Insco Coating Division is leasing two buildings occupying over 22,000-sf of industrial hangar space and close to 5,000-sf of office space.  The site at Richards-Gebaur Commerce Park in Kansas City, MO will be the home for more than 30 newly created jobs through the new coating division.  When Insco Industries Coating Division was studying the market for their new offices they considered and selected Richards-Gebaur Commerce Park primarily for direct access to I-49, proximity to Interstates 29, 35, 70, 435, and 635, and to their customer base.

The Port of Kansas City - Woodswether terminal has received close to $1 million in grant funding in 2013. Endeavors to jumpstart commerce on the Missouri River and bring additional transportation jobs to Kansas City and the region are at the forefront of economic development at the Port Authority. Start up plans call for a robust capital investment plan for infrastructure and equipment. The funding from federal, state and local governments and the private sector is key to the success of this project. Without this "seed money" the Port Authority would not be able to subsidize the terminal requirements for this economic engine. The money has gone toward the purchase of a crane, building demolition, a railroad engineering study and administrative expenses. Funding will also be used to repair the conveyor system and make rail improvements.

The Port Authority, working with our partners at the City of Kansas City, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Missouri Department of Transportation, have been changing the development environment on the front door Kansas City's greater downtown environs over many years.  The events and successes of the past five years have been significant including:  1)  Letter of no further action from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources allowing developers more certainty on environmental issues; 2)  Inclusion of Berkley Riverfront Development into the Columbus Park Urban Renewal Plan that allows for a base of 10 years tax abatement; 3)  Installing the backbones of a quality infrastructure system in front of development demands; 4) Completion of Single Point Urban Interchange connecting the development more efficiently to the astounding 110,000 vehicles passing through that interchange daily; and 5)  Completing a 1 mile extension of Grand Avenue connecting the development sites to the new Interchange using high quality and efficient LED lighting and native landscaping to Boulevard standards. 

The Port Authority Board of Commissioners has approved several relationships and processes in the past year to promote the development land around Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park.  Specifically, the Port Authority Development staff and vendors are simultaneously testing the marketability, financial feasibility, engineering, environmental, urban design, and public impact of Riverfront development.  In the next few months expect to hear about public meetings and announcements concerning these efforts by staff, consultants, Board, and partners in the next few months. 

PM Contracting's main focus was pipe fitting for its first few years in business but made the decision to branch out in 2008 and acquire a sheet metal company.  PM Contracting expanded again in 2010 to include a full 24/7 service department. PM Contracting self-performs pipe fitting and sheet metal projects, maintains HVAC systems with preventive maintenance or emergency service, a special interest in design-build projects.  Being aligned with key suppliers and subcontractors has helped PM Contracting develop an excellent reputation in the greater Kansas City area.    PM Contracting ranked 16th in the Corporate Report in Kansas City's Ingram's Magazine in 2009, 37th  

in 2010 and 51^st in 2011.   

The company has 40 full time and temporary employees with a projected growth of an additional 15 employees in the next two years.  

PM Contracting is headquartered at Richards-Gebaur Commerce Park. The company has been part of Richards-Gebaur Commerce Park since 2006, when it first started leasing 22,187-sf of industrial space and later on expanding to an additional 4,000-sf of office space.  This site provides the ideal combination of large open spaces for fabrication and storage while providing easy access to six major interstates including Interstate 49.

The Port Authority has several buildings available for lease at the Richards Gebaur Commerce Park, which are great cost-effective office, flex, medical warehouse and storage spaces, with easy access to major highways and interstates, the benefits of a foreign trade zone, and class I freight rail service from Kansas City Southern. Buildings sizes ranges from 4,450 sf to 73,261 sf of usable space. For more information please contact Mark Long at mlong@zimmercos.com or 816-512-1011 or click this link for a listing of available buildings.   

Branden Leay Criman

Five years ago a fresh faced and highly motivated person came to work at the Port Authority of Kansas City Missouri. Branden Leay Criman embarked upon her career with the port tackling a multitude of different projects connected with the reopening of the Port Terminal located in the "West Bottoms" industrial area of Kansas City. This project not only encompasses the physical rebuilding of the facility but also local, state and federal government agency interaction for policy and legislation. Branden has faced every challenge head on and has been successful not only with the physical engineering but also developing strategies and relationships with inland river stakeholders. Branden has used her experience in urban design, civil engineering, and project management for the Port Authority's initiative to reopen the Port of Kansas City.

"Branden's work ethic, determination and commitment to bringing back waterborne commerce to Kansas City and throughout the Missouri River system are to be commended.  She has taken on and achieved many objectives that many believed were impossible to produce," said Michael Collins, president and CEO.  

"I am proud to have Branden as a key employee and colleague for this port project. We could not be in the position to reopen the port without her stellar efforts; she is a most valued asset of the Port Authority. I congratulate her on her five year anniversary and hope we will celebrate many more," said Richard Grenville, vice president, port operations.