Here’s how De Soto, Kansas, is getting ready for massive Panasonic plant’s 2025 opening

De Soto, Kansas, was selected by the company Panasonic as the site of its $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant in 2022, bringing 4,000 new jobs to the region. Now, just over one year away from the plant’s planned opening, numerous public and private infrastructure developments are well underway in preparation.

Infrastructure Developments in De Soto

As they prepare for a spring 2025 opening, the city, county, and state are working on multiple infrastructure projects to accommodate an influx of workers and residents. City Administrator Mike Brungardt told KCUR’s Up To Date that water and sewage treatment, miles of roads, and a new fire station are in the works, among other projects.

Collaboration Between Organizations

“The city is not alone in doing this. We have partners with Johnson County who are busy and hard at work, implementing the fire station project,” Brungardt said. “We’ve got state agencies, the Kansas Department of Transportation doing the road projects. And the Department of Health and Environment has been a valuable resource in implementing the water treatment and wastewater treatment projects.”

Mayor Rick Walker’s Perspective

De Soto Mayor Rick Walker emphasized the importance of these infrastructure developments in preparing the city for the arrival of the Panasonic plant. The collaboration between different organizations is crucial to ensure the smooth operation of the plant and the well-being of its workforce.