the skinny News from the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council April 2019, Q3
Note from the President It’s springtime, and development activity is certainly warming up in Lee’s Summit, with several longtime exciting projects beginning to take shape. In this latest edition of LSEDC’s The Skinny newsletter, you can see what Cityscape’s Jim Thomas says about his company’s plan to redevelop the former Downtown Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church and get caught up on Drake Development’s plans for Streets of West Pryor. You can also get to know KC Dumpster founder Rody Taylor, a Lee’s Summit native who chose to stay in his hometown and grow his company into one of the region’s largest roll-off businesses. Springtime also brings a new face to the LSEDC office. Alyssa Lally is our new Marketing and Communications Coordinator and comes to LSEDC from KCTV, where she was an award-winning producer. Alyssa is taking over many of the marketing duties that Tina Chace previously handled for LSEDC before moving into the role of Business Development Director earlier this year. Please feel free to stop by and get to know Alyssa! As always, thank you for your continued support of the Lee’s Summit EDC. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to call us!
Yours Truly,
LSEDC Board Adopts Resolution Supporting SB 182 The LSEDC Board of Directors overwhelmingly approved a resolution voicing support for Missouri Senate Bill 182, a measure passed by Missouri lawmakers that calls for détente in the ongoing bi-state border war over economic development incentives. SB 182 was proposed by Missouri State Senator Mike Cierpiot and colleagues and has been forwarded to Kansas lawmakers. The LSEDC resolution calls the border war between Missouri and Kansas a “zero sum game” and states that it “is cannibalizing economic opportunity in municipalities in both states.” SB 182 specifically prohibits the offering of tax incentives to companies that would move from metro Kansas City counties in Kansas to those in Missouri, on the condition that Kansas would adopt similar legislation to stop the offering of incentives to companies that would move in the opposite direction. View the full resolution.
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the Rundown
Lee’s Summit EDC investors and their fast-growing companies caught the attention of numerous local and regional media outlets in the third quarter. Trade and business publications featuring Lee’s Summit development stories included RE Journals and Heartland Real Estate Business, The Kansas City
Business Journal, The Kansas City Star, Thinking Bigger Business, MetroWire Media, Lee’s Summit Tribune, and Link 2 Lee’s Summit. Widely-read industry newsletters from economic development partners such as IEDC, KCADC, MEDC, and Missouri Department of Economic Development also
picked up our news stories. Here’s a sampling below:
- Industry Leader Bennett Adds Second High Speed Digital Press - LSEDC’s Jessica Hamilton Wins 40 Under 40 Award in Economic Development Lee’s Summit - ‘Titans of Business’ Headline State of the Summit - LSEDC Promotes Tina Chace to Director of Business Development - Paragon Star LLC Announces $31 Million Bond Transaction - Lee's Summit EDC Adopts Resolution Supporting SB 182 for Bi-State Border War Truce - GoodVets Expands into Kansas City Market with New Longview Animal Hospital - Cerner Would Be Your Landlord at this Lee’s Summit Tech Park - Video: Lee’s Summit Manufacturing Day Paves Way to Internship - IBC to Break Ground on New Headquarters - Community Gathering Space, Restoration Efforts Move Forward at New Longview - MIC Building Sets Standard for Educational Architecture
Events:
State of the City
IPL Plastics Tour
Bridge Space
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Take Ten With Tina Catching up With LSEDC’s New Director of Business Development
The Lee's Summit EDC has happily promoted Tina Chace to Director of Business Development. In her new role, Tina is leading LSEDC's business retention, workforce development, and investor relations. The Skinny sat down to “Take Ten With Tina” to hear her game plan:
Q: You spent a lot of time working to promote the organization’s efforts in Business Retention and Expansion and Workforce the past few years. Now that it will be your primary focus, what initiatives do you plan to implement your first year? A: As an organization, we dedicated a lot of time and energy in the last couple of years re-vamping a new BR/E and Workforce program. My goal is to keep the momentum going! This first year will have a good amount of windshield time for me, working to build relationships with our local employers as well as attending regional workforce initiative meetings and conferences. Q: Do you have a particular passion when it comes to Economic Development? A: I really enjoy assisting our business community. Lee’s Summit has a significant amount of small to mid-size employers who are scaling up right now with the up-tick in the
economy. You can feel it when you talk to them one-on-one. If I can make a connection for them that will result in cost savings, solve a workforce pain or assist them in expanding here in the community-
I’ve made a difference.
Q: How do you think your previous experience will help you in your new role? A: I have more than 20 years of experience in business administration and marketing for corporations, small business owners and entrepreneurs. I get it. Running a business is not easy. One minute you are trying to reach your targeted audience, the next minute you’re trying to keep up with the demand. As a resource to our business community, I really think that helps. Q: Workforce is a hot topic in Economic Development right now. What is your opinion on this as it relates to Lee’s Summit? A: There are a lot of workforce initiatives going on throughout the Kansas City region right now. Everyone is feeling the pain of
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a less than 3 percent unemployment rate and even if that goes up in the next year, we will still struggle with shortages in a number of industries– specifically the trades. Overall, Lee’s Summit businesses aren’t struggling to fill massive amounts of jobs right now but if we continue to grow as planned and want to remain a diverse economic business community, we will have to address this need. Q: Is there a specific message you want to send to the business community about the LSEDC and your role there? A: I would encourage every business owner, executive and community partner who has a stake in the development of Lee’s Summit to get involved with our organization. As a public-private partnership, we advocate on behalf of the business community. Lee’s Summit is known for a strong sense of collaboration and commitment to community. There is something for everyone who wants to get involved.
Polytainers Makes Way for New Business in More Ways Than One
Residents driving along Douglas Street on the north side of Lee’s Summit may see a construction site and mistakenly think that Polytainers has moved, but that’s not the case. In fact, it’s just the opposite as the rigid plastics fabricator continues to invest in and upgrade its Lee’s Summit operation. Polytainers donated land just east of its manufacturing plant to a self-storage company, which is currently building out a new Lee’s Summit facility. That construction activity may obscure visibility of Polytainers, but in the past year the company has invested $12.5 million into its flex manufacturing facility at 1400 NE Douglas Street. The upgrades to the plant's integrated molding systems include five new pieces of state-of-the-art equipment, allowing Polytainers to expand its capabilities. Polytainers was founded in 1968 and opened its 270,000-square-foot Lee’s Summit facility in 1990. The plant has been a key component of the privately-owned company's success as it has grown into a leading provider of plastic packaging solutions to customers in the dairy and food industries. Polytainers is committe to fostering young talent. In Ocotober, the plant opened its doors for local students to take advantage of career exposure opportunities on National Manufacturing Day. With more than 300 current employees, Polytainers looks forward to growing its team in 2019. At last check, Polytainers had open positions ranging from entry level, to technical to management opportunities. For more information, visit Polytainersinc.com/careers.
International Builders & Consultants Breaks Ground on Lee’s Summit HQ International Builders & Consultants Inc. (IBC) began construction in March on its new Lee’s Summit headquarters at 2320 NE Independence Avenue. Located on two acres, the project will accommodate IBC’s growing workforce and equipment. It will include office space, warehouse space, and an equipment yard. Lee’s Summit government and business leaders celebrated IBC’s headquarters groundbreaking in March.
March was a watershed month for the construction company, led by Brandy McCombs. IBC celebrated its 10th anniversary and landed one of the coveted demolition contracts for the new KCI single-terminal project. A.L. Huber is the general contractor for IBC’s new building and Davidson Architecture + Engineering is the architect.
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City Approves Cityscape Plan for Former Church The Lee's Summit City Council in April gave initial approval to Cityscape Residential’s $52 million plan to redevelop the former Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church structure into a 276unit multifamily complex. The proposed project at the corner of 2nd and Douglas streets would preserve a portion of the old church and incorporate it into the new design plan. The project will also include a private parking garage, funded by a TIF plan. “We appreciate the city council’s vote of support for our plan and incentives
package," Cityscape Residential Partner Jim Thomas told LSEDC. “Both were absolutely critical for us to proceed.” The project faced an uphill climb, with many residents voicing concerns about its impact on property values, parking, and sanitary sewer capacity. In the end, Council approved the redevelopment plan. Thomas said construction could begin by the end of 2019. “The long approvals process did allow us to show that the development will be a significant financial benefit for Lee’s Summit and will enable us to save the 1920s church building structure,” Thomas added.
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“I was especially touched by the many, many neighbors and community members who showed up, meeting after meeting, to lend their voices of support for a vibrant downtown Lee’s Summit, and for our development’s role in maintaining that vibrancy. That pride in community is exactly why we chose to invest again in Lee’s Summit.”
Fast Facts: • 2nd Street & Douglas • $52M Redevelopment • 276-unit multifamily complex • Private, TIF-funded parking garage
It's Go Time for Streets of West Pryor Mixed-Use Development The Streets of West Pryor, a $178 million mixed-use development planned along NW Pryor Road at Lowenstein Drive, has gained final approval from the Lee's Summit City Council. Developed by Drake Development, the 200,000-square-foot project is slated to include a 4-story apartment-over-retail complex, 4-story senior living facility, 105-room hotel, grocery store, sit-down and drive-thru restaurants and medical office building. Streets of West Pryor secured an economic development incentive package that includes a combination of Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Chapter 100 bond financing and a Community Improvement District (CID).
IPL Inc. Opens Doors to Local High School Students On Feb. 21, more than two dozen Lee’s Summit North High School students toured IPL Inc., a Lee’s Summit plastics manufacturer, to learn more about career opportunities in manufacturing. Plant Director Matt Gahner provided students with a facility overview and shared his path from entry level worker to manufacturing manager. Learn more about IPL Plastics at iplpgroup.com. Lee’s Summit EDC already is gearing up for local 2019 National Manufacturing Day activities. If your company or school is interested in participating, email Tina Chace at tchace@leessummit.org.
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Investor Spotlight:
KC Dumpster Company
Rody Taylor never set out to be an entrepreneur. In 2006, the founder of KC Dumpster Company decided to earn a little extra money cleaning up residential construction sites around Lee’s Summit. Thirteen years later, his one-truck enterprise has turned into one of the region’s largest roll-off dumpster businesses and spawned a second company, Taylor Construction Services. “I was just a guy with a truck that would sweep the floor, pick up trash and haul it to the dump,” Taylor said. “I never envisioned my small construction cleanup business would grow into what it is today. It’s unbelievable to me.” With a fleet of nine trucks and an inventory of 300 dumpsters, Taylor’s companies employ more than 40 workers and are on track to hit $5 million in annual revenues in 2019. Clients through the years have included commercial and residential construction firms such as McCownGordon, Fogel-Anderson and Summit Custom Homes. “I’ve probably stepped into 1,000 new homes here in KC,” he said. “I just kind of grew over the course of time.” KC Dumpster just landed a two-year contract with the City of Lee’s Summit to operate the city’s Resource Recovery Park, a public disposal area at the site of the recently-closed Lee’s Summit Landfill on Hamblen Road. Residents can drop off approved construction materials at the site, and KC Dumpster will haul the waste to an open landfill outside the Kansas City area.
Fast Facts:
• KC Dumpster Company/Taylor Construction Services • Founded: 2006 • Owner: Rody Taylor • Address: 1280 Century Dr., Lee's Summit, MO • Annual Revenue: $5 million (Projected in 2019) • Employees: 40+
In 2018, Taylor opened a $1 million office and mechanic facility at 1280 Century Drive in Lee’s Summit, an 8,000-square-foot project that he self-managed from initial land acquisition through the construction process. A 1998 graduate of Lee’s Summit High School, Taylor married his high school sweetheart, Sara, who works for the LSR-7 school district as an instructional specialist. The couple has three children and wouldn’t choose to build their lives and livelihoods anywhere else. “When I decided to set up shop, I knew I wanted to set it up in Lee’s Summit. My family moved here in the 1800s, so this is home.”
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Cerner Plugs in KC CRE Market, Reboots STC Building Cerner has plugged into the Kansas City commercial real estate market, teaming up with Cushman & Wakefield to rebrand and launch the Lee’s Summit Integration Campus (LSIC), a 500,000-square-foot tech hub at 777 NW Blue Parkway. Brokers were invited to a Feb. 14 luncheon and tour of the project, which comprises the north building of the former Summit Technology Campus (STC). “We think it’s important that all of you know, as you bring prospects through, that this project carries with it quality ownership [Cerner] that is committed to providing a quality tenant experience and the promotion of health and wellness,” Cushman & Wakefield Director Suzanne Dimmel told brokers. STC at one time was under one ownership, but the south building of the campus is now owned by a private group, and Cerner owns the north building, or LSIC. Current tenants include large data center and call center operations, with available space ranging from 5,000 to 147,000-square-feet. The rebranding effort includes brightly-colored marketing materials and planned signage with the tagline, “The convergence of power, data, technology, people and community.” Recently-added amenities include a remodeled cafeteria and employee lounge with flat-screen TVs. A fitness track with “wayfinding corners” to track physical activity is in the works. Tenant signage options are available at LSIC’s various entrances, which are easily accessible to abundant surface parking. Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council President and CEO Rick McDowell reminded brokers of incentive options available, proximity to a strong workforce, and local education system that includes an award-winning K-12 school district, community college and 4-year college. Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird thanked Cerner for its investment and presence in the community and reiterated the city’s pro-business environment. Read more.
Leonard Popplewell and Suzanne Dimmel of Cushman & Wakefield hosted a broker tour of the new LSIC in February.
Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council | Page 9
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST INVESTORS! Investor - $1,000 Heartland Heavy Construction
Cushman & Wakefield
2018-19 Board Members Machelle Riffe Chairwomen
Save the Date: May Advisory Board Luncheon, Strategic Plan Focus Group Wednesday, May 8th from 11:30 am- 1:00 pm Unity Village | Garden Room (next to banquet & dining)
Hump Day Happy Hour
Wednesday, 15th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm Llywelyn's, Downtown Lee's Summit (back room)
June All-Investor Luncheon-Speaker Series
Wednesday, June 5th from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm The Stanley | Aspen Room 308 SE Douglas St, Lees Summit, MO
Hump Day Happy Hour
Wednesday, June 19th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm Llywelyn's, Downtown Lee's Summit (back room)
Chip Moxley Vice Chair Tim Paulson Secretary Larry Hillier Treasurer Keith Asel Past Chair Bill Baird Mayor Steve Arbo City Manager Dr. Dennis Carpenter Superintendent, LSR-7 Ron Baker Board Member Will Coates Board Member Julia Hampton Board Member Linda Harrelson Board Member
July
Clint Haynes Board Member
LSEDC Annual Meeting
Todd Haynes Board Member
Wednesday, July 10th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm The Stanley | Aspen Room 308 SE Douglas St. Lee's Summit, MO
Mike Lally Board Member Eric Mann Board Member
Lee's Summit Economic Development Council
816.525.6617 | 218 SE Main Street, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 | leessummit.org
Loren Williamson Board Member