Speaking Thursday at a WBJ Emerging Leaders panel, Wichita city manager Robert Layton said Cargill Protein was very close to leaving town.
“There was a lot of money being thrown at (Cargill) during that process from cities around the country,” Layton said. “We were in a significant competition with Plano, Texas, and they had a very lucrative package on the table.”
What made Cargill officials ultimately opt to stay in Wichita and eventually build a $70 million complex on the site of the old Wichita Eagle building downtown? Creative solutions to problems that the company had identified. “In order to fend off (Plano), we came up with a very creative solution,” Layton said. “We assisted with the construction of their parking garage. We weren’t sure that the approach would work, but the mayor, along with the City Council, said we need to try something different.
“We don’t create jobs, the private sector does. We need to tee things up so we can help address their needs.”
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)