Commerce Conversations: Garmin outlines Kansas workforce, payroll and R&D investment

During the Commerce Conversations portion of the committee meeting, Steven Durst of Federico Durst Consulting spoke for Garmin and summarized the company's Kansas operations and recent investments.

Durst said Garmin was founded in Lenexa in 1989 and that the company’s Olathe campus employs more than 5,200 people in high‑paying technical roles. He said Garmin’s Kansas payroll exceeds $600 million annually and described recent capital additions including a 750,000‑square‑foot manufacturing and distribution facility and an aviation business center. Durst also cited approximately $1 billion in R&D investment (referenced in testimony as '02/2024').

Durst credited state incentive programs for supporting some investments and said Garmin has used programs such as HPIP and PEAK for certain projects. Committee members asked about tariffs and product lines; Durst said he would follow up on tariff specifics. The committee acknowledged Garmin as a long‑standing Kansas employer and adjourned shortly after the presentation.