What’s Built Here Matters

Kansas passed one of the most thorough frameworks for investment by data centers in the country, requiring accountability and responsible development. SB 98 protects ratepayers, sets minimum investment thresholds, and holds developers to standards written into state law. These are long-term developments, not short-term projects, and the commitments they carry are structured to reflect that. Built Here shares what that means for Kansas.

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Kansas and the Infrastructure Opportunity

Kansas has built a framework for data center development that puts accountability first. SB 98 sets clear rules — for developers, for utilities, and for communities — and serious investment is already following. The state's trades workforce is growing to meet demand, and Kansas communities are working through what responsible development looks like on the ground.

What this means for Kansas

Construction employment in the Kansas City area grew 9.3% in 2025 — the largest increase of any sector — driven significantly by data center activity (The Beacon, March 2026)

IBEW Local 124's first-year apprentice class grew from 90 in 2021 to approximately 220 in 2026, reflecting demand data center construction is creating for skilled electrical workers (The Beacon, March 2026)

Kansas SB 98 (signed April 2025) explicitly prohibits utilities from offering electric rate discounts to data centers — ensuring data centers pay full market rate for electricity and do not end up shifting costs to residential customers

Data center facilities operating under SB 98 pay property taxes, income taxes, and the full range of state and local taxes from the first day of operation, generating recurring revenue for local schools and public services over the life of the facility. Property taxes are set locally and may be reduced temporarily as part of a development agreement, though developers still make payments to local governments and schools during that period, and full property taxes apply once the agreement expires (Kansas Property Tax Abatements; Kansas Commerce IRBs)

Featured News

2026 PwC Report

Kansas Data Centers Support More Than 25,000 Jobs and $3.3 Billion in Economic Activity

In 2024, Kansas’s data center industry supported more than 25,000 jobs in the state, generated $2.1 billion in labor income and contributed $3.3 billion to Kansas’s GDP through direct, indirect and induced economic activity.

KC Tech Council

Kansas Data Center Push Ensures Jobs and Long-Term Benefits

Kansas is looking to data center development as an opportunity to grow its digital economy and attract new technology investment. Supporters of the state's efforts have pointed to the potential for new investment to strengthen regional competitiveness, support new businesses and create additional opportunities for Kansas communities.

Kansas Department of Commerce

Kansas Requires $250 Million Minimum Investment for Data Center Projects

Kansas has established a statewide program designed to attract large-scale, permanent data center investment while requiring qualifying projects to deliver economic benefits. Projects must invest at least $250 million, create and maintain at least 20 new jobs for Kansas residents.

In the News: Voices of Support

“We’re far below the U.S. per capita in those occupations, and what we see is an opportunity. I see a real importance in priority for our region to hold onto the tech talent that we have.”

– Andrew Nave, Chief Economic Development Officer, Greater Wichita Partnership (Wichita Business Journal)

“I've been working in the field for 35 years, and I've always had a temporary job. It's the best damn temporary job I've ever had.”

– Ralph Oropeza, Business Manager, Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council (The Beacon, March 2026)

“There’s no doubt this is going to increase the quality of life. It’ll add quality of life for people in De Soto, specifically, but also in the region with this type of capital investment taking place.”

– Mike Brungardt, De Soto City Administrator (Lawrence Journal-World, April 2026)

“Data centers also deliver real economic growth, particularly in areas that need it most. From construction to long-term operations, they create high-quality jobs in fields like engineering, maintenance and security. These are stable positions that support families and bring new opportunities to communities. With the right partnerships in place, data centers’ impact extends well beyond the site itself. They can drive demand for local businesses and increase tax revenue that can be reinvested into improving schools, public safety, and infrastructure.”

– Jan Kessinger, Former Kansas State Representative (Kansas Reflector, April 2026)

“Construction saw a 9.3% jobs increase last year locally, the biggest increase of any sector by far. Data centers are a major reason why. At least 50 data centers are either proposed, under construction or running in the Kansas City area. Collectively they represent tens of billions of dollars in combined investment.”

– The Beacon, Kansas City (The Beacon, March 2026)