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Dear ,
The purpose of this report is to update the Members on the activities of the EDC and the general economic development activity in the area impacting Southwest Johnson County.
Announcement:
DeLong Grain purchases an 8-acre site at Logistics Park KC: Congratulations to The Allen Group on the sale of an 8-acre site at Logistics Park KC to The Delong Grain Company, Inc. DeLong, a Wisconsin grain exporter, will ship more than 100 loads a day to Asia and will offer reloading services to importers that may choose to open facilities within the logistics park. http://export-hub.com/en/news-america/203-north-america-united-states/2153-exports.us-united-states-delong-will-build-first-export-facility-at-logistics-park-kansas-city.pdf
New Century Fieldhouse opens June 11th: Johnson County Parks and Recreation had the public grand opening for New Century Fieldhouse on June 11th. The Fieldhouse is located at 551 New Century Parkway, New Century AirCenter. It will provide a number of indoor recreational opportunities including basketball, soccer, fitness and other programmed activities.
Penny's Concrete: Penny's Concrete, Inc. has leased a site on New Century to build a facility to serve this area. The lease has been approved by the County Commission and final plans are being drawn.
1A Auto (Project Merle) locates to New Century: 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 web site, 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.
Activity:
BNSF Intermodal: Judge rules in favor of BNSF and EPA. A federal judge ruled that arguments by an environmental group weren't enough to halt an intermodal project in Southwest Johnson County.
District Court Judge Carlos Murguia entered an order that extinguishes a legal challenge by Hillsdale Environmental Loss Prevention, Inc., claiming that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers improperly awarded a permit for the project.
BNSF is building a $250 million intermodal facility that's expected to open in late 2013.
The Hillsdale group argued that the corps performed an insufficient environmental analysis about how the project would affect the area.
Murguia found, among other things, that BNSF and the Corps had evaluated enough alternatives and required enough environmental mitigation projects in the permit that the plaintiff's claims fell short of the legal standard to overturn the Corps' permit.
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/07/01/judge-says-bnsf-railway-intermodal-can.html.
Governor announces the Homestead Interchange as a 2012 project: Governor Sam Brownback and Transportation Secretary Deb Miller announced the transportation projects for Northeast Kansas at a news conference at the Kansas Speedway on June 3rd. Included in the list was the new Interchange at Homestead/199th. The $26 million project will have an economic impact of $626 million. The project will be let in 2012. A list of all projects can be found at http://ksdot.org/t-works.
City of Edgerton hires a City Administrator: Elizabeth "Beth" Linn has been named the new Edgerton City Administrator. Beth previously worked for the City of Raytown as their Community Development Director and prior to that worked at the City of Merriam. She has a bachelors degree from Kansas State University and a masters in public administration from the University of Kansas. She began as City Administrator for the City of Edgerton on July 5th.
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.
The 2011 Business Appreciation meeting, jointly hosted by the Gardner Area Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Corporation, was held on Wednesday, June 29th at the Gardner Edgerton High School. Twenty-one new businesses were recognized.
New Members:
MKEC Engineering Consultants, Inc. is a full-service engineering and land planning firm that offers a broad range of consulting services. They provide feasibility and design services to both private and public sectors. Their customers include industry, developers, city, county, state and federal, architects, other engineering firms, institutions and individuals.
Aaron Hale is the Civil Engineer/Partner and his office can be located at 11827 W. 12th Street, Suite 200, Overland Park, KS 66210. Aaron can be reached at (913) 317-9390 or ahale@mkec.com. Website: www.mkec.com
Thank you to MKEC Engineering Consultants, Inc. for their Gold level investment in the EDC.
Penny's Concrete, Inc. is a privately owned fourth-generation corporation which has been in the construction materials business since 1927. Customer service and quality products are the focus of their organization. From ready mix concrete to sand dredging and transportation, they can handle your needs. They have a ready mix fleet of over 150 trucks and are centrally dispatched.
Kelly Rauckman is the Marketing Manager and his office can be located at 23400 W. 82nd Street, Shawnee, KS 66227. Kelly can be reached at (913) 441-8781 or krauckman@pennysconcrete.com. Website: www.pennysconcrete.com.
Thank you to Penny's Concrete, Inc. for their Gold level investment in the EDC.
Mark Your Calendar:
The next Southwest Johnson County EDC Board and Quarterly Membership meeting will be at noon on Wednesday, September 14th, to be held at the Ball Conference Center, 21350 West 153rd Street, Olathe, KS 66061. We are working on a special guest speaker. Buffet menu cost is $25 per person.
Tom Riederer, CEcD
President
Southwest Johnson County Economic Development
P.O. Box 456
Gardner, KS 66060
913.715.6007
913.715.6008 fax
913.220.3105 cell
tom@businessmoveshere.com
www.businessmoveshere.com
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