The funding includes money from the U.S. Department of Commerce, two state legislatures and local foundations. Four projects will share the investment.

The invitation-only venue at Country Club Plaza hosted officials from Algeria, the Netherlands and Argentina. Lawrence's embrace of the Algerian team proved pivotal.

A former managing director at CBRE's Kansas City office joins Hunt Midwest to lead the commercial real estate firm’s design and development strategy.

The Miami-based developer could claim a larger federal deduction by demonstrating the site has high-rise potential before foregoing those rights through a historic preservation easement.

The Villas at Deer Cove development will offer both for-sale and for-rent townhomes near Kansas Highway 7.

The $860 million development is expected to support 500 construction jobs and 15 to 30 full-time positions once the data center is operational.