Leawood offers a mix of amenities that create the perfect working and living environment for growing businesses. Its compact size and well maintained network of streets and boulevards offers connections to all essential parts of the community in less than 10 minutes. Leawood is a part of Johnson County, Kansas, a leading local economy and one of the premier business locations in the nation.
A Vast Highway System
Leawood is also well connected to the Kansas City metro’s extensive system of highways, giving 30 minute or less access to almost every community in the Metro area. Leawood’s location gives employers access to the entire metropolitan area labor pool. Located within 250 miles of the geographic, population and production centers of the U.S., Leawood businesses enjoy easy access to major interstate and U.S. highways. Its central time zone location ensures that there are more hours each day to conduct business on both coasts.
Record Economic Activity
In the 2011 Johnson County Community Survey, 87% of respondents rated Johnson County as either excellent or good as a place to work, which is 29% above the United States average. Since 1995, Johnson County has been the state’s largest provider of employment. In 2008 (latest available data), the Johnson County economy provided approximately 32 percent of all the full and part-time employees in the Kansas City Region and approximately 22 percent of the total in the state of Kansas.
It is noteworthy to mention the growth in Leawood’s business base. The Leawood community has around 969 business establishments who currently employ approximately 18,092 individuals.
A number of developments, including Mission Farms, One Nineteen, and Park Place, offer a pedestrian-friendly environment not often found in a suburban community, with easy access to shops, dining, offices, and a variety of residential choices. Town Center Plaza and Park Place are located in what is considered to be Leawood’s “new downtown.” The area is located near City Hall, The Leawood Pioneer Branch of the Johnson County Library, and the city’s first hotel, Aloft Leawood-Overland Park, a great destination for the business traveler.
Leawood’s growing number of residents offers the kind of high-income customer base that businesses desire. With a population that has grown to over 32,000, and an average gross annual income of $159,525, more and more businesses are choosing to locate in Leawood.
Superior Amenities
For lunch breaks and after-hours enjoyment, over 50 area restaurants offer a multitude of food choices in a variety of dining environments, certain to fit any appetite or budget. Situated on the Missouri-Kansas state line, Leawood offers a wide array of retail shopping opportunities. Local entertainment options include outdoor concerts, neighborhood bar and grills, and one of the area’s premier movieplexes. Area residents also participate in a variety of community service organizations. Leawood’s park system is second to none; offering extensive biking and hiking trails, along with recreation programs for individuals from pre-school to seniors.
Thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Leawood Chamber of Commerce, area businesses, the City, and its citizens, Leawood, Kansas continues its tradition of “growing with distinction”.
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Source: CERI 2011-Leawood Trade Area Profile, ETC Institute DirectionFinder (May 2011 - Johnson County Kansas), Johnson County Manager’s Office, thinkbigks.com
