Ingram's March 2023

MANUFACTURING

THE SUNFLOWER SCORECARD

Advanced Manufacturing Leads The Way

by themselves. They’re the results of APEX [the Attracting Powerful Econo mic Expansion Act incentive program] and the landscape of what’s happening right now—partnerships coming to gether and making sure we were all sort of rowing the boat in the same direction. … It was just a lot of people doing the right thing.” Bobby Skipper is the director of eco- nomic development for Coffey Cou nty, where the new EMP Shield project will be built, and agrees with Stovall’s assessment: “The political willingness—and I dare say, patriotism—of those leaders have led to the commitments and decisions, which allowed this project to take shape and become a reality,” he said. “Secondly, we have a governor who backs up what she promises with real action.” Skipper also credits the federal bipartisan CHIPS Act, designed to boost U.S. competitiveness and in novation in the semiconductor indus try (and signed into law by President Biden last August), as the “largest con tributing factor” for the economic boon coming this county’s way. The $52.7 billion legislation includes $39 billion that will be awarded to U.S. companies for new construction and expansion. “We can no longer depend on other countries to produce the critical pro- ducts and devices that keep our eco nomy rolling,” he said. “For Kansas, this would be a new pillar of the already vibrant economy. Bringing in the very niche semiconductor and micro

Among some of the recent advanced manufacturing wins in Kansas:

The news of the day—the year, really—continues to swirl around three big projects coming to Kansas:  Panasonic Energy. In Novem ber, this subsidiary of the Japanese electronics giant broke ground on an electric vehicle battery plant—a $4 billion project, the largest economic development project in state history— in De Soto. In addition to 4,000 new jobs at the plant, a Wichita State Uni versity study estimates it will create 4,000 additional jobs with suppliers and community businesses and 16,500 construction jobs.  EMP Shield. The maker of elec tronic device protection will build a new computer chip manufacturing facility—a $1.9 billion project that’s expected to create more than 1,200 jobs—in Burlington. The facility is ex- pected to also bring six out-of-state suppliers for an additional 1,000 jobs in Coffey County.  Integra Technologies. The Wi- chita-based company, founded in 1983, announced it would invest $1.8 bil lion—the second-largest private invest- ment in Kansas history—in a large scale semiconductor facility in Wichita, creating approximately 2,000 high-pay- ing jobs. That will trigger an estimated additional 3,161 jobs created by sup pliers and labor positions, according to Wichita State University. These massive projects aren’t just a result of good luck, Stovall said. “They didn’t happen in a vacuum

EMP Shield LOCATION: Burlington INVESTMENT: $1.9 billion JOBS CREATED: 1,200+

Integra Technologies LOCATION: Wichita INVESTMENT: $1.8 billion JOBS CREATED: 2,000

Panasonic Energy LOCATION: De Soto INVESTMENT: $4 billion JOBS CREATED: 4,000

Source: Panasonic Energy North America

OTHER MANUFACTURING WINS: Schwan’s. In November, the prepared- foods company announced it would add 140,000 square feet and 225 new jobs to its refrigeration distribution center at its Salina pizza manufac turing facility. Great Plains Manufacturing/Kubota Corp. A new facility opened in October, pro- ducing compact track loaders in Salina. The $178 million investment created 150 new jobs with a total of 900 jobs in the future.

Manufacturing Industry Employment By Sector:  Food & Beverage Manufacturing  Aviation Equipment Manufacturing

10%

 Machinery Manufacturing  Fabricated & Primary Metal Products Manufacturing

21%

4%

4%

5%

 Household & Store Product Manufacturing  Plastics & Rubber Products Manufacturing  Chemical Manufacturing  Computer & Electronic Product & Equipment Manufacturing  Automobile & Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing  Other

6%

19%

7%

11%

12%

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services, Kansas Wage Survey 2020

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