Hunt Midwest and Missouri Governor Mike Parson celebrated the groundbreaking on KCI 29 Logistics Park public infrastructure work and the I-29/Mexico City Avenue interchange improvements on Wednesday, June 21.
One year ago, Hunt Midwest announced the assemblage of a contiguous, 3,300-acre mega site under single-ownership. As the largest shovel-ready industrial development in Missouri, KCI 29 Logistics Park quickly reached this groundbreaking milestone due to a positive business climate in the State of Missouri and the City of Kansas City that proactively promotes business attraction and job creation.
“This partnership demonstrates how we work in Missouri to provide innovative opportunities to leverage public and private investments to strengthen Missouri’s infrastructure and boost business across our state,” Parson said. “Working together, we are providing improved infrastructure to support this significant economic investment which will attract national and international partnerships and bring opportunities to the region.”
In May, the governor and state committed $40 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to Port KC through the Industrial Site Development Grant Program. That funding will connect on-site robust transmission level power, water, sewer and roadway networks to create pad-ready sites within the park. Earlier in the year, Governor Parson and the State of Missouri committed $2.5 million through the Governor’s Transportation Cost-Share Program to Hunt Midwest for improvements to the I-29/Mexico City Avenue interchange, which provides direct access to KCI Air Cargo Hub and the region’s interstate system. The State of Missouri and KCI 29 Logistics Park have already seen strong interest from large-scale, national, and global users in advanced manufacturing, distribution and logistics, and technology.
“The infrastructure investment by the state will leverage the new KCI airport terminal, KCI Air Cargo operations, and connectivity with the entire country via our vast interstate system,” said Ora Reynolds, Hunt Midwest President and CEO. “Hunt Midwest’s partnership with state and local entities provides us with a competitive advantage to attract ‘best-in-class’ manufacturing, logistics and technology users who demand the certainty of existing infrastructure, full entitlements for their uses and a skilled workforce. It is rare to find a mega site owned by an experienced developer in a geographically desirable location that can provide all these attributes.”
Spanning 3,300-acres, KCI-29 Logistics Park has the potential to create up to 20 million square feet of industrial space and attract more than 9,000 jobs and $2.5 billion in capital investment. The development is poised to become the premier site in Missouri’s toolbox for large regional, national and international users with direct access to the new Kansas City International Airport terminal, KCI Air Cargo Hub, and Interstates 29 and 435 in a central U.S. location that offers companies the ability to reach 90% of the continental U.S. in two days via ground transportation or overnight via air freight through carriers such as FedEx, UPS, USPS, and Amazon Prime Air.
“We’re proud to support this significant investment in our state’s economy,” said Michelle Hataway, Acting Director of the Department of Economic Development. “Through DED’s Industrial Site Development Grant Program, $40 million in ARPA funds will help ensure KCI 29 Logistics Park is ready for business growth and job creation. This project is a shining example of teamwork in economic development that’s helping Missourians prosper in Kansas City.”
The additional $2.5 million grant through the Governor’s Transportation Cost-Share Program and the Missouri Department of Transportation to Hunt Midwest will support construction of lane additions and traffic signal upgrades at the Mexico City Avenue and I-29 interchange, improving the connection of Interstates 29 and 435 to KCI Air Cargo Hub and KCI 29 Logistics Park.
“Growing Kansas City’s place in the nation and world economic platform is a focus for Port KC,” said Jon Stephens, Port KC President & CEO. “Partnerships like the KCI 29 Logistics Park is exactly what will accelerate Kansas City’s leadership as a hub in advanced manufacturing and supply chain and add thousands of well-paying new jobs. We want to keep that momentum going.”
The following organizations supported the creation of KCI 29 Logistics Park: the State of Missouri, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Partnership, the City of Kansas City, KCMO Water Department, Port KC, Kansas City Area Development Council, KC SmartPort, Platte County Economic Development Council, Evergy, Spire, and Liberty Utilities.
KCI-29 Logistics Park’s first phase of infrastructure improvements is currently underway with expected completion in fall 2023. The business park offers flexibility to meet a large-scale tenant’s unique demands through build-to-suit, land sale, or building lease opportunities. Entitlements include up to 20-year tax certainty and the option for clean, renewable energy through the utility provider.
Just after the groundbreaking, the first tenant in the KCI-29 Logistics Park was announced.
Ace Hardware Corporation, the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative, announced it will open a new Retail Support Center (RSC) in Kansas City, creating 350 jobs. The 1.5 million-square-foot facility, projected to be fully operational in 2025, will increase the company’s inventory capacity and levels of service.
Ace Hardware’s new Kansas City facility will balance its current distribution network and meet the needs of its growing retail landscape.