Topeka, KS – Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson said Wednesday that the state doesn't plan to sweeten a $230 million package of incentives to lure a soccer stadium and office complex to Wyandotte County.
During a news conference at the Kansas Statehouse, Parkinson said the proposal offered two weeks ago to medical software maker Cerner Corp. and Kansas City Wizards owner OnGoal LLC was final.
"We hope that the offer can work, but if it cannot work, we will not move forward in adding any additional money to secure this opportunity," Parkinson said. "While good jobs are valuable, they are not valuable at any price."
OnGoal and Cerner are proposing a $414 million development near NASCAR's Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The project includes an office complex for 4,500 Cerner employees, an 18,500-seat stadium for the Wizards and two dozen soccer fields for amateur teams.
State officials say the venture could bring 9,000 jobs to Kansas.
The incentives include $85 million from the state in cash incentives, tax credits, training funds and sales tax exemptions. Parkinson on Wednesday said $48 million of that would be paid up front, but he didn't go into further details.