“People don’t realize what an investment like this, and a name like Panasonic … means.” Forms of this statement have come from scores of government, development and business officials since the announcement that Panasonic Corp. plans to build a $4 billion battery plant in De Soto. But the above quote means even more because it comes from someone who has seen firsthand what such a project can do for — and to — a region. Mike Kazmierski, CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, has watched the buildup of Tesla Gigafactory Nevada. Tesla and Panasonic share the plant for battery manufacturing. The plant will bring big changes for the region — great opportunities and tough challenges, Kazmierski said. A key to maximizing the former and handling the latter is quick, collaborative efforts. “Time is not your friend on this,” he said. “Time goes faster than you can imagine.”
Source: Kansas City Business Journal
