// THE KC ADVANTAGE

In addition to a growing advanced energy industry concentration, the Kansas City region offers all of the critical support services and incentives needed to expand or relocate into the area.

// WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE KC MARKET?

Simplicity: One point of contact for the entire 18-county, bi-state (Kansas and Missouri) Kansas City metropolitan area.

Predictability: Steady population and employment growth; diverse economy; unemployment rates consistently below the national average.

Accessibility: Short, stress-free commutes; access to either coast within 3 hours by air.

Renewable Energy Standards: Both states within the Kansas City region have passed renewable energy standards--Kansas requires that 20% of power in 2020 must be generated by investor owned utilities through sustainable sources. Missouri has passed an RES of 15% by 2021.

Progressive utility partners: KCP&L and Westar Energy have initiated programs focused on energy efficiency and sustainability.

• KCP&L is currently in the final phase of their Comprehensive Energy Plan, which includes significant investments in energy efficiency, a new high-efficiency coal plant, renewable energy, air quality improvements, and distribution and transmission upgrades. KCP&L has been an active participant in energy and sustainability policy discussions at the local, state and federal level.

• Westar Energy has initiated a variety of programs to preserve the quality of the air, land and water on and around its properties. These innovative, award-winning projects aid Westar Energy in complying with the Clean Air Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and other environmental requirements.

// ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT SYSTEM

• The Kauffman Foundation, based in Kansas City, is the world’s largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship. The Foundations FastTrac program provides an award-winning, comprehensive package of entrepreneur-learning programs and materials.

• UMKC Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation was ranked in 2009 as one of the top 25 graduate entrepreneurship programs in the country, according to The Princeton Review.

• KCnext's mission is to create, grow, and attract IT/Technological businesses and generate the jobs needed to support those businesses within the 18 county, 50 community region. KCnext is promoting Kansas City's assets to the technology sector through development of the tech-intensive infrastructure, regional events, marketing and networking to connect the industry, and to enhance the region's image nationally. Furthermore, with the advanced energy boom in the region, and the additions of Smith Electric Vehicles Corporation, Upwind Solutions, AH Industries, Inc. and Exergonix, KCnext will look to take its technological talent and augment it with the IT infrastructure to those companies mentioned, to hit the ground running.

• The State of Kansas' PIPELINE program is the state’s premier entrepreneur fellowship program.

• Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) is an advocate and support system for life sciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing early stage companies based in Missouri.

• The KC region has an established heritage of success which is the foundation of the area’s culture of entrepreneurship and innovation: Hallmark, American Century, H&R Block, Garmin, Cerner, BATS Trading, Perceptive Software along with many other successful examples of entrepreneurial excellence.

• KU Energy Council has more than 1,000 publications and patents, has secured more than $40 million federal, state, and university funds during the past five years. The council's core areas of expertise include transportation energy, biofuels and biomass conversion, traditional and non-traditional recovery of fossil fuels, materials, environmental treatment, conversation and sustainability, education and outreach.