Media Coverage: What the World is Saying

Quotable quotes from the U.S. media and beyond.

2012

  • Kansas City: logistics powerhouse?: May 2012
    Take an ideal location and an engaged business community, throw in some world-class barbeque, and Kansas City may have the recipe for 21st century supply chain success. To read the entire article, please click here.

2011

  • KC Business Magazine: October 2011
  • Kansas City: Freigh Power House on the Prairie
    "If you look at the Industry growth that's happening in Kansas City, distribution /transportation is a significant pillar of growth in this community," says KC SmartPort President, Chris Gutierrez. To read the entire article, please click here.
  • Thinking Bigger Business Media INC: May 2011
    “The biggest challenge is awareness, the majority of the market—the customer base—is international, not domestic. There are raw opportunities out there. I think the biggest message we need to push out to small businesses is to take a look at exporting and do It.” said Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort in “A Small Business Takes on the World”.
  • World Trade 100: May 2011
    “Rail infrastructure is becoming much more competitive for cost advantages, efficiencies, and the fact that rail can move more freight on a tank of gas (than trucks)” says president of KC SmartPort Chris Gutierrez   In “The Midwest Makes a New Mark.”
  • World Trade Center at Union Station: 2011
    The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, The International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City SmartPort, and The Kansas City Area Development Council are all working together to expand International business opportunities in Union Station. By doing this they will open new markets for regional companies and contribute to educating area trade professionals.
  • Kansas City Business Journal: January 2011
    "Horizon Lines launches 15-day Kansas City-China Shipping" Click Here to read entire article

2010

  • BNSF Press Conference: October 2010
    "The Kansas City market has developed into one of the most important freight transportation hubs in the Midwest and the nation," said Matthew K. Rose, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of BNSF. "BNSF's new intermodal facility will help the region's economy grow in a more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly way by expanding this market's capacity to shift even more freight traffic from an all-highway move to rail."
  • Food Logistics: August 2010
    The Kansas City Region is home to the world's most underground warehousing space. Food Logistics magazine described the region's underground warehouses as the ideal location for storing food products. Along with low lease rates and utility costs, the undergrounds also remain at a constant 68 degrees to 73 degrees and the humidity level is maintained below 55 percent.

    Food Logistics magazine highlighted LS Commercial, Space Center Distribution and Hunt Midwest's Subtropolis. Click Here to read the entire article.
  • Kansas City Business Journal: August 2010
    The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved a $65 million plan to upgrade 138 miles of U.S. 71 from the KC Region south to the state line. The upgrades will allow the highway to place Interstate 49 shields on the route. The addition of I-49 gives the KC Region four major interstates and continues to advance the region as a transportation hub. To read more, please click here.
  • World Trade 100: July 2010
    World Trade 100 magazine highlighted the NAFTA Corridor and its advantages to regions such as Kansas City. Kansas City lies on the 1-35 Corridor which helps attract manufacturing operations to the metro area. “Highway linkages, while always important, are becoming more critical in location decisions,” said Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort. Transportations costs are significant, and the more access you have, both north-south and east-west, is a plus.”
    Click here to read the entire article.
  • Logistics Management Encourage Use of Inland Ports: June 2010
    The June issue of Logistics Management magazine recommends the use of inland ports in cities such as Kansas City. By moving containers through Kansas City, an inland port, companies avoid heavy congestion, high labor rates and costly real estate. Inland ports are more centrally located which leads to shorter trucking distances to distribution centers and offers more intermodal opportunities thus reducing overall transportation costs.
    Click here to read the entire article
  • CNNMoney.com: June 2010
    CNNMoney.com featured a video on Hunt Midwest's SubTropolis, "The World's Largest Underground Business Park". The video takes a tour of the underground facilities and discusses the green benefits of warehousing underground.
    To watch the video, please click here.
  • World Trade 100: May 2010
    With five Class I North American Rail lines running through the KC region, companies are able to move product from any port in North America to warehouses in the KC metro. Last year, the region was strengthened by Kansas City Southern’s launch of intermodal services and rail lines between Mexico and the US. Along a with competitive rail industry, the Kansas City International Airport is another major advantage to KC. KCI Airport is the largest air cargo facility in the six state area and continues to expand the $232 million development, KCI Intermodal Business Centre. Click here to read the entire article.
  • KC Business: May 2010
    Kansas City’s transportation industry was featured in a six page spread in the May issue of KC Business magazine. The article described KC as a major distribution destination and transportation hub. With low costs and growing intermodal facilities, Dave Blanchard, editorial director for Logistics Today, said “[Kansas City] is on top of it and understands what it takes to be a strong logistics selection for companies.” Click here to download a PDF of the entire article.
  • Kansas City Business Journal: February 2010
    This April KC SmartPort will launch its shipment tracking software, Real Data Exchange, to the public for six months of testing. The software tracks shipments through multiple exchanges from the manufacturer to the customer. The system also provides clients with shipment information including, weights recorded at weigh stations and any delays in shipments through customs. The new software has already been through two dozen shipment tests and reduced some transit times by two-thirds. In these tests, wholesale distributor Demdaco said, “…the system helped better predict arrival times, therefore decreasing back orders.” Read more.
  • Kansas City Business Journal: February 2010
    Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corps intends to keep its corporate offices in Kansas City while building as many as 20 regional assembly plants throughout the United States. At its Kansas City corporate offices, Smith Electric plans to hire as many as 120 people for engineering, marketing, purchasing, and other corporate operations. “It seems like a very strong strategy for them to be successful, and for the corporate headquarters and the growth that company will see here, we’ll benefit,” said KC SmartPort president, Chris Gutierrez. Read more

2009

  • Kansas City Business Journal: December 2009
    Ozburn-Hessey Logistics, LLC recently increased warehouse and distribution space by leasing 187,000 square feet in Turner Industrial District. OHL occupies a total of 10 facilities in the region, making it cost competitive.  Kansas City is a sought after region because 80 percent of U.S. population can be reached in one-to-two days, and the area should receive a good amount of new OHL business.

  • Kansas City Business Journal: November 2009
    On Nov. 3, Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., acquired sole ownership of BNSF Railway Co.  The BNSF hub addition makes up a total of three metro area sites capable of serving large industrial users.  Kansas City, the nation’s No. 2 rail center, is being looked at more closely by retailers, importers and third-party logistics companies.   What does this mean for the KC region? “I think 2010 is going to be a gold rush for us,” said Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort.  Along with rail, Kansas City is targeted for its one to two-day delivery capabilities.  

  • World Trade Magazine: November 2009
    In November, Kansas City was featured in World Trade Magazine as one the best cities for a company expansion or relocation project. Kansas City’s labor force, state and local taxes and real estate costs are key incentives, but KC’s transportation costs are even more significant.  “It doesn’t do a company any good to get free land if its transportation costs are through the roof,” says KC SmartPort President Chris Gutierrez.  Kansas City metro has the largest rail center in the United States and third-largest truck hub according to World Trade Magazine.  Read more

  • Kansas City Business Journal: October 2009
    KC SmartPort and the Kansas City Area Development Council were featured on the cover of the October 9th issue of the KC Business Journal. The article discussed the organizations’ plans to plug into the advanced-energy industry. These plans include attending international conferences, continued efforts with the Advanced Energy Task Force and the attraction of new advanced-energy companies. Read more

  • Area Development Magazine: August 2009
    The Kansas City market is a top five U.S. Distribution Logistics Location, according to Area Development Magazine, which covers economic development news and trends across the country. The ranking identifies cities that have performed well in other rankings in the recent past, are poised to capture significant new volume, or are otherwise likely to be centers of innovative logistics activity.  Read more

  • KC Ranks as a Top 15 Logistic Hotspot in the US
    Inbound Logistics ranked the KC metro as one of the top-15 logistic hotspots in the nation. The metro stood out for its central location, workforce, low facility costs, industry expertise and extensive Foreign Trade Zone space – upwards of 10,000 acres – more than any other U.S. city. Read more

  • Kansas City Business Journal Goes In Depth on Logistics: July 2009
    The Kansas City Business Journal featured an in depth editorial section on the region's logistics industry. The section included quotes and articles centered on KC SmartPort board members and other leadership. Articles highlighted the national economic impact on KC's logistics industry. The editorial is well-balanced with companies experiencing significant challenges as well as those that are bucking the trend and finding success in today's slower economy. Read more  

  • The Journal of Commerce: July 13, 2009
    Kansas’ Transportation Revolving Funds has grown into a very useful ‘tool’ for rural communities to fund infrastructure projects that benefit the area. The funds are infrastructure banks set up by the state government to fund relatively large and transformative projects that are underfunded or incapable of qualifying for federal funding. The state government loans the money to these communities and provides a minimal subsidy of the interest, in order to insure successful implementation of the funds and to mitigate the chance of default.  

  • The Journal of Commerce: July 13, 2009
    Forgetting the traditional ‘lay low’ approach to recessions, Kansas City Southern has decided to drive full force ahead with some very aggressive expansion plans. One of the more high profile expansion projects include a $12 million project budget on a new intermodal & automotive rail-truck facility outside Houston, but also an astute tactic to capitalize on an under-served market in the Houston-to-Mexico market. KCS is laying down a ninety mile line, costing $173.5 million, between Victoria and Rosenberg, South of Houston. The line will immediately save KCS over $1.2 million in inefficiencies. Scott Arvidson, Chief Operating Officer of KCS said, “the cost avoidance alone justifies the investment.”

  • KC Small Business: July 2009
    KC SmartPort President, Chris Gutierrez, was a featured columnist in the July issue of KC Small Business. His article discussed the recent increase in Supply Chain Management (SCM) education and training opportunities in the region. Since the development of KC SmartPort’s supply chain education initiative, the apprehension of SCM as an integral business function has become widespread. Understanding the need for a more robustly educated supply chain workforce, KC SmartPort has helped connect businesses with more than 14 regional colleges; as well as jointly creating The Supply Chain/ Logistics Development Program. The program has graduated more than 55 students in an 11-week tutorial with classes covering topics such as inventory control, lean manufacturing and radio frequency identification (RFID) basics.  

  • Kansas City Southern: June 2009
    A variety of delegates representing shippers, public officials and other stakeholders were hosted by KC SmartPort and others at the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas in the Mexican state of Michoacán. The delegates were greeted by the Michoacán Governor, Leonol Godoy, the Secretary of Economic Development, Elloy Vargas Arreola and eight congressmen. The Port of Lázaro Cárdenas is strategically positioned on the West Coast and has access to KC Southern’s International Intermodal Corridor justifying it as a gateway from Asia to North America. Kansas City had the largest amount of delegation, showing Kansas City’s competitive position in the international supply chain.

  • The Kansas City Star: June 2009
    In a strategic move to become a major airfreight hub in the midwest, Saint Louis looks to finalize a deal with China that would increase air shipments to Lambert-St. Louis International airport. However, the deal is contingent on proving there is enough backhaul freight to the midwest for St. Louis to take over the excess shipments from Chicago’s O’Hare. The advantages and hurdles are fairly clear, as noted by Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort, whom said, “Business on our side of the state would benefit from air cargo services to China from St. Louis. But especially in this economy, getting that kind of volume is a challenge.”

  • Commercial Journal: May 2009
    Kansas City has recently been labeled a “hotspot for large warehousing and distribution centers.”  With its central location in the NAFTA trade corridor and its direct connection with the massive Port of Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico, KC is clearly a hotspot. Also, as manufacturing is shifted to Asian countries with low-labor costs, Midwestern distribution centers are positioned within economic striking distance of consumers across the nation.

  • Midwest Commercial Journal: May 2009
    A new addition to Kansas City’s SkyPort Industrial Park, a 400,000 sq.-foot distribution center for Pure Fishing, has been getting a lot of publicity lately. It’s not just the size that is monumental, but also the benefits the center will bring to the community, dually through taxes and employment contributions. A 100 acre plot of unused farmland generates a mere $1000 in tax-revenue annually, while the same plot, if hosting a facility would bring in about $500,000 a year. An average distribution center employs about one hundred people, with a mean salary of $30,000 each, consequently increasing taxable purchases by about $1 million.

  • ibNews: May 2009
    The trade between Midwestern companies and Mexico has continued, primarily unaffected by the outbreak of the “swine” flu. Almost all shipments continue to be on schedule, although a few construction projects have been retreated. Any indication for depression or stagnation that has occurred, generally, cannot be delineated from the economic downturn or the H1N1 virus.

  • The Link: Spring 2009
    Kansas City SmartPort’s associated sensor information tool, Trade Data Exchange (TDE) has been recognized for its progressive approach to provide stakeholders with greater visibility, security and accountability, along the supply chain. TDE is designed as a secure information clearing house that allows access to detailed, real-time data. The project is a collaboration of the University of Kansas’ Information and Telecommunication Technology Center (ITTC), the HP subsidiary, EDS and spearheaded by KC SmartPort.

  • Commercial Journal Midwest: January 2009
    The development of Kansas City’s first Class-A industrial distribution space constructed by Kessinger/Hunter & Co. LC and administered by KC SmartPort has been garnering a lot of attention lately. The 601,829 square-foot facilities is a testament to efficiency, heralding progressive cost and environmental designs. A thermoplastic polyolefin membrane white roof does not reflect, nor absorb, as much heat as a standard roof. The building also has a 36-foot ceiling height, 124 dock doors, 100 trailer parking spots and 50 by 58 foot bays giving the location flexibility in layout.

2008

  • Kansas City Business Journal: June 13, 2008
    Industrial real estate brokers are finding it easier to explain why the Kansas City area is on the radar screen for distribution centers.  Global supply chains, change in consumer buying habits,  access to population centers, availability of investment capital in KC and the fact that the KC region is on everyone’s hot list are just some of the explanations. Add to that the available “product” coming on line in the KC market - a 600,000-square-foot spec building in Olathe, several announced spec buildings and upwards of 2,000 acres in four industrial parks ready to hit the market in the next six to 24 months.  Intermodal traffic could become Kansas City’s competitive advantage. Chris Gutierrez, president of Kansas City SmartPort Inc., said Kansas City is uniquely situated to transfer freight between railroads and trucks and the area’s longtime prominence as a railhead becomes a greater asset.
  • Traffic World: May 20, 2008
    Kansas City’s growing reputation as an inland logistics hub helped lure Pure Fishing, a maker of fishing tackle, rod and reels, to consolidate its distribution operation at Missouri’s KC SmartPort development. “The Kansas City facility is a strategically significant investment in our operating platform which will enable us to better serve our customer across North America,” said Terry Carlson, CEO of Pure Fishing. “The centralized location of this modern distribution center will ensure better customer service to our retail partner and that our products are in stock when our customers need them.”

  • Kansas City Business Journal: May 16, 2008
    Kansas City has snagged Pure Fishing Inc., an Iowa-based fishing products manufacturer, for a 400,000-square-foot distribution center in the Northland. First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. will develop the distribution center, to be built at 7501 N.W. 106th Terrace. Jeff Kisling, vice president of logistics and services for Pure Fishing, said that Kansas City's central location will help the company with its goal of shipping products throughout the country with a three-day turnaround.
  • Spirit Lake, Iowa: May 12, 2008
    “The Kansas City facility is a strategically significant investment in our operating platform which will enable us to better serve our customers across North America,” said Terry Carlson, CEO of Pure Fishing. “The centralized location of this modern distribution center will ensure better customer service to our retail partners and that our products are in stock when our customers need them.”
  • All Road (And Rails) Lead To Kansas City: April 2008
    In Kansas City metro area, tens of millions of square feet of distribution space are set to come online in the next few years. The Logistics Park Kansas City located in Gardner, Kansas, 25 miles southwest of Kansas City, is a 1,000-acre logistics park being developed around a new intermodal facility that will dramatically expand the BNSF Railway’s current Kansas City operations. The CenterPoint-KCS Intermodal Center located in south Kansas City, Missouri will contain the Kansas City Southern Railroad’s 370-acre intermodal rail facility.  The KCI Intermodal Business Centre, located on the property of Kansas City International Airport, will be developed on 800 acres and could ultimately contain 8 to 12 million square feet of industrial product.
  • Kansas City Business Journal: April 18, 2008
    With a combined effort of the whole economic development community of the state of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo., the Kansas City Area Development Council, and KC SmartPort, Musician’s Friend decided to move its national distribution center to Kansas City. CB Richard Ellis Group Inc.'s Atlanta-based Global Logistics Group and the company's Kansas City industrial team were hired to represent Musician's Friend. It was a $45 million fulfillment center with 702,000 square feet on 69 acres -- one of the largest build-to-suit projects Kansas City has ever seen.
  • Kansas City Business Journal: April 4, 2008
    CenterPoint Properties and Kansas City Southern have enlisted an experienced broker, Zimmer Real Estate Services LC, to market the South KC intermodal center at the former Richards-Gebaur Memorial Airport for its nearly 1,000 acres of developable property. Zimmer is targeting retailers, manufacturers and distributors. Kansas City Southern's rail line into Mexico positions the park for companies to capitalize on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Chris Gutierrez, president of Kansas City SmartPort Inc., said Zimmer's local market knowledge and broad industry connections will complement the expertise of Kansas City Southern and suburban Chicago-based CenterPoint.
  • KC CEO: Spring 2008
    Despite a downturn national economy, Kansas City’s logistics industry remains a vital component to the local economy and its future growth. Located at the heart of three major interstate highways, Kansas City is cashing in on its good fortune. Additionally, the region boasts a strong intermodal connection with railroads. “Rail has definitely had a resurgence,” says Chris Gutierrez, president of Kansas City SmartPort.  Three intermodal facilities will come on line. The CenterPoint - KCS Intermodal Center will have six to seven million square feet of industrial development space on 1,000 acres. The BNSF railroad selected a site in Gardner, Kansas, for the Logistics Park Kansas City designed to accommodate 12 million square feet of industrial development. And Kansas City International Airport’s partnership with Trammel Crow has resulted in a planned 640-acre industrial and office airpark in northern Kansas City named the KCI Intermodal Business Centre.
  • Kansas City Star: March 14, 2008
    Kansas City Southern and its partner held a ribbon-butting ceremony to launch the operation of its rail-truck, intermodal hub at the former Richards-Gebaur Airport. Mike Haverty, chairman and chief executive officer of Kansas City Southern, said this development will help bring more prominence to the area as a key transportation center. The CenterPoint-KCS Intermodal Center is one of several intermodal facilities Kansas City Southern is building or expanding along its north-south route from Kansas City to the port of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico.
  • Logistics Today: Jan 16, 2008
    Kansas City metro area shows at the top of the list of the Top 50 Logistics Friendly Cities list in 2007.  Aside from geography, one of the area’s strengths is its infrastructure. The area does not have any rail or highway congestion issues, say Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort because of how well local authorities have built the infrastructure. Kansas City already has more foreign trade zone space than any other US city (10,000 acres). The development of new intermodal sites and more and larger distribution centers will facilitate growth of transportation and logistics. KC SmartPort has gone a step further and developed its Trade Data Exchange, which is an information- technology enabled platform to connect disparate participants across the entire expanded logistics value chain.