Partners

City of Lawrence

• The EDC works closely with City leadership and meets with elected officials and city staff regularly. The City’s Economic Development policy states that the City “governs the use of economic development incentives in the City, providing general policy standards and information on the use of industrial revenue bonds (IRB), property tax abatements, neighborhood revitalization areas (NRA), tax increment financing (TIF), transportation development districts (TDD), and community improvement districts (CID).”

Douglas County

• Lawrence is the seat of Douglas County, which also includes Baldwin City, Eudora, and Lecompton. Douglas County has a Rural E-Community Program and has been a large supporter of Peaslee Tech, which provides technical training for the area.

The Chamber, Lawrence, Kansas

• The Chamber’s vision is a thriving, economically progressive community and enviable quality of life for our citizens. The mission of the Chamber is to promote growth and economic prosperity by serving as the leading business advocate, cultivating leadership & facilitating connectivity. Chamber staff provides support for the EDC of Lawrence & Douglas County.

The University of Kansas

• The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of just 62 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). KU consistently earns high rankings for academics and recognition as a premier research university. KU and the EDC are currently working on developing a joint economic development plan to bring a community vision to life.

Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC)

• The Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) is a private, non-profit organization. It is are charged with representing the economic interests of the entire two-state, 18-county Greater Kansas City region of 2.5 million, which includes Lawrence and Douglas County. KCADC’s clients consistently rank the organization’s team the No. 1 Regional Economic Development Group in the nation.

Kansas Department of Commerce

• As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas.

KU Innovation Park

• KU Innovation Park is a growing community of innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization. They offer a variety of enterprise services for technology and bioscience businesses at any level, from concept to industry. It’s unique location, with abundant surrounding undeveloped land, makes the facility an ideal setting for a densely concentrated university research and business park where researchers, private industry, and entrepreneurs can collaborate, research, and create.

Peaslee Tech

• Peaslee Tech is a catalyst for economic growth providing technical training to a diverse community of learners to meet hte current and emerging needs of our communities and employers. Peaslee Tech is currently the largest provider of apprenticeships in Kansas.

KU Small Business Development Center

• KU SBDC assists with the growth of Kansas small businesses by providing free one-to-one advising services. They are a partnership program between the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Kansas Department of Commerce (KDOC), the University of Kansas School of Business and The Chamber, Lawrence.

Network Kansas

• Network Kansas is growing an entrepreneurial environment in Kansas by cultivating resources to start and grow small businesses. We are a statewide network of non-profit business-building resources that help entrepreneurs and small business owners start up and grow successful businesses.