Leavenworth County Residents Benefit From Economic Development
Leavenworth County is the sixth-most populous county in Kansas and one of the fastest-growing. Since 2020, its population has grown by 3.35% as more people expand beyond Kansas City and choose a calmer way of life. This growth is changing the shape of Leavenworth County. New amenities and job opportunities have increasingly become available each year.
However, growth needs to be intentional. Residents of Leavenworth County want to protect the factors that attracted them to the region, while ensuring business expansion and construction make sense.
Strategic economic development fills that role. When residents have a voice in growth, and teams actively work to build up the region, Leavenworth County can enjoy a brighter future. Here’s how economic development makes Leavenworth County a place people want to live.
Economic Development Brings Targeted Industries to the County
Economic development teams actively seek businesses moving or expanding from their current locations. Companies like Hill’s Pet Nutrition and DSM-Firmenich in Tonganoxie and CII Foods and Zephyr Products in Leavenworth are great examples. The cities and the Leavenworth County Port Authority (LCPA) contributed funds to the Leavenworth County Development Corporation (LCDC) to market the community as a top location for these manufacturers, which eventually brought more than 500 jobs to the community.
Not every industry is a good fit for Leavenworth County. Economic development teams ensure they attract businesses that need skilled workers in specific fields. This allows regions to create hubs that attract multiple organizations with similar production needs.
The residents of Leavenworth County can invest in economic development to shape their futures. They may want the LCPA to attract manufacturing firms, which are already responsible for 11.5% of Kansas jobs. Alternatively, they may wish Leavenworth County to be a technology center, bringing in more companies to build on the 77,000 tech workers already here.
The Efforts of the LCPA Continue to Pay Off
Small businesses are just as valuable to a community as the expansion of large enterprises. In addition to attracting major companies, the LCPA is responsible for developing two business parks that support small- to medium-sized businesses in the region: the Gary Carlson Business Center in Leavenworth and the Urban Hess Business Center in Tonganoxie.
These two parks house more than 20 businesses that support 684 jobs in the community. The parks also generated $719,125.48 in property taxes for 2025. Every resident in the county benefits from these business parks because of their tax value. Every resident benefits from the LCPA’s economic development investments.
Economic Development Keeps Leavenworth County Competitive
People who live in Leavenworth County often highlight its proximity to nature, rural living options, and the strong sense of community across various neighborhoods. Economic development initiatives protect these aspects of the county while ensuring this region remains desirable to businesses and residents.
Economic development ensures that when one business closes, another one is ready to open in its place. It invites entrepreneurs to launch their companies and provide new services to residents. Communities across Leavenworth County can improve as they grow because they continue to attract interest and excitement.
Plenty of communities across the Kansas City Metro Area are investing in economic development, and countless other towns and municipalities across the Midwest work tirelessly to make themselves attractive. Leavenworth County can let these towns pass them by, or it can speak up. Together, the communities within are already a great place to live and work. Someone just needs to step in and advocate for the community. Economic development funding can give local teams the resources they need to put the region on the map and foster growth for decades to come.
Learn More About Economic Development in the Region
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.