For the third straight year, Kansas has won the Area Development Magazine’s Gold Shovel Award.

The back-to-back-to-back achievement has no precedent in state history and reflects three consecutive years of record-setting private-sector investment. Governor Laura Kelly says every day, her administration works to grow the economy so there are better opportunities for Kansans. She says this award shows that their work is paying off, and as a result, more Kansans have good-paying jobs with which they can support their families and contribute to their communities.

Panasonic Energy’s $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto was the largest capital expenditure in 2022. There were 272 projects across the state totaling almost $7.4 billion in private-sector investment and nearly 13,400 jobs created or retained.