Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Panasonic Apex topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panasonic’s $4B Apex project delivers jobs and local infrastructure; Commerce outlines incentives and community impacts
Summary
Kansas Department of Commerce described the ongoing Panasonic battery plant (Apex) in DeSoto as a multi‑billion dollar investment that has earned Apex incentives, contributed to local infrastructure upgrades and spurred supplier commitments and housing construction; Commerce outlined the tax credits awarded and downstream community effects.
The Kansas Department of Commerce briefed the Senate Commerce Committee on Sept. 24 about large recent investments in the state, highlighting Panasonic Energy’s DeSoto “Apex” project and other major wins.
Panasonic Apex: what Commerce reported
- Investment and jobs: Panasonic’s site is a multibillion‑dollar undertaking. Commerce reported certified investment of more than $3 billion and stated figures for certified investment tax credits and other Apex benefits. Panasonic’s site was described as operationally producing lithium battery cells and shipping product; Commerce said the facility had shipped about one million cells within the first month of production.
- Incentives used: Commerce outlined Apex incentives that were awarded, including a multi‑year refundable investment tax credit certification and approvals of sales tax exemptions for construction costs; a residency (relocation) reimbursement; and payroll and training reimbursement authorities that can be claimed under program caps and rules. Some reimbursements have not yet been claimed.
- Community and fiscal effects: Commerce said Panasonic’s construction activity generated more than $229 million in public infrastructure projects (roads, utility work and site prep) in DeSoto and helped the city lower its mill levy about 30% while increasing county property valuations. Commerce estimated large downstream supply‑chain effects, including a major supplier announcement (H&T) with a six‑figure capital commitment in Kansas to make cylindrical cans for the batteries. Commerce also reported a rise in housing construction near the plant — more than 1,100 housing units under construction in DeSoto — and increased school and local government revenues tied to the project.
Other pipeline projects: Commerce said other major projects (Fiserv, Merck, Hilmar Cheese) similarly tied incentives to outcomes and in some cases used HPIP, PEAK and other programs to win investments or prevent relocations out of state.
Why it matters: Commerce stressed these large, multi‑year projects bring direct employment, supplier growth and substantial capital investment but also require coordinated local infrastructure, workforce development and long lead‑time planning for housing and utilities.
Committee action: Members asked Commerce for more detailed follow‑up reports on program claims, clawbacks and long‑term fiscal exposure for incentives, and asked how local governments and Commerce track residency and payroll impacts for the projects.
