Factories Of The Future

With a history entrenched in manufacturing, Wichita’s workforce is responsible for generations of complex manufacturing systems across multiple industries. A quick view of some of the companies who are located in the Greater Wichita region provides a powerful perspective on our collective influence and global impact. Perhaps it’s time to ask Siemens Gamesa, Massey Ferguson, York, GE Aviation, Rubbermaid, Pfizer and Cessna — who all operate here, in the hard-working heart of America — why your company should be here, too.

• The Greater Wichita region ranks fourth in manufacturing jobs as a percentage of all jobs. [Lightcast]
• Wichita is the #1 U.S. city for manufacturing jobs, according to a study by Kempler Industries.
• Sedgwick County is a Foreign Trade Zone, exempting manufacturers from paying duty or federal excise tax while goods remain in the zone or are exported.

Home to the number-one skilled workforce in the United States, your business will have direct access to an abundance of dedicated, hard-working employees from a ten-county region that is home to nearly 800,000 people.

• The Greater Wichita region’s large population of highly trained talent provides businesses with immediate human resources needed for successful development and growth.
• Our robust talent pipeline is built through innovative institutions and programs, including the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT), WSU Tech, and Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus. 

Armed with the workforce to get you up and running and an established manufacturing ecosystem, our business-friendly environment includes few regulatory and fiscal obstacles. Commercial utility and lease rates are well below the national average, helping to keep the cost of doing business low.

• 7th lowest industrial natural gas total delivered cost with commercial energy rates 7.3% below national average. [U.S. Energy Information Administration] [C2ER COLI; 2022-Q1]
• One of only eight constitutional right-to-work states.
• Commercial construction cost index is 12.6% below national average. [RSMeans Data]
• Average rent for industrial space is 35% below national average. [NAI Martens]