As a European living in the United States, one of the things that have often struck me about this country is its decentralized nature. No city has a monopoly on American commercial, cultural or political life. The United States is a mosaic of many great cities.</p><p>Kansas City is one of these great American cities. When I first moved here in 2007, I was impressed by the vibrant business community, cultural life and sheer energy of the city. </p><p>These features were some of the reasons why my company, Grundfos, chose to locate our North American headquarters in the area. The Kansas City workforce has exceeded our expectations. In fact, we added more than 60 employees in our facilities this year. </p><p>As the world&#x92;s leading manufacturer of pumps, we have to invest across the globe to stay competitive. But as a privately held company, we take the long view and stay committed to the communities where we invest. We would rather help local communities and companies stay competitive than close shop and move on to the next low-cost location. </p><p>As a case in point, take Peerless Pump, an Indianapolis-based company acquired by Grundfos in 2007. Before the acquisition, Peerless was exporting a minor part of its products. Today, the number has multiplied significantly due to the global reach and research capabilities of Grundfos. </p><p>Unfortunately, the Peerless story has not been the typical story of American manufacturing and the Midwest economy in the last few decades. The dominant narrative has been about manufacturing plants closing in a region many outsiders call &#x93;fly-over country.&#x94; </p><p>This narrative poses a major challenge for Midwestern cities such as Kansas City. Many Europeans or Asians would not be able to place our city on a map. When foreign observers think of growth and innovation in America, they think of Silicon Valley and New York City. </p><p>The numbers tell a different story, however. With population growth of 10.85 percent during the past decade, the Kansas City metro area grew more than the national average of 9.7 percent and much more than mega-cities such as New York (3.13 percent), Los Angeles (3.75 percent) and Chicago (3.99 percent). </p><p>Kansas City is a great place to live and invest. The cost of living is low, the education system is excellent and there are plenty of recreational opportunities. </p><p>Yet the Kansas City success story is not well known outside the United States, maybe not even outside the Midwest. To fully harness the power of globalization, we must change the pessimistic narrative and build a truly global brand. We must change the global perception of Kansas City from &#x93;fly-over country&#x94; to a fly-to destination.</p><p>Kansas City has the potential to become a global gateway to the Midwest on par with a city like Chicago. As a representative of a manufacturing company, I see great potential for a renaissance in the Midwestern manufacturing sector. For years, globalization has been seen as a threat to American manufacturing, but American products will become ever more competitive as living standards continue to rise in emerging economies, creating vast new markets for our products. </p><p>As a major transportation hub right in the middle of the United States, Kansas City could become the leading city in this emerging manufacturing comeback. What better way to claim our rightful place in the mosaic of great American cities?