State of Kansas

To foster prosperity for all Kansans by becoming America's top state for business, talent, and innovation by 2050.

State of Kansas SWOT Analysis

Updated: October 2, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

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This analysis for State of Kansas was created using Alignment.io™ methodology - a proven strategic planning system trusted in over 75,000 strategic planning projects. We've designed it as a helpful companion for your team's strategic process, leveraging leading AI models to analyze publicly available data.

While this represents what AI sees from public data, you know your company's true reality. That's why we recommend using Alignment.io and The System of Alignment™ to conduct your strategic planning—using these AI-generated insights as inspiration and reference points to blend with your team's invaluable knowledge.

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The State of Kansas SWOT analysis reveals a pivotal moment of opportunity clashing with persistent, systemic challenges. The state has demonstrated immense strength in securing landmark investments like Panasonic and Integra, proving its capacity to win on a national stage. This momentum provides a powerful lever to address its most profound weakness: the chronic 'brain drain' and stagnant population growth. The core strategic imperative is to translate these industrial wins into a compelling narrative that attracts and retains high-skilled talent. By leveraging its low cost of living and focusing on building tech ecosystems around these new anchor industries, Kansas can pivot from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based one. Failure to solve the talent equation will render these capital-intensive victories hollow, as a workforce shortage remains the most significant threat to realizing the full potential of this unprecedented opportunity. The path forward demands a relentless focus on people.

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No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To foster prosperity for all Kansans by becoming America's top state for business, talent, and innovation by 2050.

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Strengths

INVESTMENT: Secured $4B Panasonic EV plant, state's largest ever deal.
AEROSPACE: Spirit & Textron anchor Wichita as 'Air Capital of the World'.
LOGISTICS: Central location drives growth in warehousing and distribution.
ENERGY: #2 in US for wind power as a share of total electricity gen.
EMPLOYMENT: Consistently low unemployment rate, below 3% in late 2023.

Weaknesses

TALENT: Net out-migration of college graduates to other states persists.
WAGES: Median household income trails the national average by over 10%.
GROWTH: Flat population growth of 0.1% annually, below national avg.
PERCEPTION: Struggles to overcome 'flyover state' image to attract talent.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Deferred maintenance on rural roads, bridges, and water.

Opportunities

RESHORING: Integra's $1.8B chip plant signals onshoring opportunities.
AG-TECH: Leverage K-State research to lead in precision agriculture.
REMOTE: Attract skilled workers with 18% lower cost of living than avg.
FEDERAL: Utilize IRA and CHIPS Act funding for energy and tech projects.
BIOFUELS: Develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production industry.

Threats

COMPETITION: Neighboring states offer aggressive incentives for businesses.
DROUGHT: Prolonged drought conditions threaten agricultural output/yields.
POLITICS: Sharp political divides risk long-term economic strategy shifts.
WORKFORCE: Shortage of skilled labor for new high-tech manufacturing jobs.
INTEREST: Higher interest rates could slow down capital investment pace.

Key Priorities

TALENT: Aggressively reverse 'brain drain' with incentives and marketing.
DIVERSIFY: Convert major investments (EV, chips) into new tech clusters.
INNOVATE: Solidify Ag-Tech & Aerospace leadership with targeted R&D funds.
MODERNIZE: Use budget surplus to upgrade critical rural infrastructure.

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State of Kansas OKR

Updated: October 2, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The State of Kansas OKR plan presents a focused, disciplined, and rightly ambitious strategy. By directly converting the SWOT conclusions into clear objectives, it ensures that effort is aimed at what truly matters. The plan correctly identifies talent attraction, economic diversification, and innovation as the central pillars for future prosperity. The key results are largely outcome-oriented, moving beyond mere activity to define success in measurable terms like net in-migration and tech cluster growth. This OKR framework provides the clarity and alignment needed to rally all state agencies and partners toward a single, cohesive vision, transforming strategic analysis into tangible action and accountability.

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No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To foster prosperity for all Kansans by becoming America's top state for business, talent, and innovation by 2050.

BECOME TALENT MAGNET

Reverse brain drain and make KS a top choice for talent.

CAMPAIGN: Launch a national marketing campaign resulting in a 50% increase in qualified talent pipeline leads.
RETENTION: Increase the post-graduation retention rate of STEM majors from state universities from 45% to 60%.
IN-MIGRATION: Achieve a positive net in-migration of 10,000 residents in the 25-45 age demographic.
HOUSING: Partner with developers to break ground on 5,000 new workforce housing units in high-growth areas.

FORGE TECH CLUSTERS

Build new, high-growth industry ecosystems.

ECOSYSTEM: Establish 3 new public-private tech accelerators for EV, semiconductor, and biotech startups.
SUPPLY_CHAIN: Onboard 25 new Kansas-based suppliers into the Panasonic and Integra Technologies supply chains.
JOBS: Generate 7,500 new direct and indirect jobs within these newly targeted technology industry clusters.
INVESTMENT: Secure an additional $2B in private capital investment for next-phase expansion in these sectors.

LEAD CORE INDUSTRIES

Dominate the future of aerospace and agriculture.

R&D: Secure $100M in federal and private grants for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and precision ag R&D.
ADOPTION: Increase adoption of water-saving Ag-Tech on 1 million new acres of irrigated farmland in western KS.
AI: Launch 5 pilot programs using AI for predictive maintenance in aerospace manufacturing partner facilities.
EXPORTS: Grow international exports of Kansas-made aerospace components and agricultural technology by 15%.

MODERNIZE FOUNDATION

Build 21st-century infrastructure for all Kansans.

BROADBAND: Expand high-speed broadband access to 98% of all Kansas households, up from the current 93%.
WATER: Fund and begin construction on 10 priority projects for rural water infrastructure modernization.
GRID: Increase the share of in-state energy needs met by Kansas-generated renewables from 45% to 55%.
BRIDGES: Reduce the percentage of structurally deficient bridges on the state highway system from 6% to 3%.

METRICS

Net In-Migration of Skilled Workers: +10,000
Median Household Income Growth: 5% Annually
Gross State Product (GSP) Growth: 3.5% Annually

VALUES

Opportunity
Innovation
Community
Stewardship
Resilience

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State of Kansas Retrospective

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Claude

Gemini

GPT

Kansas Department of Commerce Annual Reports and Press Releases
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) for GSP data
U.S. Census Bureau for population and demographic data
State of Kansas Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Kansas Governor's Office official website and publications
Reputable news sources covering Kansas's economy (e.g., Wichita Business Journal)

Oklahoma Nebraska Missouri Colorado Texas

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To foster prosperity for all Kansans by becoming America's top state for business, talent, and innovation by 2050.

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What Went Well

COMMERCE: Secured record-breaking $19B+ in business investment since 2019.
BUDGET: Maintained a multi-billion dollar surplus, enabling tax cuts.
JOBS: Achieved one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Advanced the 10-year, $10B Eisenhower transportation plan.
CREDIT: Maintained strong credit ratings from Moody's and S&P Global.

Not So Well

POPULATION: Growth remains nearly flat, continuing to lag national average.
HOUSING: Lack of affordable housing is a growing barrier to talent.
WATER: Ogallala Aquifer levels continue to decline amid persistent drought.
WORKFORCE: Skilled labor shortages are impacting business expansion plans.
INCOME: Wage growth is not keeping pace with national trends.

Learnings

WINS: Mega-projects are possible but require immense political/financial will.
TALENT: Capital investment does not automatically solve talent shortages.
RURAL: Rural communities need targeted strategies to avoid being left behind.
HOUSING: Economic development must be paired with a housing strategy.
INTERDEPENDENCE: Water, agriculture, and the economy are deeply linked.

Action Items

HOUSING: Launch a public-private task force to accelerate housing dev.
TALENT: Fund new scholarship programs tied to in-state employment.
WATER: Implement new water conservation technologies and policies statewide.
MARKETING: Create a national campaign focused on attracting skilled workers.
WAGES: Analyze and promote policies that support high-wage job growth.

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Organization	SWOT Analysis	OKR Plan	Top 6	Retrospective

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State of Kansas Market

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Claude

Gemini

GPT

Kansas Department of Commerce Annual Reports and Press Releases
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) for GSP data
U.S. Census Bureau for population and demographic data
State of Kansas Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Kansas Governor's Office official website and publications
Reputable news sources covering Kansas's economy (e.g., Wichita Business Journal)

Founded: 1861 (Statehood)
Market Share: 1.15% of U.S. Population; 0.4% of U.S. GDP
Customer Base: 2.9 million residents; thousands of businesses
Category:
State Government
SIC Code: 9199 Administration of General Economic Programs
NAICS Code: 921190 Other General Government Support
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Zip Code: 66612
Congressional District: KS-2 TOPEKA
Employees: 1460000

Competitors

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Missouri Request Analysis

Colorado Request Analysis

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Products & Services

No products or services data available

Distribution Channels

State of Kansas Business Model Analysis

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Kansas Department of Commerce Annual Reports and Press Releases
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) for GSP data
U.S. Census Bureau for population and demographic data
State of Kansas Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Kansas Governor's Office official website and publications
Reputable news sources covering Kansas's economy (e.g., Wichita Business Journal)

Problem

Stagnant population & economic growth
Out-migration of young, skilled talent
Economic reliance on cyclical industries

Solution

Pro-growth business incentives & tax policy
Investments in education and quality of life
Targeted development of new tech sectors

Key Metrics

Net Migration Rate
Gross State Product (GSP) Growth
Median Household Income Growth
Private Sector Job Creation

Unique

The 'Air Capital of the World' ecosystem
Central U.S. location for logistics
Premier animal health research corridor

Advantage

Low cost of doing business and living
Established industrial infrastructure
Strong work ethic and skilled labor force

Channels

Kansas Department of Commerce
Regional Economic Development Organizations
State marketing and tourism campaigns

Customer Segments

Aerospace and advanced manufacturing firms
Agriculture and Ag-Tech companies
Logistics and distribution businesses
Skilled workers and their families

Costs

Public Education & Higher Education
Infrastructure (Transportation, Water)
Public Health and Human Services
Economic Development Incentives

State of Kansas Product Market Fit Analysis

Updated: October 2, 2025

The State of Kansas offers a unique combination of strategic advantages for businesses aiming to scale. It provides a central U.S. hub to accelerate growth, fosters world-class innovation in aerospace and ag-tech, and ensures talent can thrive with an exceptional quality of life and low costs. It's where industry-leading opportunity meets affordability and strategic location.

ACCELERATE growth with strategic business incentives and a central location.

INNOVATE in world-class aerospace, ag-tech, and energy ecosystems.

THRIVE with a low cost of living and high quality of life for your talent.

Before State

Stagnant population & economic growth
Losing young, educated talent (brain drain)
Over-reliant on traditional agriculture

After State

A vibrant, growing innovation economy
A net importer of skilled professionals
Diversified, high-tech industry leader

Negative Impacts

Shrinking tax base for public services
Lack of high-wage job opportunities
Vulnerability to climate and market shifts

Positive Outcomes

Increased state revenue and prosperity
Higher median incomes and opportunities
Resilient, future-proof economic base

Key Metrics

Net Migration Rate

-0.2% (2023)

GSP Growth Rate

1.8% (2023)

Unemployment Rate

2.8% (Dec 2023)

Median Household Income

$64,521

Requirements

Targeted investments in tech sectors
Aggressive talent attraction campaigns
Modernized infrastructure and education

Why State of Kansas

Public-private partnerships for growth
Streamlined regulations for business
Scholarships/incentives for graduates

State of Kansas Competitive Advantage

Unmatched aerospace manufacturing legacy
Central location for logistics & energy
Low cost of living vs. coastal hubs

Proof Points

Panasonic $4B EV battery plant deal
Integra Technologies $1.8B chip plant
#2 state in the U.S. for wind energy %

State of Kansas Market Positioning

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Kansas Department of Commerce Annual Reports and Press Releases
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) for GSP data
U.S. Census Bureau for population and demographic data
State of Kansas Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Kansas Governor's Office official website and publications
Reputable news sources covering Kansas's economy (e.g., Wichita Business Journal)

Strategic pillars derived from our vision-focused SWOT analysis

AEROSPACE

Dominate next-gen aviation and defense manufacturing.

AG-TECH

Lead the world in sustainable agriculture technology.

ENERGY

Become a net exporter of renewable energy solutions.

TALENT

Reverse brain drain by creating high-wage innovation jobs.

What You Do

Provides governance, infrastructure, and economic development.

Target Market

Residents, businesses, and visitors of Kansas.

Differentiation

Aviation hub, 'Air Capital of the World'
Central U.S. logistics and transport nexus
Top-tier wind energy production capacity

Revenue Streams

Income Tax
Sales Tax
Property Tax
Federal Funding

State of Kansas Operations and Technology

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Kansas Department of Commerce Annual Reports and Press Releases
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) for GSP data
U.S. Census Bureau for population and demographic data
State of Kansas Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Kansas Governor's Office official website and publications
Reputable news sources covering Kansas's economy (e.g., Wichita Business Journal)

Company Operations

Organizational Structure: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches
Supply Chain: Manages public infrastructure: roads, water, energy grid.
Tech Patents: Research driven by state universities like KU and K-State.
Website: https://www.kansas.gov

Top Clients

Board Members

State Legislature (serves similar oversight function)

State of Kansas Competitive Forces

Threat of New Entry

LOW: The 'market' of being a U.S. state is fixed. No new states can enter, but competition among existing states is the primary dynamic.

Supplier Power

MEDIUM: For the state, 'suppliers' are the federal government (funding) and taxpayers. Federal funding can be variable, and taxpayers can resist tax increases.

Buyer Power

HIGH: 'Buyers' (businesses and skilled workers) are highly mobile and can choose from 50 states, forcing Kansas to offer competitive incentives and quality of life.

Threat of Substitution

HIGH: Remote work allows companies to access talent anywhere, reducing the need for a physical presence in any specific state, including Kansas.

Competitive Rivalry

HIGH: States like Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri offer aggressive tax incentives and have larger metro areas, creating intense competition.

Analysis of AI Strategy

Updated: October 2, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The State of Kansas AI SWOT analysis highlights a compelling, domain-specific advantage. While Kansas lacks the broad AI ecosystems of tech mega-hubs, it possesses world-class, data-rich environments in agriculture and aerospace that are ripe for AI-driven transformation. The strategy must be surgical: instead of trying to compete with Silicon Valley, Kansas should aim to *own* AI for precision agriculture and next-generation aviation. This requires creating a flywheel: leverage unique data to attract top AI talent, who then build innovative solutions that reinforce the state's industrial leadership. The greatest risk is not external competition, but internal inertia. Establishing a clear statewide AI strategy that funds university research, develops targeted workforce training programs, and supports public-private partnerships is critical. By focusing AI application where its data and domain expertise are deepest, Kansas can build an defensible, globally relevant AI niche.

Oklahoma Nebraska Missouri Colorado Texas

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To foster prosperity for all Kansans by becoming America's top state for business, talent, and innovation by 2050.

Strengths

DATA: Rich, proprietary datasets in agriculture, animal health, aviation.
RESEARCH: University of Kansas & K-State have foundational AI programs.
INDUSTRY: Garmin provides a strong anchor for AI/ML talent and application.
TESTING: Vast open spaces ideal for autonomous systems (drones, ag-bots).
NEED: Clear ROI for AI in optimizing state's core economic drivers.

Weaknesses

ECOSYSTEM: Lacks the dense tech-startup and VC ecosystem of coastal hubs.
WORKFORCE: Shortage of specialized AI/ML engineers and data scientists.
COMPUTE: Limited local access to large-scale AI computing infrastructure.
AWARENESS: Low public/private sector awareness of AI's potential impact.
POLICY: No cohesive statewide strategy for AI development and adoption.

Opportunities

AGRICULTURE: AI-powered precision farming to optimize water usage and yield.
AEROSPACE: AI for predictive maintenance and generative design in aircraft.
LOGISTICS: Optimize supply chains with AI-driven routing and demand forecast.
GOVERNMENT: Use AI to improve efficiency of public services and admin tasks.
ENERGY: AI to manage wind turbine performance and grid load balancing.

Threats

AUTOMATION: AI could displace workers in traditional manufacturing/ag jobs.
COMPETITION: Other states are creating dedicated AI task forces/incentives.
BRAIN_DRAIN: Top AI talent from KS universities recruited by out-of-state firms.
SECURITY: Increased cybersecurity risks for critical infrastructure from AI.
ADOPTION_LAG: Falling behind competitor states if adoption remains slow.

Key Priorities

PRECISION: Drive AI adoption in agriculture to solve water/yield crises.
OPTIMIZE: Use AI to enhance aerospace design and manufacturing efficiency.
TALENT: Launch initiatives to train and retain a specialized AI workforce.
AUTOMATE: Implement AI in government services to increase efficiency.

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State of Kansas Financial Performance

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Kansas Department of Commerce Annual Reports and Press Releases
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) for GSP data
U.S. Census Bureau for population and demographic data
State of Kansas Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Kansas Governor's Office official website and publications
Reputable news sources covering Kansas's economy (e.g., Wichita Business Journal)

Profit: $2.9 Billion Budget Surplus (FY 2023)

Market Cap: N/A

Stock Performance

Annual Report: State of Kansas Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

Debt: $5.2 Billion (Net Tax-Supported)

ROI Impact: Economic growth, job creation, and citizen well-being metrics.

SWOT Index

Composite strategic assessment with 10-year outlook

/ 100

Legacy Modernizer

ICM Index

STRATEGIC ADVISOR ASSESSMENT

Kansas has societal-level ambition but faces significant headwinds, particularly talent migration, capping its Achievability. Recent large-scale industrial wins provide massive upside, but systemic weaknesses create substantial downside risk. The OKRs are well-formed and category-shaping. The strategy is clear but must now be executed with relentless focus to overcome structural challenges. The growth multiplier reflects a difficult but winnable battle to modernize and grow its core economic base.

SWOT Factors

Upside: 66.7 Risk: 73.3

OKR Impact

AI Leverage

Top 3 Strategic Levers

EXECUTE on talent attraction/retention to staff new factories.

BUILD robust tech ecosystems around recent industrial wins.

SOLVE the rural/urban divide in infrastructure and opportunity.

AI Disclosure

This report was created using the Alignment Method—our proprietary process for guiding AI to reveal how it interprets your business and industry. These insights are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.

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