Author: Lily Wu, KWCH Anchor/Reporter
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - There are organizations trying to attract and retain talent in the technology sector in Kansas.
“When companies are looking for some place to go, look here. We hope to be the driving force behind that,” said Ashley Scheideman, executive director for FlagshipKansas.Tech.
The organization’s mission is to raise awareness, grow the workforce, and support educational programs in the tech sector in the state.
“The work-life balance is great here. And, we think that we can help develop that kind of workforce pipeline that is necessary for the technology sector,” said Scheideman.
According to Scheideman, there are 1,193 tech sector companies in the state, and 36,981 employees at tech primary companies in Kansas. The average tech salary in the state is $69,586 per year or $33.45 per hour.
According to Best Places, it is cheaper to live in Kansas. The cost of living in Kansas is roughly 16.9-percent lower than the U.S. average.
“Also show that other companies can find value-driven, hard working, Midwestern-valued folks here within the state,” said Scheideman.
FlagshipKansas.Tech is housed out of Groover Labs, a co-working and makerspace by Second and St Francis in downtown Wichita. “One space that can bring together all the pieces that you might find in a place like Boston or San Francisco,” said Curt Gridley, co-founder of Groover Labs. “The intent is to be a home of a lot of tech and entrepreneurship activities that are going on in Wichita.”
Groover Labs opened its doors in January 2020.
“Improving the tech sector in Wichita is a long term play. It’s not a six-month endeavor. It’s not a one-year endeavor. It’s a multi-year endeavor because it’s going to take everybody working together. And, we’re just a piece of the pie.