April 2006
Kansas City SmartPort E-News

Fast Fact

One out of 10 tons of freight shipped on the nation's transportation system is related to international trade.
-U.S. Department of Labor

Big Box Distribution Centers Chosse KC Area

In the past few weeks KC has been selected for 2 large distribution centers confirming the region as an ideal location for big box distribution centers.

Congratulations to the City of Cameron on Case New Holland's decision to expand in the Kansas City area. CNH will combine three of its parts distribution centers in the Midwest and construct a new 500,000-sq.-ft. facility in Cameron. David Hinchman and his team at CB Richard Ellis led the company's real estate analysis.

This project will be built by Duke Realty and leased back to CNH. View CNH's announcement .

After a year-long attraction and retention effort, Musician's Friend announced last week that it will remain and expand in the KC area. The company will build a new 702,000 sq. ft. facility at Northland Park in Kansas City, MO. The facility will be one of the largest distribution centers in the region. This announcement brings 140 new jobs with a total of 521 jobs and $45 million in new capital investment.

Panattoni will build the building and lease it back to MFI. To learn more please visit MFI .

Risk, Reward and Real Estate in Asia

KC SmartPort President Chris Gutierrez and real estate executives from Colliers International, including Mark Sonnenberg with Colliers Kansas City, traveled to China in late March. The trip centered on the Colliers Great West Alliance, which is focused on building supply chains between the U.S. and Chinese companies. Gutierrez also used the trip to explore business opportunities with Asian companies that would benefit from utilizing KC's unique transportation corridors in reaching their North American markets.

KC SmartPort Leads the Way in Security, Trade and Technology

KC SmartPort's efforts to make it cheaper, faster and more secure to move freight in, out and through Kansas City was a lead story in the March issue of The Journal of Commerce. KC SmartPort's initiatives including its partnership with EDS on the testing of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology and the Mexican Customs facility were the main highlights.

To read more please visit The Journal of Commerce .

Industry Focus: Trucking

The U.S Department of Transportation notes that trucking remains the single most-used mode of shipping in the United States, totaling 70 percent by value, 60 percent by weight and 30 percent by ton miles. Located in the geographic center of the United States at the intersect of major north-south and east-west trade corridors, trucking is a major industry in the Kansas City area. KC boasts more freeway-lane miles per capita than any other U.S. city and is one of only five U.S. cities to have three interstates intersect, with a fourth on the way (I-49). The efficiency of the interstate system and 10 U.S. highways allow for trucks to get their trailers to docks across North America in a timely manner. The metro currently has more than 300 motor freight carriers and is the third largest trucking center in the U.S.

Investor Profile: Olsson Associates

Olsson Associates, established in 1956, is ranked as one of the top 500 design firms in the United States by Engineering News Record. The firm offers civil, municipal, roadway, structural, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), traffic, land development, land planning, landscape architecture, water resources, power electrical, mechanical/electrical, fire protection, surveying, construction observation, environmental, geotechnical, and public involvement services.

Olsson has two offices located in the Kansas City area with additional offices in Missouri, Colorado, Minnesota, Arizona, Iowa and Nebraska. Olsson provides professional services for public and private clients in Missouri and Kansas, as well as throughout the United States and abroad.

For more information, please visit Olsson Associates .