There is always a danger in assessing community needs of becoming overly negative. If one thing is obvious from an examination of other communities’ progress, it’s that success frequently occurs by building on past success, not creating something from scratch. And make no mistake; metropolitan Kansas City does have successes. Several.

A jaded media and a community that sometimes exhibits an inferiority complex often overlook some of this area’s real strength. But in critical and strategic areas, the Kansas City region is nationally ranked, even world class. It’s just that the local advantages sometimes “talk” in a quiet voice, rather than shout.

Livability, affordability and centrality are not traits that roll off the tongue, although efforts such as the “Livable City” campaign have tried. Nevertheless, this area’s enviable quality of life, its significantly lower costs and its location in the virtual center of the nation are huge advantages to both residents and businesses. Economically, however, only centrality has been well exploited, and many would argue that even this lead has not seen the kind of multifaceted, regional attention it deserves.

Quality of life is probably the most difficult to communicate, even define. In economic development competition between cities, it is also frequently defined in a way that places Kansas City at a disadvantage. The East and West Coasts often benefit from the perception that beaches, mountains and entertainment Meccas are the only yardsticks.

Crime, or its relative absence, is a good example. The Alliance for Youth in 2005 named greater Kansas City the winner of a first-ever national competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People. While this kind of recognition might be ignored in many quarters, it’s not something overlooked by parents, including the employees of almost any company that would locate or expand here.

Even at its safest, Kansas City is not boring. Just attend a Chief’s game or First Friday in the Crossroads. But this region does need to better sell its significant yet understated advantages. In simple terms, hurricane-prone coasts and blizzard-filled mountains may be exciting to visit, but if you’re raising a family or running a business, things like low costs and low crime are probably more important. Though little discussed outside of business circles, major corporate residents report no problems attracting talented employees to Kansas City. Upcoming entertainment districts and new sports venues will enhance that reality even more.

Aspects of this issue need further attention, however. Kansas City area arts funding is not always equal to that of other leading American cities. The metro region’s state-line division and other centrifugal factors are often cited as reasons, although several major cities have overcome similar hurdles. A major difference is that Kansas City has yet to successfully establish anything like Cincinnati’s Fine Arts Fund to provide a reliable and substantial funding base for museums, galleries and performing arts.

 

 

Better Salesmanship?

Even with the documented advantages involving cost of living, Kansas City advantages could be better communicated with something like the ubiquitous billboard, “If you lived here, you’d be home now.” There’s little exaggeration that this region could honestly employ yard signs in San Diego or San Francisco: “If you lived in Kansas City, you could afford this house!” Or for East Coast corporate leaders: “Build in Kansas City and you will also have funds to staff that expansion!”

While simplistic, these comparisons are accurate and represent fundamental advantages for residents and businesses here. Increasingly, human resource specialists and business owners know that if they want to attract and retain the best employees without having to pay exorbitantly high salaries, they must be located in places that offer affordable housing and other living expenses, as well as good schools, and low crime. That combination is an accurate description of the Kansas City region.

In raw numbers, Kansas recently ranked 33rd and Missouri ranked 36th out of 50 states in the Milken Institute’s annual cost of doing business survey (with number one being the most expensive). The survey ranked states based on a comprehensive index of wage costs, taxes, electricity costs, industrial rent and office rent.