Although most people are familiar with the agricultural background of Clay County, many may not connect that history with modern economic development.
Clay County recently took a significant step to gain some of those benefits by officially joining the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor through the Kansas City Area Development Council. The corridor stretches from Columbia, Missouri to Manhattan, Kansas, with a spur to St. Joseph and is home to hundreds of related businesses that employ thousands of skilled residents in everything from pet food to medications for livestock.
The results of Clay County’s move have been rapid. Clay County is now the North American Headquarters for Felixvet, an international pharmaceutical company. With Clay County’s logistics and amenities, it’s likely this will not be the last positive development.
Huge Potential
The development of the animal health corridor is so multilayered, it can be difficult to grasp. Consider this: the Kansas/Missouri Corridor is currently home to more than 300 animal health companies – the largest concentration in the world.
This brings benefits for animal health companies here as well. Specialized education and training has followed this concentration, providing a foundation of unique assets that continue to grow, making the corridor even more attractive for future businesses. Networking and collaboration, advocacy and incentives are other pluses in the animal health-conscious region.
Located in Briarcliff, Felixvet is a good example. An upcoming manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals in the animal industry, the company decided to establish its presence in the Kansas City region due to those advantages of the area’s animal health corridor. The new office will serve as the center to support commercial and regulatory operations throughout the United States and Canada. Felixvet is based in Ireland.
