KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Applause and acclaim came to Kansas City, Kansas in March of 2011, when Google chose it as the first recipient of a new high-speed fiber network.
"The wonderful diversity of our community, neighborhoods, and industry make Kansas City, Kansas a microcosm for the rest of the country," Mayor Joe Reardon of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK said at the time.
Now, Reardon is President of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. As KC goes all in on Amazon, we wanted to know what worked for Google Fiber.
"A lot of people thought it was like somebody opened up the golden ticket, and it really wasn't quite like that," Reardon said of efforts to attract Google.
Reardon said building a relationship with the company was critical, as was showing the ability of governments in the region to work together.
"Our local governments know how to deliver. We know how to get things done. That can't be said of government at every level," Reardon said.
When it came to marketing, KCK decided to lay low, but Reardon believes Mayor James' newly-launched campaign is the right move for Amazon.
"I think the approach they're taking right now is just the right balance," he added.
Perhaps most attractive of all to Amazon, according to Reardon, is the fact the region was able to attract Google and work to execute its plan.
Bids for Amazon are due next Thursday, October 19.
