Established in 1981, Leavenworth Area Development Corporation (LAD) is a private non-profit corporation with a full-time professional staff, with the purpose of promoting and assisting the location of new and expanding business in Leavenworth County. LAD is governed by a board of directors from the public and private sectors. Funding for operations comes primarily through financial support from the Leavenworth County Commission, the cities of Leavenworth, Lansing, Tonganoxie, Basehor, other private organizations and a number of businesses throughout the county.

There are many roles and aspects to economic development. LAD is just one of many groups engaged in economic development activities. Like private business, each group has its own "specialty" or role in economic development. Some of these organizations besides LAD include: 1) the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau; 2) the Main Street Program; 3) the Leavenworth County Port Authority; 4) the Kansas Department of Commerce; 5) the U.S. Small Business Administration; and 6) the Kansas City Area Development Council to name just a few.

Leavenworth Area Development provides the necessary "link" between the federal, state and local assistance and business desiring to locate or expand in Leavenworth County. LAD also serves as the facilitator, coordinator and many times partner in many development projects. In Leavenworth County, LAD is the only group that provides the traditional economic development activities that include the gathering, maintaining, packaging and distribution (marketing) of a wide range of current information, as well as, providing confidential and highly technical professional assistance needed by business and industry desiring to locate or expand a business in Leavenworth County. Without an organization such as LAD, businesses would not be aware and thus would be unlikely to take advantage of the federal, state or local programs.

• Leavenworth Area Development