It has been a busy few months in Southwest Johnson County with the BNSF Intermodal construction beginning and activity picking up.  If you drive out to the Intermodal site you will notice all equipment beginning to shape the site.  The completion is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2013.  Hopefully this will encourage some prospects that are close to decisions to close the deal.  At various logistics meetings I have attended in the past few months, the cost of fuel, the environment and the impact of the internet in retail sales have been widely discussed.  All of these factors and more make the intermodal model a key factor in logistics in the U.S.

Don't forget to check out the upcoming events at the end of this newsletter.

Welcome to our newest business at New Century AirCenter 

1A Auto (Project Merle) locates to New Century AirCenter:  1A Auto is a SmartPort project and they have made the decision to locate at New Century AirCenter.  1A Auto is a Massachusetts-based Internet retailer of aftermarket auto parts.  For more company information, please see their website, http://www.1aauto.com.  They will sublease 52,000 sf in the KGP warehouse at 500 Sumner Way in New Century AirCenter.  They located in this area primarily because of the proximity of the UPS hub.  

New Prospects/Projects Update:

We have seen an uptick in activity since the beginning of the year.  The number one category has been distribution, which is not surprising.  But, we are also seeing an interest in manufacturing and business services.  Several of the inquiries are for projects that are a few years out since the decision making process seems longer than it was just a few years ago.  The leads have come from a variety of sources, including the Kansas City Area Development Council, Kansas City SmartPort, the Kansas Department of Commerce, and the brokerage community.    

BNSF Intermodal: 

Work continues on the intermodal site.  The project should be completed in the 4th quarter of 2013.  Listings of land around the site continue to increase.  Skip Kalb, Strategic Development Director for BNSF, will give an update on the progress of the intermodal at the Business Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, June 29th.

KDOT meeting on Homestead interchange:  KDOT officials are considering limited access to the adjacent properties on Homestead Lane, north of the interchange.  To get additional information about the new interchange at Homestead Lane and to see the new "diverging diamond" design, go to i35swjohnsoncointerchange.ksdot.org.

City of Edgerton:  The City of Edgerton has begun the search for a City Administrator and close to begin interviews.  They are also working on the plans for sewer service to the intermodal and surrounding areas to be annexed into Edgerton.

City of Gardner:  The City has hired Springsted to coordinate the search for a new City Manager.  Melissa Mundt is the interim City Manager in Gardner with the resignation of Stewart Fairburn.

Marketing and Organizational Activity:

Branding/Marketing: The EDC Board has contracted with candid marketing to develop a branding campaign for Southwest Johnson County.  Sara and Becky from candid marketing have conducted several visioning sessions and personal interviews.  Recently, they met with the Marketing and Executive Committees with preliminary results and concepts.  They have taken input from the meeting and will come back before both committees with revisions.  It is an exciting process and we are looking forward to the launch.

Retail Industry Leader's Association (RILA):  The EDC partnered with Kansas City SmartPort to attend the RILA Conference.  This conference gives us good contacts and an idea about the direction of the retail industry.  The top two topics, both formally and informally, were fuel prices and the impact of the internet on sales.  Fuel prices, environmental issues and new work rules have impacted trucks that move goods long distances, making movement by rail the best option.

KDOT consultant visit:  I participated in a Kansas Department of Commerce consultant visit to Indianapolis.  During the meeting we met with 10 individuals representing site selectors, brokers and location advisors.

2011 Rail Conference:  I attended the 2011 Rail Conference-Moving Freight and Passengers in the 21st Century in late April.  The Conference is in Chicago and was sponsored by several government related associations including:  the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities, the American Public Transportation Association, the National Associational Association of Regional Councils and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials.  Topics included regulation, impact, and the future of rail freight.

2011 WERC (Warehouse Education Resource Council):  I will be participating in the 2011 WERC Conference with Kansas City SmartPort.    

EDC Board:  Arlen Kleinsorge has been named to fill Sam Boyajian's place on the EDC Board.  Sam felt he would be unable to continue because of the time away from his business.  Arlen is Senior Project Manager with McCownGordon Construction.

New Members:  Welcome to our new members this year!!

candid marketing & communications is a 100% women-owned branding, marketing, public relations, advertising and web development firm located in the Kansas City suburb of Lee's Summit, Missouri.  They partner with their clients to provide simple solutions tailored to meet their marketing needs.  Their office location is 229 SE Douglas Street, Suite 220, Lee's Summit, MO, 64063.  Becky Freetly-Graber, President, and Sara Freetly-Grubb, Vice President, can be reached at (816) 554-3608.   Web site:  www.justbecandid.com.

Crossland Construction is a general construction company, and since 1977 they have provided extensive construction services in the Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and surrounding regions.  Bo Harris is the Project Executive and his office is located at 460 Nicholas Road, Suite 325, Kansas City, MO, 64112. Bo can be reached at (816) 960-4553 or bo.harris@crosslandconstruction.com.  

Web site:  www.crosslandconstruction.com.

BHC RHODES is a civil engineering and surveying firm based in Overland Park with office locations in Kansas City, Kansas and Dodge City, Kansas.  They have built a reputation of being a "No  Problem" customer service firm and provide services for development, surveying, public works, utilities, construction and have recently added a new strategist service to help customers better understand the benefits or shortfalls of a new project before they begin.  They also offer 3D laser scanning, a state-of-the-art technology they have used all over Johnson County and the Kansas City metro.  For information on any of these services, you can contact Larry Winn, Customer Development Strategist, at 6363 College Blvd., Suite 500, Overland Park, Kansas, 66211 or directly at (913) 663-1900, larry.winn@ibhc.com.  Web site:  www.ibhc.com.

Chip Corcoran is the Vice President of Renaissance Infrastructure Consulting (R·I·C), an engineering, surveying, construction services, and right-of-way negotiation/acquisition services company.  His office is located at 13917 Flint St., Overland park, KS 66221.  Chip can be reached at (913) 488-1256 or ccorcoran@reninfrastructure.com.  Web site:   www.reninfrastructure.com.

Continental Title Company:  Thank you to Continental Title Company for increasing their investment in the EDC to the Silver Level.

Shafer, Kline & Warren, Inc.:  Thank you to the Shafer, Kline & Warren, Inc. for increasing their investment in the EDC to the Silver Level.

Upcoming Events:

Mark your calendar for the 31st Annual Johnson County Airport Commission Invitational Golf Tournament.  To be held Friday, June 17th at the Prairie Highlands Golf Course, 14695 S. Inverness Street, Olathe, KS.  For registrations call (913) 715-6002 or go online at www.thinksouthwestjohnsoncounty.com/events.aspx.

The 2011 Business Appreciation meeting, jointly hosted by the Gardner Area Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Corporation, will be Wednesday, June 29th at noon in the Gardner Edgerton High School-Commons Area, 425 N. Waverly, Gardner, KS.   Speaker Skip Kalb, BNSF Railway, will give an Intermodal update.  The cost is $25 per person.  For registrations call the EDC (13) 715-6002, Chamber (913) 856-6464 or go online at www.thinksouthwestjohnsoncounty.com/events.aspx.