October E-News

Kansas City SmartPort E-News
 
 

Logistics Growth Sparks New Development

Kansas City’s logistics infrastructure is seeing explosive growth, igniting new development all over the Kansas City metro.  Three new speculative building developments recently were announced.  Kessinger/Hunter & Co. plans to begin construction on a 600,000-square foot bulk distribution center by April 2008.  The distribution center will be located at 167th St. and Lone Elm Road in Olathe, Kan.   Excavation work should begin this month.  Master plans for the KCI Intermodal Business Centre were released in June 2007.  The first facility constructed will be speculative 525,000 square feet cross dock facility that could be expanded to 1 million sq. ft..  LS Commercial announced plans for a 500,000-square foot speculative industrial building located near New Century AirCenter in Southwest Johnson County, Kansas. 

Underground Warehouse Space

Kansas City has the most underground warehouse space in the world!  Kansas City has over 20 million sq. ft. of underground warehouse space representing close to 10% of the entire industrial market.  Limestone mining created the space that provides companies lower operating costs, lower utility costs and higher worker productivity rates in very flexible space.  There are international, national, regional and local companies in the seven plus underground facilities.  Several SmartPort investors operate warehouse space (Hunt Midwest - SubTropolis and Space Center Distribution) and both report that space is available. 

For more information please visit Hunt Midwest - SubTropolis and Space Center Distribution.     


Trade Data Exchange and the Electronic Freight Management

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and SmartPort have developed an agreement to integrate the TDE with the Electronic Freight Management (EFM) project.  EFM is currently conducting a live test with a major U.S. retailer on 1,000 air freight shipments from Asia to the U.S. to allow the access of advanced data among the supply chain partners.  The EFM team is looking for SmartPort and our TDE team to utilize the EFM and the test results to take the system to commercialization.  The TDE continues to be recognized as the leading project for advancing private sector efficiency in the supply chain.  

For more information please contact Chris Gutierrez.

Missouri River Barge Industry

Barge traffic in Missouri has been severely affected by a continuing drought throughout the Midwest.  Low water levels have limited the number and size of shipments on the Mississippi and forced operations to close early for several consecutive years on the Missouri.  Though it is unclear exactly what the relationship is, the troubles with maintaining a consistently available and productive waterway has been accompanied by a very significant drop in barge traffic on both the Mississippi and the Missouri.   The State of Missouri is working on a study to understand the waterways and port industry in the state and how we can build on it’s history to create opportunities in the future.   

For more on Missouri’s barge traffic situation, please visit KC SmartPort.

Investor Profile: Securitas Systems

Securitas Systems provides its clients with a portfolio of integrated security services and technologies in order to mitigate risk and to help achieve reliable guardianship of your most valuable assets; your people, your property and your information.  They are adept at identifying security vulnerabilities and they are leading the way in creating new, more intelligent security solutions for individual clients and for industry segments including but not limited to the transportation and logistics, banking, healthcare, chemical and retail industries. 

They deliver and support sophisticated technologies and programs without reducing your security concerns to a commodity.  Understanding clients and their needs allows them to plan proactive service programs that also include reactive service elements.  They combine their services, support, monitoring and technology strategies to include turn-key managed security services thus allowing their clients to focus on their primary business objectives.  

Securitas Systems is committed to generating strategic and creative solutions that allow clients to achieve their security objectives and more.  They provide practical and proven systems and service in ALL-Ways.  Their first responsibility is to their clients.  Their solutions are designed, implemented and managed though 50 branch offices throughout the US and in 17 countries where they operate throughout Europe and Asia.

Please visit Securitas Security Services USA or contact Ed Meltzer for more information.