When Panasonic announced their plans to build a $4 billion, 300-acre lithium-ion battery plant in De Soto in 2022 Olathe was sure to indirectly benefit.
Little did we know that less than a year before the plant in De Soto becomes fully operational Olathe would be such a direct and integral part in Panasonic’s presence in the area.
“The work that’s being done for Panasonic started in Olathe and it will continue in Olathe,” Panasonic Energy Senior Manager of Government and Community Affairs Julie Sailors said. “We have our leadership offices in Olathe and they have been here since before groundbreaking, and they’ll remain here once we are fully operational in De Soto.”
Panasonic took over the vacant Kansas Bioscience Authority building, on the Innovation Campus, and have made it their home.
“I don’t know if that was part of the initial plan to have this offsite presence,” Sailors added, “but I know that leadership loves it and it’s been a great place for us to become part of the community.”
It’s not just the old KBA building, Panasonic is also occupying a large space in Cedar Creek. While that space will be eventually vacated when the plant – located on the site of the old Sunflower Ammunition Plant in DeSoto – is complete, there are more than 500 Panasonic employees currently in Olathe.
There are 200 employees at the KBA building and another 300 at Cedar Creek.
With so much going on, in addition to the construction of the millions of square feet of space in DeSoto, Panasonic was in need of space to begin the process of getting operations up and running when construction is complete.
“It was really important for us to have a space where our team could gather,” Sailors said. “From a logistics standpoint and where our people are located, a construction site is not conducive to a lot of that work.
“Having that offsite, (in Olathe) I think has been incredibly important.
Sailors can’t say enough great things about how welcoming Olathe has been to their staff. From Tall Trellis, Austin’s Bar and Grill, and Pour Coffeehouse, there are plenty of accolades to go around.
“I met with a couple of the hotel owners near K-10 and Ridgeview Road and we asked them if they would be able to offer Japanese breakfast if we have a bunch of Japanese visitors,” she said. “They said, ‘absolutely,’ and were happy to help in any way they could. That really means a lot to our Japanese visitors.”
With so many employees in Olathe come so many opportunities for partnerships within the community.
“It’s been a great experience in Olathe,” Sailors said. “A huge shoutout to the Olathe Public School for allowing us to use their parking lot at CBAC. That’s been a lifesaver. I don’t know where we’d be without that option. They’ve been awesome.”
Panasonic has also partnered with their next-door neighbor on the Innovation Campus, Kansas State University – Olathe.
“We love our neighbors and they’ve been great,” Sailors said. “(K-State Olathe CEO) Ben Wolfe and his team are just amazing. Early on, they said, ‘We want to do anything we can for you when you’re ready.
“Their team said, ‘We’re here for you. We know you’re going to be here for a while, so how can we work together on your timeline.’”
Sailors added that K-State Olathe was working to put together a four-year program that will be an add on to the apprentice programs (see below) that are currently in place at Johnson County Community College and Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Apprentice programs at JCCC and KCKCC
One of the first things that Panasonic Energy did once they arrived in Kansas was start to explore apprenticeship programs at Johnson County Community College and Kansas City Kansas Community College for their skilled machine technicians, which should produce approximately 200 apprentices a year, according to Sailors.
She said the program is big for both Panasonic and the state of Kansas.
“It’s huge for the State of Kansas and it’s huge for us,” Sailors said. “We pay for their school, we pay them to work. Honestly, these types of programs are changing the trajectory of people’s lives.
“We have students that are 18 years old and they have no idea what they are going to do. This is perfect for them.”
The skilled machine technician pay ranges between $20 and $30 an hour. They offer comprehensive benefits and resources to their employees and families, including medical, prescription drug coverage, telehealth, vision, dental, mental health, life insurance, legal plan, pet insurance, retirement savings plan and paid time off.
A partnership between the incoming plant, JCCC and KCKCC will train the EV battery plant’s future employees in the community where they’ll bring their work.
Basically, JCCC and KCKCC will train employees Panasonic has already hired in a hands-on apprenticeship program.
Check here for more information about careers with Panasonic Energy.