Kansas City Ranks 5th in Nation for Overall Logistics Infrastructure

Multiple milestone projects overviewed at NITL 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Nov. 14, 2006 –

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Kansas City SmartPort shared information on its major projects today that have launched the KC region into the top five logistics cities in the United States.

The National Industrial Transportation League’s 99th Annual Meeting provided the backdrop for the presentation highlighting significant industrial activity in the two-state, 18-county KC region:

• 2.7 million square feet of new industrial space has been announced since May 2006.
• BNSF announced that The Allen Group will develop a 1,000-acre logistics park that will include a 350-acre BNSF Intermodal facility in Gardner, Kan.
• Kansas City Southern and CenterPoint Properties are developing a 300-acre intermodal facility plus 6-7 million square feet of distribution and warehouse space in Kansas City, Mo.
• Kansas City International Airport and Trammel Crow Company are developing a 640-acre industrial and office on-airport park in northern Kansas City, Mo.
• KC SmartPort is leading efforts to develop a global trade data exchange that will increase supply chain efficiency and security of shipments moving across the globe.

The Sixth Annual Logistics Quotient, released by Expansion Management and Logistics Today magazines in October, ranked the Kansas City region No. 5 in the United States for overall logistics infrastructure. This is up from No. 9 in 2005, and No. 22 in 2004. The ranking evaluates metropolitan statistical areas according to 10 major categories including transportation and warehousing, Interstate highway access, congestion, rail and air cargo infrastructure.

“This means improved efficiency, safety and opportunity for companies looking to diversify their industrial presence in the U.S.,” said Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort.

“We are confident that the Kansas City Logistics Hub will be recognized as the heart of the coast to coast rail corridor,” said Edward Romanov, president and COO of The Allen Group. “As a result of the increase of trade with the Pacific Rim nations, rail movement and intermodal development has become a vital component in the international supply chain.”

 “Site selection decision makers are now adding the KC region to their short list as the ideal place to be,” said Gary Bartek, manager - Cargo and Economic Development for the Kansas City Aviation Department.

Kansas City SmartPort, Inc. is a non-profit economic development organization dedicated to building upon Kansas City’s historic transportation hub status to make Kansas City a cutting-edge, high-tech inland port. KC SmartPort has two main focuses in its mission: To grow the area’s transportation and logistics industry by attracting businesses with significant transportation and logistics elements; and to make it cheaper, faster, more efficient, and secure for companies to move goods into, from, and through the Kansas City area. For more information, please visit www.kcsmartport.com.

Contacts:

Chris J.F. Gutierrez

President

Kansas City SmartPort, Inc.

911 Main Street, Suite 2600

Kansas City, MO 64105

T: 816.374.5680

F: 816.842.2865

E: Gutierrez@kcsmartport.com

Edward Romanov

President and COO

The Allen group

11943 El Camino Real, Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92130

T: 858.764.6800

F: 858.764.6809

E: ebr@allengroup.com

Fred Reynolds

Vice President of Development

CenterPoint Properties

1808 Swift Drive

Oak Brook, IL 60523-1501

T: 630.586.8170

F: 630.586.8005

E: FReynolds@CenterPoint-Prop.com

Gary Bartek

Manager – Cargo Development

Kansas City International Airport

601 Brasilia Avenue

P.O. Box 20047

Kansas City, MO 64195-0047

T : 816.243.3000

F : 816.243.3171

E : gary_bartek@kcmo.org

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