportunity.
To learn more about how KCADC grows the region through industry clusters visit www.thinkkc.com.
