McPherson Town & County KS

A Micropolitan Powerhouse

Competing nationally when it comes to manufacturing, education excellence and innovation

McPherson, Kansas, proves that a city of 14,000 can compete on a national stage in manufacturing, education, and innovation. Recognized as one of the top ten micropolitan areas in the United States for advanced manufacturing, McPherson has cultivated a thriving local economy where businesses grow, students find opportunity, and residents enjoy a high quality of life.

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.”

This balance of industry, agriculture, and small-town life has resulted in an enviable employment rate. “Our unemployment number moves between 1.9 and 2.3 percent,” Becker says. “Basically, if you want a job, you should be employed here. If you do not have a job, it is because you do not want to work.”

Educating for industry

The transformation of McPherson College is one of the most exciting developments in the city. Mayor Brown believes the impact will be far-reaching. “The endowment just happened in the last 18 months. The first 50 million dollars built a new student commons, right as you come into town. As the college grows, it will make us truly a college town. Being a college town will give us the retail we have not been able to get just from industry.”

The connection between education and industry is a key part of McPherson’s future. “The college will offer engineering degrees tailored to our industries. Students will be able to do internships and apprenticeships, and some will stay here to work in local companies,” Mayor Brown says.

Healthcare education is also becoming a priority. “We have a new osteopathic medicine hospital in Wichita, and we are working to be part of a three-plus-four program where students go to college for three years and then complete four years of medical training,” Mayor Brown explains. “It is state-of-the-art. You can use goggles to walk inside a holographic heart. If we connect to that, we will be providing state-of-the-art medical services.”

Auto restoration excellence

McPherson College is also home to the only auto restoration program of its kind in the country, a distinction that has brought national recognition to the city. “We get thousands of applications and can only take a small percentage,” Mayor Brown says. “These students work on classic cars, and last year they took second place at Pebble Beach with a 1953 Mercedes Cabriolet that had been restored by different groups of students over 10 years.”

This achievement demonstrated that McPherson students can compete with professional restoration shops. “We tied with another entrant, but they won first place because their car was one of a kind, made for the CEO of Chrysler,” Mayor Brown explains. “Still, our students proved they can match the quality of professionals.”

The program’s prestige is further enhanced by celebrity involvement. “Jay Leno has given a ten-thousand-dollar annual scholarship for years, and he still has students work with him at his garage during the summer,” Mayor Brown says.

Investing in infrastructure and utilities

In order to stay competitive, McPherson continues to invest in infrastructure. “Three years ago, we completed the Mohawk Substation, which increased our electrical capacity,” Mayor Brown says.

Water security is also critical. “We just finished a 33-million-dollar project bringing water from 20 miles south on three wells that recharge in 48 hours,” he explains. “This increased our water reserve by about 40 percent, putting us among the best in Kansas for future water supply.”

The city also finds innovative ways to support industry. “We sell gray water from the wastewater treatment plant to the refinery, where it is purified using a massive reverse osmosis system,” Mayor Brown notes. “This supports operations that add value to local industry and create regional economic linkages.”

Growing communities

McPherson’s growth is matched by efforts to make the community a great place to live. “We just completed a new playground, repaired ponds, and renovated the community building for five million dollars,” Mayor Brown says. “We have built low-income senior housing and are using a federal grant to build 40 homes by the end of 2026.”

Becker highlights that surrounding communities have also invested in housing and childcare, helping attract new families. Public safety is a priority, with a second fire station now complete and plans to improve insurance ratings for residents and businesses.

Incentives with accountability

Tax abatements have played a significant role in McPherson’s industrial recruitment strategy. “In the last 10 years, we have dealt out over 200 million dollars in tax abatements,” Mayor Brown says. “But we did not give away money. We deferred taxes, and once abatements expire, companies pay a hefty tax. In the first couple of years after they return to the rolls, they more than make up for what was deferred.”

Becker notes that each abatement must prove its worth before approval. “Companies must show us a formula that proves the project will benefit the county in 10 years. Otherwise, we do not authorize it,” he says. “It has to be a win-win.”

Looking toward the future

Recruitment efforts are ongoing, with international connections helping McPherson attract new industry. Mayor Brown says, “We have people who just came back from Germany, Austria, and France. We are working to recruit companies, and in the last two weeks, we have had promising leads.”

Challenges remain, including balancing advanced manufacturing with agriculture, building enough housing to meet demand, and maintaining elder care facilities amid rising costs. Becker stresses the importance of infrastructure as a county priority. “We are replacing a million-dollar bridge west of town and renovating a five-story bank building to move county services there, creating a safer environment for workers and the public,” he says.

Pride in people and culture

Even with these challenges, McPherson continues to invest in recreation and culture. “We accepted a gift of a golf course 15 years ago, and it is now one of the top five public golf courses in Kansas,” Mayor Brown says. “Last year, it brought in over one million dollars in revenue for the first time. We also just installed a new irrigation system that should last 50 to 70 years.”

Cultural heritage is celebrated at the McPherson Museum, which recently opened a Native American exhibit featuring artifacts that experts have compared to those in major national museums.

Becker believes it is McPherson’s people who make all this possible. “We have citizens with great work ethics and values, and that will propel us into the future,” he says. “We are a blend of advanced manufacturing and agriculture, and our agriculture is high-tech, with satellite imaging, computer systems, and precision fertilization. This is not your grandpa’s farm.”

At A Glance

Who: McPherson, Kansas

What: A city and leading U.S. hub for advanced manufacturing, supported by low-cost utilities and a strong local economy.

Where: Located in central Kansas, roughly midway between Wichita and Salina

Website: https://www.mcpcity.com/