K-State develops tool to help community, business leaders understand ‘All Things Kansas’
Free online tool draws from 30,000 layers of data and 120 sources
At a glance: Members of a Kansas State University team that has built a one-stop source for data related to Kansas communities say the free, interactive tool will help to boost economic development across the state.
More information:
Jessica Gnad, jgnad@k-state.edu
Jennifer Tidball, jtidball@k-state.edu
Related: K-State First Friday e-call | All Things Kansas
June 10, 2025
By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Members of a Kansas State University team that has built a one-stop source for data related to Kansas communities say the free, interactive tool will help to boost economic development across the state.
The online tool, called All Things Kansas, pulls from more than 30,000 layers of data and 120 state and federal sources to answer questions related to child care, workforce, health care, broadband access, housing and many more topics that involve community and economic development.
“One thing we know is that informed communities make stronger decisions, and that is the reason why we created All Things Kansas,” said Jessica Gnad, K-State director of economic development. “We want to give local leaders across all 105 counties in Kansas access to clear, actionable data that supports real economic development.”
Gnad and her team members were featured during the June 6 First Friday e-Call, a monthly online series hosted by K-State Research and Extension that helps to nurture small businesses and inspire entrepreneurship in Kansas. The online discussions, which routinely host dozens of Kansas citizens from the public and private sectors, are available free each month.
Team members said All Things Kansas allows users to easily compare data across 105 Kansas counties, to better understand local strengths, challenges and opportunities. The data can be used for grant applications, strategic planning, business development and more.
“We consider All Things Kansas a one-stop shop for Kansas data,” said Jennifer Tidball, K-State communications director for economic development. “We hope that people in Kansas – business leaders, community leaders, extension agents and many more – will use this as a way to access multiple sources of data in one place.”
The information is open to anyone interested in topics that concern their community, business, lifestyles and more. “The site allows you to search for topics that interest you,” Tidball said.
Having reliable access to information, she added, “is really helpful for grant applications, and it can be a good research tool when trying to understand your community, or how it compares to other communities.”
Tidball and Greg Erickson, K-State data analyst, gave several demonstrations of building maps, each taking less than a minute to pull volumes of data into condensed, easy-to-read visuals. Maps and reports can be personalized by geographic region.
“We’re also hoping this can help with understanding market demand, or defining business opportunities across the state,” Tidball said. “If you’re a business leader wanting to relocate your business or open another location, you can use this tool to understand workforce strength, industry gaps, analyze trends and other things like that.”
Erickson said the team has developed a gallery of pre-made maps to view statewide data on such topics as broadband access, net migration of young adults, business churn, housing costs, employment and health insurance, and many more.
Currently, there are nearly 50 pre-made maps on topics relating to Kansas communities. The site also allows users to build their own custom maps on topics and geographic regions of their choice.
There is no cost to access the data online, and a subscription is not required. The site is maintained by Kansas State University, with support from the Center for Applied Research and Engagements Systems (CARES) at the University of Missouri.
For more information about All Things Kansas or to schedule a group demonstration, contact Gnad at jgnad@k-state.edu or Tidball at jtidball@k-state.edu.
The full June 6 talk and other First Friday presentations are available online from K-State Research and Extension.
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K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.