The document summarizes an evaluation of business assistance programs run by the Kansas Department of Commerce. A 9-person research team conducted a year-long study involving interviews, surveys, focus groups, and data analysis to determine if the programs achieved their goal of helping Kansans achieve prosperity. The evaluation found that Department of Commerce programs are indeed helping the state's businesses and economy. It also identified innovative changes to economic development policies and practices that could provide immediate and long-term benefits to Kansas.

1. UEDA 2008 Award Finalist – Public Policy Justin Marlowe, PhD, Principal Investigator Dept. of Public Administration and IPSR, KU Presented by: Genna Hurd, Research Associate IPSR, KU Evaluation of the Kansas Department of Commerce

8. Questions? Contact: Justin Marlowe, PhD, Principal Investigator Dept. of Public Administration and IPSR, KU [email_address] Genna Hurd, Research Associate, IPSR, KU [email_address] Report: http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/resrep/pdf/m279.pdf