About Us
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Under the leadership of Secretary of Commerce Bill Thornton, the Department comprises a variety of programs and services that create jobs, attract new investment, provide workforce training, encourage community development and promote the state as a wonderful place to live, work and play. This is accomplished through the Department’s five divisions:
Fiscal Year 2009 saw Commerce administer a budget of more than $132 million dedicated to programs that benefit the economy and quality of life in Kansas. More than half of the Department’s funding comes from federal sources, with the remainder coming from the Economic Development Initiatives Fund — which is derived from Kansas Lottery proceeds — and fee funds. Nearly 70 percent of that money was channeled to local communities and businesses throughout the state.
The Department helped Kansas achieve a number of successes in Fiscal Year 2009:
-- Our Business Recruitment and Retention teams were involved in 190 successful site location/expansion/ retention projects in which Kansas was competing with out-of-state locations, creating or retaining 13,022 jobs and $1.91 billion in new capital investment.
-- The Rural Development Division continued to partner with rural Kansas communities, assist rural producers and position the state to be a national leader in the alternative fuels and agritourism industries.
-- The Workforce Services Division helped the state weather the national recession by funding training for thousands of Kansas workers, ensuring Kansas employers a skilled workforce for years to come.
-- The Travel & Tourism Division continued to promote the Kansas Flint Hills and the entire state via exciting new marketing campaigns and attraction development programs.
-- And the Trade Development Division helped Kansas companies export a record $12.47 billion in goods and services, marking the fourth straight year Kansas has notched a record-high export total.