Lawrence & Douglas County eco devo leaders create position to capitalize on Panasonic; new hire says addressing housing woes is critical

Rob Richardson knows a thing or two about speed, given that a good part of his professional career has involved overseeing new development around the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. Richardson, who for 17 years was the director of planning for Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County, has been hired by local economic development leaders to fill the new position of “Panasonic Opportunities Manager.” That title, of course, refers to the pending $4 billion, 4,000-job Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant in nearby De Soto that is expected to create both challenges and opportunities for Lawrence and Douglas County.
Source: LJWorld