KANSAS CITY, Missouri
Population: 470,800
Unemployment: 5.3 percent
Projects: Google Fiber
When Google chose KC to initially get its ultrafast broadband, several city officials expressed joy but admitted they weren’t exactly sure what it would mean for the city. Four years later, it’s clear, as one official noted that KC isn’t flyover country anymore. Google attracted investments and energy, such things as Digital Sandbox KC that helped fund 55 projects and connected entrepreneurs to millions in funding.