Kansas unveils mystery company getting historic perks for jobs in Johnson County
The mysterious Project Turtle is now out of its shell.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced this week that Fiserv, Inc., a Milwaukee-based payment and financial services technology company, will be moving into Overland Park’s Aspiria Campus, formerly Sprint, and bringing thousands of high-paying jobs.
The previously secret plans come as a result of a deal that the company and the state department of commerce describe as the “largest office recruitment in Kansas history.”
“Fiserv’s new strategic hub in Overland Park is a significant step forward as we continue to elevate Kansas to new heights,” Kelly said in a statement Monday. “Fiserv will create high-value career options including opportunities for military personnel transitioning to civilian life and graduates of our higher education system.”
Kansas is giving Fiserv more than $154 million in state incentives over the next 10 years to bring the project — and the jobs it promises — to Johnson County.
The state perks for the company include $20 million from Kansas’ Job Creation Fund, which is the largest allocation Kansas has ever awarded from that fund, according to a release from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Fiserv.
Fiserv expanding to Kansas
The Fortune 500 company has committed $175 million in private investment for the project and will renovate 427,000 square feet of space across two Aspiria Campus buildings, according to the release from Kelly’s office. Overland Park city documents and a press release from the city’s Chamber of Commerce said Fiserv would be investing $50 million less, or $125 million in the project. But Matt Lowry, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Commerce confirmed in an email that the $175 million investment is correct.
The company promises to bring approximately 2,000 jobs to the state with an average salary of $102,000. City documents said the average salary would be higher, at $125,000.
“Overland Park is still in negotiations related to local incentives and we cannot comment on the number being used,” Lowry said. “The $101,940 average wage figure is data provided by Fiserv used to qualify the company for state incentive programs.”
With future expansion plans, the company’s new financial tech hub is expected to contribute up to $4 billion in payroll for its future Kansas employees over the next decade, according to a release from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Fiserv.
“We are thrilled to expand our U.S. footprint, bringing our people together to drive innovation on behalf of our clients,” said Frank Bisignano, Fiserv’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Working with local and state leaders, we are committed to driving growth and prosperity for both Fiserv and Kansas while contributing to the vibrancy of the Overland Park community.”
Project Turtle
Mayor Curt Skoog and city staff worked with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development team and the Kansas Department of Commerce to attract the project to Kansas City’s largest suburb. But prior to Kelly’s announcement, details were unknown.
The proposal, dubbed as Project Turtle, kept the company’s name and details under wraps. The Overland Park Chamber of Commerce signed nondisclosure agreements and city officials couldn’t disclose details of the project, despite the developer asking for a 10-year property tax rebate on property taxes paid for its leased space.
“We are proud to welcome Fiserv to Aspiria and Overland Park. Overland Park is already a strong hub for business leadership, making Fiserv a natural fit in our community,” Skoog said in a statement following Kelly’s announcement. “The thousands of jobs Fiserv brings, along with the potential to serve neighboring businesses within our thriving community, is a significant win.”
Fiserv plans to open its doors in two phases beginning in 2026.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM.