Kansas Industrial Development Commission Collection

The Kansas Industrial Development Commission was an agency of the State of Kansas. It was the state’s lead agency responsible for promoting economic development within Kansas. This commission was created in 1939. Originally the group was named the Kansas Industrial Development Commission.

The KIDC was the state’s lead agency tasked with attracting new businesses to Kansas and to develop and encourage state policies that were beneficial to commerce. In 1963, the group’s name was changed to the Kansas Economic Development Commission, and was charged with the oversight of the Department of Economic Development. In 1986, this department was renamed “Department of Commerce”. Then, in 1992 renamed “Department of Commerce and Housing”. In 2003 the housing function was spun off into its own state department, and again the name “Department of Commerce” was the designation. As of 2023, that name remains in use.

One of the actions taken by the original Kansas Industrial Development Commission was the creation and publication of printed materials that promoted the state and its resources to areas outside of the state. “To The Stars” magazine was one such publication. It was produced from approximately 1945 to 1951. The title was derived from the state’s motto: “Ad Astra Per Aspera”. This Latin phrase translates in English to “To The Stars Through Difficulties”. About 1951, the decision was made to redesign the magazine from its more general format into the “Kansas!” magazine, which focuses on tourism rather than industrial recruitment. The current Kansas Department of Commerce produces a wide range of printed and digital content promoting the state both nationally and internationally. At present one of the many publications produced includes a magazine titled “Kansas To The Stars” which focuses strictly on business recruitment and site selection. Currently about 17 titles are produced by the Kansas Department of Commerce.