Mayor Tom Brown says McPherson’s success has been built on a unique competitive edge that has stood the test of time. “McPherson is a town of about 14,000, and we have been in the top 10 for micropolitan advanced manufacturing cities put out by Forbes for quite a few years. A couple of years ago, we were number five in the nation. Advanced manufacturing is our niche, and our competitive advantage is our electrical rate. We have the lowest electrical rate in Kansas, and we are competitive with hydropower in Oregon, Washington, and the Tennessee Valley.” Mayor Brown adds that this is not a recent development but a carefully maintained strength. “We have held that competitive advantage for about 65 years, which is why we have the industry we do. Every one of them, for the most part, uses a great deal of electricity, and that is why they are here.” A strong educational system and a vibrant community spirit support McPherson’s economic strategy. “The extracurricular activities are good, and we have won 54 state championships,” Mayor Brown says. “We have McPherson College, which is growing from 750 to 3,500 students and has an endowment of over $1.596 billion. We also have Central Christian College of Kansas with about 400 students and a satellite campus for Hutchinson Community College.” FEEDING THE ECONOMY Agriculture plays an equally important role in the county’s economy. “I myself am a farmer,” says Keith Becker, McPherson County Commissioner.“We are a big ag county. We produce corn, milo, wheat, and soybeans, and we also have a significant oil production that has been here for 70 or 80 years. We have a refinery just outside of town, a CHS refinery, which provides a good share of our employment.” Becker notes that low-cost utilities are essential for both industry and agriculture. “Our electricity rates are probably the cheapest in the nation right now,” he says. “We also have a good water supply, which for farmers is critical. There is a lot of irrigation that goes south and west of McPherson, and we pride ourselves on our small cities that stay vibrant by attracting industry. Excellent schools, low-cost housing, and retirement facilities all keep people here.” 77 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 10 MCPHERSON, KS
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