Construction of the first building at the KCI Intermodal BusinessCentre has begun.
Blount International will occupy 349,440 sq. ft. in LogisticsCentre I®, a LEED-certified, Class A distribution center on 22.54 acres at Kansas City International (MCI). The facility will be the company’s national distribution center for its North American operations and is expected to be completed in January.
The BusinessCentre is an 800-acre master planned business part at MCI adjacent to the airfield. The first phase is made up of 182 acres that will feature up to 1.8 million sq. ft. of warehouse/distribution centers, traditional office/warehouses and light manufacturing facilities.
The total value of the center is projected to exceed $216M when finished. It offers economic incentives such as Foreign Trade Zone and Missouri Enhanced Enterprise Zone designations. Its location also offers access to the interstate highway system.
“Several years ago, the aviation department embarked on an ambitious plan to spur aviation- and non-aviation-related development at KCI Airport to attract greater numbers of well-paying jobs to the area,” says Mark VanLoh, director of the aviation department. “Securing Blount as the first tenant at KCI Intermodal BusinessCentre shows that the plan works and we can bring diverse jobs to the area.”
Blount is a global manufacturer and marketer of replacement parts, equipment, and accessories for the forestry, lawn, and garden; farm, ranch, and agriculture; and construction markets, and also manufactures saw chain and guide bars for chain saws.
“Expanding our distribution center capacity allows us to position our operations for future growth and improve our overall service levels to customers,” says Dave Parrish, vice president of supply chain and general manager of Kansas City operations for Blount. “In addition to offering the required capacity, locating our distribution center in the Kansas City area allows us to retain our existing, talented work force and to avoid order fulfillment disruption during the transition.”
Clarion Partners and Trammell Crow Co. have formed a joint venture to develop the KCI Intermodal Business Centre.
“The launch of this exciting, LEED-certified project with an industry leader like Blount International is a very significant first step in what we believe will be a highly successful project,” says Andy Lowe, senior vice president of Clarion Partners. “We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with the Trammell Crow Co.”
“Blount International is the type of company we were hoping to land at KCI Intermodal,” says Jim Didion, city leader for Trammel Crow Co. “They were able to take advantage of all the benefits offered at this outstanding new development project for the Northland and Kansas City. It is great to be able to facilitate the creation of new jobs in Kansas City.”
