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Welcome to Topeka
Live Here. Build Here. Grow Here.
Topeka & Shawnee County is known in Kansas and the greater region for being a leader at creating opportunities that result in economic success for all.
About
About Topeka
Our city benefits from a highly educated and hardworking pool of individuals. With top ranked universities including Topeka’s own Washburn University, as well as nearby University of Kansas and Kansas State University. Topeka grows our own future leaders and boasts a strong and skilled workforce for top tier companies.
35% increase in household income since 2010
25% increase in diversity since 2010
17th most affordable housing market in the US
Target Industries
Check out our Target Sector and Assets
Topeka is an innovative community with a startup spirit and business friendly for corporate partners. If you are looking for a city to build a business, Topeka is the place for you.
Food Processing
Cost of doing business is 8% lower than the national averageInternational Peers: Mars Wrigley, Frito-Lay, Reser’s Fine Foods, Bimbo Bakeries
Logistics & Distribution
Reach 90% of the US market in 2 daysConnectivity to five major highways with access to I70 and I335
International Peers: Walmart, Target, Home Depot, US Foods, Goodyear, PTMW
Advance System Technology
Customized curriculum and training available with Washburn University of TechnologyWashburn University of Technology has 94% job placement of graduates
Animal Health & Ag Tech
Heart of the animal health corridor67% of the diagnostics and pet food sold in US come from this region
40% of the animal research in the world in the corridor
Aerospace
12,800 foot runway at Topeka Regional AirportLong term leases with 100% property tax abatement forever
Sites available with all utilities in place
Professional & Finance
Home to 3 of the top 10 financial service IMO companiesInternational Peers: Security Benefit, Advisors Excel, Federal Home Loan Bank
Lifestyle
Quality of Life
In Topeka you can find a lifestyle that suits you. Elegant neighborhoods, unique shopping, greenspaces and more.You can find all you need to make your ideal life.
Topeka & Shawnee County has been touted as a great place for people in all walks of life, whether you’re beginning your career, starting a family or enjoying your golden years.
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Live Here.
As a mid-sized city, our residences can enjoy big-city amenities while also being able to take advantage of the easy accessibility and quaint comforts of a smaller city. -
Grow Here.
In addition to a cost of living that’s 8% to 10% below average, you’ll find quality neighborhood schools, housing of all types and price ranges, leading medical centers that serve all of northeast Kansas, historic, educational and fun attractions, sidewalks in most neighborhoods, easy access to parks and trails throughout Shawnee County, civic organizations for every interest and myriad arts and culture activities.
Incentives & Guidelines
Topeka Incentives
Discover incentives that can help you find success at any stage of your emerging business. Whether you’re a startup with boundless new ideas, an established small business trying your best to put great ideas into motion or a large corporation, there are resources available to help you grow.-
First Opportunity FundThe First Opportunity Fund is designed specifically for business owners who want to grow, but who do not qualify for loans at conventional financial institutions. The purpose is to grow the community by helping local businesses create jobs and increase production.
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Downtown GrantThe Downtown Topeka Redevelopment Incentive Grant Program is a financial incentive that is designed to encourage residential and commercial improvements of buildings for future use in the Capital City Business Improvement District.
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Business Developent ResourcesTopeka has the flexibility to structure incentives in a manner that assists the company and community at the same time. Most of our incentives are performance based and paid as the company meets the committed benchmarks like number of jobs, salaries and capital investment.
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The Topeka / Shawnee County Small Business IncentiveThe Small Business Incentives Program offers grant incentives to help small business owners and startups invest in their companies in ways that will support their growth, financial performance, business sustainability and ability to enter new markets. Incentives require preapproval and applications are reviewed four times a year.
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Choose Topeka Talent IncentiveChoose Topeka as your new home and you could get up to $15,000 in your pocket. This exciting new incentive partners with Shawnee County employers to select talented professionals to relocate to Topeka and the Shawnee County community.
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Team
Staff/Contact Info/Location Map
Topeka creates county-wide economic success for all companies and citizens through implementation of an aggressive economic development strategy that capitalizes on the unique strengths of the community.
Molly Howey, CEcD
President of Economic DevelopmentOur Address
719 S Kansas Ave #100, Topeka, KS 66603
Ashley Lehman
Director of Business DevelopmentTestimonials
Neal Spencer
President & CEO of Ernest-Spencer Metals Inc.
The development incentives provided by JEDO are a tremendous sign of the pro-business mindset Topeka and Shawnee County are deploying. The partnership and excitement that these incentives create are precisely the catalyst that our company looks for in a growth partner. Ernest-Spencer’s south Topeka location will prove strategic to the long-term success of the company, and our team is excited to collaborate with the city of Topeka, as we work to achieve our mutual goals of providing quality jobs and economic prosperity. Ernest-Spencer began in Topeka in 1922. We look to honor that long history by growing with Topeka well into the future.
Jon Haas
President at HME, Inc.
Our constant investment in innovative technologies and ongoing efforts to attract and retain the best talent are vital to our success The continued growth of HME is possible because of incentives like this. Thank you to JEDO and the Greater Topeka Partnership for their ongoing support of the manufacturing industry.
John Lueger
GIS/contract specialist for Heinen Brothers Agra Services
We appreciate JEDO’s support and investment, as we are confident it is going to help us advance our operations. Our goal with this investment is to drive business and air-traffic growth at Topeka’s Billard Airport. We feel we can accomplish this through service, superior aircraft maintenance, and fueling options for both permanent and transient aircrafts. We’re excited to see what the future holds.