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.
BNSF Intermodal: The work continues on the intermodal. The new opening date is September 2013.
Edgerton and Gardner work together on a sewer plan: The City of Edgerton has selected Burns and McDonnell for the wastewater design build project supporting the BNSF Intermodal. CAS Construction was selected along with Burns and McDonnell. The City of Gardner has entered into a partnership with Edgerton to address future sewer issues. This will increase the initial project size and help serve both communities into the foreseeable future.
The groundbreaking for the new interchange at Homestead was three weeks ago and Clarkson is pushing ahead to meet the September 2013 opening.
Activity:
CSCMP: I have attended several local meetings of CSCMP (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals).
KC Star Intermodal Story: The Kansas City Star published an article on the intermodal impact on February 9. The following link is to that story: http://joco913.com/news/rail-center-set-to-open-next-year-is-already-affecting-gardner-edgerton.
Southwest Johnson County EDC Quarterly Membership Meeting: The Quarterly Membership meeting for the EDC will be held Wednesday, April 11th. The location will be the New Century Fieldhouse and the program will be Southwest Johnson County. The theme, Southwest Johnson County: Opening the door to the world. Brian Bickford, President of AgriLogistics, Inc., helped get Michael Henderson, of Maersk Line, as speaker.
Intermodal Presentations: There has been increased interest in the intermodal information. Beth Linn and I hosted and toured Senator Moran's District Representative, Cindy Green. I was asked to make a presentation to the Olathe City Council and I have toured several brokers, bankers and developers.
New Kansas Secretary of Transportation named: Governor Brownback has named Mike King of Hesston, Kansas, as the new Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation. Mr. King is president of King Enterprise Group Inc., a general contracting firm located in McPherson that serves the oil/gas/industrial markets throughout Kansas and adjoining states.
Mike and his wife Peggy live in Hesston with their four children. Mike expects to take over his new duties at KDOT starting in April. He will officially be Interim Secretary until his confirmation by the Kansas Senate.
JCAC Invitational Golf Tournament Discontinued: Due to the economy, decline in participation and increasing costs, the Johnson County Airport Commission has made the decision to discontinue the Annual Invitational Golf Tournament.
City of Edgerton's new logo: The City of Edgerton has contracted with candid marketing & communications for the development of new branding initiatives.
Melissa Mundt resigns and takes a position in Iowa: Melissa Mundt, Assistant City Administrator and Director of Community Development for the City of Gardner, announced her resignation from the City at last night's Council Meeting. Mundt has accepted the position of Assistant City Manager in Ames, Iowa. Ames is Mundt's home town and she expressed her desire to return home at last night's meeting. Ames is home to Iowa State University and she is an alumna of ISU. Mundt's last day on the job in Gardner will be May 23rd. To read the entire article go to: http://www.gardneredge.com/news/2012/04/04/5692-mundt-resigns-from-city-post-city-sells-bonds-to-finance-new-school-projects-and-save-1-million.
TradeNet expands: TradeNet Publishing, Inc. has acquired Ad Dimensions, a company formerly located in Independence, Missouri, to its growing line of products. Ad Dimensions is an industry leader in cubes, sticky notes and slinky notes. The addition will bring 15 new jobs to Gardner.
candid selected for the 25 under 25® award: candid, a full-service marketing and communications firm, continues its award-winning streak with its induction into the 25 Under 25® Program Class of 2012. The award, presented by Thinking Bigger Business Media, honors innovative small businesses throughout the Greater Kansas City area that employ fewer than 25 employees. candid was selected as a winner from more than 1,000 nominations. To read the entire article, go to: http://justbecandid.com/documents/candid%20named%2025%20Under%2025%20release.pdf.
If you have news about your company, which you would like to share, please send it to me at tom@businessmoveshere.com.
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
