Kansas officials want legislature's help in wooing massive, $4 billion secret factory

TOPEKA -- Kansas is pushing lawmakers to fast-track legislation creating the state’s largest business incentive program ever as officials say a $4 billion factory could be on the line.

Details about that project, however, are scarce.

According to the Kansas Department of Commerce, the state is a finalist in what development officials call a mega project. It is anticipated to produce 4,000 jobs paying about $50,000 per year as well as temporary construction employment for 6,000.

But state officials said they can’t give lawmakers or the public details because they signed non-disclosure agreements with the mystery company. The lack of transparency, paired with Kansas’ history of failed and secretive incentive programs, has left some lawmakers skeptical.

Experts say the numbers point to a new electric vehicle, battery or microchip plant. Those industries are all expanding domestic footprints and their factories cost in the billions, said Ron Starner, a writer and editor at Site Selection magazine, which tracks the expansion and relocation of U.S. companies.

Read more at: https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article257556258.html