If Fostering Job Growth in Lansing is the Question, Economic Development is the Answer

The City of Lansing is a thriving community with a high median income and significantly lower poverty rate than the rest of the United States. However, there is still room for growth. As of 2023, the employment rate in Lansing was 50.6%, lower than 63.2% for the state of Kansas. Residents also average a 21-minute commute, suggesting many drive to downtown Kansas City for work. 

Economic development can support job creation in Lansing, reducing unemployment rates and creating career opportunities closer to home. Learn more about the benefits of supporting job growth and how it helps all residents in the community.  

Job Creation Makes Lansing a Better Place to Live

Discussions about job creation often center around reducing unemployment, which is a valuable goal to pursue. However, economic development efforts can also create better jobs for Lansing residents who are already employed. These jobs are closer to home and provide opportunities for residents to take the next steps in their careers.  

Parents who don’t have to drive into Kansas City for work can spend more time with their kids and get involved in their after-school activities. They can feel less stressed about daycare hours or summer camp pickup times because they know their little ones are just down the road. 

Shorter commute times and higher salaries can make the lives of Lansing residents more enjoyable. Increased availability and spending power allow families to explore their neighborhoods. Economic development has ripple effects, and small businesses across town, from breakfast restaurants to auto service shops, benefit from residents recreating in their communities. Existing businesses can grow, and new ones can open. A few new employers in the area can benefit countless small operations for years. 

Diversifying Local Industry Builds Resiliency

A single major employer leaving or one industry struggling will not affect as many residents if the economy is packed with different companies across multiple fields. 

This is why economic development teams foster entrepreneurship and support small businesses. Between 2021 and 2022, 10,533 new businesses in Kansas opened and 8,004 closed. The net increase of 2,529 openings led to a total increase of 34,758 jobs. Small businesses accounted for more than 23,000 jobs created. 

It’s possible to bring new jobs to Leavenworth County, but it requires increased investment in economic development to foster entrepreneurship and fund business attraction efforts.

Lansing Residents Have Control Over Their Futures

The people who call Lansing home can shape their future communities through economic development. They can have a voice in the types of businesses that open in the area, from new restaurants opening on Main Street to unique industries expanding into the area. 

For example, Kansas City is a growing technology hub. Between 2021 and 2023, the tech sector grew by 16%, employing more than 77,000 professionals in the region. These companies offer competitive salaries approaching $100,000 annually. If the residents of Lansing want technology jobs in the area, they have the potential to attract and support these businesses. The community can invest in economic development and guide the local government towards the types of jobs they want to see.

Learn More About Economic Development in Lansing

Economic development teams are already working to make Lansing a great place to live. The Leavenworth County Port Authority (LCPA) supports growth efforts and regional investment. It uses its resources to attract businesses while investing in the companies already operating here. The county benefits when one city attracts new businesses or fosters a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Learn more about LCPA and how it operates. With your support and input on the future of Leavenworth County, you can shape Lansing to build a resilient, desirable community. 

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The City of Lansing is a thriving community with a high median income and significantly lower poverty rate than the rest of the United States. However, there is still room for growth. As of 2023, the employment rate in Lansing was 50.6%, lower than 63.2% for the state of Kansas. Residents also average a 21-minute commute, suggesting many drive to downtown Kansas City for work. 

Economic development can support job creation in Lansing, reducing unemployment rates and creating career opportunities closer to home. Learn more about the benefits of supporting job growth and how it helps all residents in the community.  

Job Creation Makes Lansing a Better Place to Live

Discussions about job creation often center around reducing unemployment, which is a valuable goal to pursue. However, economic development efforts can also create better jobs for Lansing residents who are already employed. These jobs are closer to home and provide opportunities for residents to take the next steps in their careers.  

Parents who don’t have to drive into Kansas City for work can spend more time with their kids and get involved in their after-school activities. They can feel less stressed about daycare hours or summer camp pickup times because they know their little ones are just down the road. 

Shorter commute times and higher salaries can make the lives of Lansing residents more enjoyable. Increased availability and spending power allow families to explore their neighborhoods. Economic development has ripple effects, and small businesses across town, from breakfast restaurants to auto service shops, benefit from residents recreating in their communities. Existing businesses can grow, and new ones can open. A few new employers in the area can benefit countless small operations for years. 

Diversifying Local Industry Builds Resiliency

A single major employer leaving or one industry struggling will not affect as many residents if the economy is packed with different companies across multiple fields. 

This is why economic development teams foster entrepreneurship and support small businesses. Between 2021 and 2022, 10,533 new businesses in Kansas opened and 8,004 closed. The net increase of 2,529 openings led to a total increase of 34,758 jobs. Small businesses accounted for more than 23,000 jobs created. 

It’s possible to bring new jobs to Leavenworth County, but it requires increased investment in economic development to foster entrepreneurship and fund business attraction efforts.

Lansing Residents Have Control Over Their Futures

The people who call Lansing home can shape their future communities through economic development. They can have a voice in the types of businesses that open in the area, from new restaurants opening on Main Street to unique industries expanding into the area. 

For example, Kansas City is a growing technology hub. Between 2021 and 2023, the tech sector grew by 16%, employing more than 77,000 professionals in the region. These companies offer competitive salaries approaching $100,000 annually. If the residents of Lansing want technology jobs in the area, they have the potential to attract and support these businesses. The community can invest in economic development and guide the local government towards the types of jobs they want to see.

Learn More About Economic Development in Lansing

The LCPA does its best to promote Leavenworth County, but could use more support. Learn more about its work and the projects it implements to bring new businesses, residents, housing, and amenities to the region. From sharing business resources to promoting available properties, the LCPA shapes Leavenworth County’s future. Citizen involvement, guidance, and funding can make LCPA even more effective, driving the region forward.