There’s the General Motors auto plant and AWG warehouse, but when talk turns to economic activity these days in Wyandotte County, most attention turns to the west. And it turns to retail.

Shopping in Wyandotte? Yes indeed. Built on meatpacking and railroad industries, the blue-collar neighborhoods of Kansas City, Kan., and surrounding towns suddenly are waiving the "shoppers welcome" banner. The biggest reason is the 400-acre Tourism District. Already partially open for business beside the Kansas Speedway, the district will house some of the fastest-rising specialty names in the retail industry.

With estimated annual sales of $440 million, the Tourism District should give a massive shot in the arm to Wyandotte’s economy – a bigger contributor than even the speedway. Community leaders say the Tourism District will create 3,300 jobs and generate $26 million in sales tax revenue annually. During its first four years it will generate $10 million in property taxes, more than a third of which will go to local schools. After that, it will generate $5 million a year in property taxes, with a third still going to area schools.

Jim Thompson, executive director of Wyandotte Development Inc., calls the Tourism District "an economic engine that will bring year-round economic activity to the region." And Carol Marinovich, CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., says the Tourism District will help put "Kansas tourism back on the map."

That remains to be seen, of course. But it’s clear that Wyandotte Countians will be spending less of their money at the stores of Johnson County – and perhaps even attracting some of the Nordstrom’s crowd their way.