It’s a great time to be in Overland Park, and an even better time to invest in business here.

From our northernmost borders to the south, we see a significant amount of redevelopment, greenfield projects, and new opportunities. In Downtown Overland Park, the new Clocktower Landing construction is progressing smoothly and is on schedule. I’ve enjoyed the temporary location of the Farmers’ Market at the Matt Ross Community Center parking lots and I’ve heard many of you say you like the vibe there, too. Just imagine – the market attracts 10,000 shoppers on Saturday mornings! Many of them stop for brunch, coffee, and other errands on their way in and out of downtown, creating additional economic benefits for our small businesses with each trip.

At the heart of our city, a reimagining of the College and Metcalf corridor is in progress. Since 2018, multiple studies have examined this vital area of our community. This corridor contains our highest concentration of office employers and functions as our economic center. There are approximately 37,689 jobs within a one-mile radius and about 96,914 jobs within a three-mile radius, driving an estimated $18 billion in annual output – contributing about one-quarter of Johnson County’s $69.97 billion nominal gross domestic product, based on an estimate of the area’s share of county employment.

For the past twenty-plus years, the corridor also has been home to our Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel, along with another 18 hotels offering approximately 2,800+ rooms within a one-mile radius. This means the area attracts many visitors, both leisure and corporate, who spend their dollars throughout our community, including at various nearby retail centers.

Indeed, the prosperity of the Kansas City region and the state of Kansas depends on the viability of this corridor; therefore, we must not only protect it but also continually improve it.

Recent announcements include the City of Overland Park’s purchase of an office building in the corridor to be converted into its new City Hall near the end of the decade, bringing numerous services closer to the city’s population center. Additionally, Black & Veatch has announced plans to build a new world headquarters, transforming the surrounding area into a walkable, mixed-use development with retail, housing, and inviting gathering spaces.

The economic impact of Fiserv’s selection of Overland Park for its new office cannot be overstated. The addition of 2,000 six-figure jobs at the Aspiria campus is a game-changer for our community. We’ll see this impact at our restaurants, in our schools, in our small businesses, and in our philanthropic community.

Looking to the south, Price Brothers’ Bluhawk has transformed from an idea into a major economic center. The new AdventHealth Sports Park is now the hottest location for tournaments, attracting groups that we previously lacked the space to host, and entertaining friends and family either on-site or at the many retail and restaurant amenities within the Bluhawk development. The AdventHealth South Overland Park Hospital’s services have expanded as well, offering more accessible care in the southern region.

If you’d like to know more about exciting developments in OP, get involved in our Chamber’s Economic Development Council. Contact Libbey Tucker, ltucker@opchamber.org to get connected.