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Port KC announces new President & CEO
Development professional Jon Stephens to lead organization
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The Board of Commissioners of Port KC announced Tuesday, September 18, 2018, that it has selected long-time economic development and civic executive Jon Stephens as President & CEO. With more than two decades of leadership experience spanning development, tourism and civic affairs Stephens comes to this new role from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County & KCK, where he served most recently as Director of Economic Development. Stephens begins his new role at Port KC on October 8th.
Dana Gibson, Commission Chairperson, and CiCi Rojas, Commissioner, led the eight-month search process with support from the full Commission and recruitment firm Fenaroli & Associates.
"A comprehensive nationwide search for the next dynamic leader of Port KC lead us to our own backyard and Jon," said Gibson. "We were drawn to Jon because of his track record in economic development, his creative vision and his deep knowledge of Kansas City. Port KC is poised to accomplish great things for our city with our new dynamic leadership. "
A native Kansas Citian, Stephens grew up in the Hickman Mills area of Kansas City and attended the University of Missouri. Beginning his career in advertising and marketing, he turned those skills to executive and community leadership, first as President of the Kansas City Power & Light District, then as interim President & CEO of Visit KC and several other interim executive and consulting roles through his firm, Rockhill Strategic.
"Playing a key role in the continued transformation of Kansas City is simply a dream come true," Stephens said. "As a city we have ignored the river for too long. It is one of our most vital assets. We must continue a thoughtful and lasting return of people, business, entertainment and economic vitality to the riverfront."
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Connect with Berkley Riverfront
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Highly anticipated and innovative dog park and restaurant opens
Bar K's permanent location finds its forever home at Berkley Riverfront
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The entrance to Bar K, a new dog park, bar and restaurant at Berkley Riverfront.
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A new dog park, bar, restaurant, dog grooming facility, community space - the list goes on - welcomed guests both human and dog to celebrate the grand opening of its permanent location on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.
The facility itself is constructed from repurposed shipping containers and utilizes "found space" under the Heart of America Bridge. The result is a colorful, modern building that compliments the ambience of the riverfront. Bar K previously operated out of its temporary location, Bar K Lab, in the West Bottoms.
Guests, with or without a dog, are welcome to enjoy Bar K. Patrons can order items from the "healthy casual" menu, and as an added bonus, there's a dog menu too! All dog play areas are supervised by trained staff, and there are separate spaces for puppies and small dogs. Bar K partnered with sponsors to provide a wading pool and cabana area, jungle gym and rock wall along with other amenities to add to the experience.
Bar K is an incredible addition to Berkley Riverfront, creating a new, vibrant community space for dogs and dog lovers in Kansas City.
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Outdoor play area for dogs at Bar K. There are also separate spaces for small dogs and puppies.
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Fortune 10 company to bring over 300 jobs to Kansas City
Missouri agencies partnered to secure CVS Distribution Center
CVS marked the opening of its Kansas City distribution center with a ribbon cutting on August 25, 2018. The project is expected to bring 300 plus jobs to Kansas City and net new economic activity.
The 762,000 square foot facility is located east of KCI on North Congress Avenue. Port KC helped finance the distribution center through a $123 million conduit bond issuance for the costs of acquisition, construction and improvements.
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CVS representatives and Missouri partners at the CVS distribution center ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo courtesy of Platte County Economic Development Council.
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Port KC worked with many great partners to assemble a package that secured this Fortune 10 company including the Platte County EDC, Missouri Partnership, Kansas City EDC, KC SmartPort, the city of Kansas City, Missouri, the Missouri Governor's office and KCP&L.
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You're Invited: Grand opening for new recreational amenity
Fitness courts celebration on October 18th
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The newly installed fitness courts at Berkley Riverfront include battle ropes, a bench, plyo step boxes and more.
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Plan for an evening of fun highlighting the newly installed fitness courts on October 18th. We'll have some exciting extras including Berkley Riverfront promo items to give away.
Equipment is scalable to fitness and skill levels and includes a wheelchair accessible machine. Stickers on the courts provide instructions and QR codes link to video guides for suggested exercises, including pull-ups, dips, leg raises and more.
The fitness courts were installed Summer 2018 on the eastern end of Berkley Riverfront next to the sand volleyball courts. Users can enjoy outdoor workouts with beautiful views of the Missouri River to the north and the Kansas City skyline to the south.
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Federal legislation leads to more freight movement on Missouri River
The Port of Kansas City - Woodswether Terminal cost-effective, reduces pollution
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Soybeans discharging directly to truck from a barge for local delivery.
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Recent federal legislation limiting the hours a truck driver works before taking a mandatory rest has positively impacted freight movement on the Missouri River.
A local biodiesel manufacturing facility purchases oil seeds regionally and transforms them into diesel fuel. Soybeans are a feed stock for this product and are shipped from adjoining states to Kansas City.
The trip by truck takes four hours, but with wait times for unloading at the biodiesel facility, trucks were finding it difficult to get back to Blair, NE, in the number of hours allotted for driving.
Though normally delivered by truck, some of this freight is newly transported by barge due to these restrictions. The barges are loaded in Blair, NE, and shipped to the Port of Kansas City - Woodswether Terminal. Two barges have a transit time of two and a half days, but combined can carry freight equivalent to 130 truckloads.
In short, it has become cost effective to move that freight by water and then discharge to truck in Kansas City for a short three-mile delivery. As a result, trucks are removed from the interstate. So far there have been seven barges transported for an equivalent of 455 truckloads and 98,000 road miles eliminated.
This continued growth in transportation on the Missouri River will positively impact finances and the environment with competitive pricing, safer transportation and less pollution.
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Soybeans shipped from Blair, NE, to the Port of Kansas City - Woodswether Terminal
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Properties available for lease at Richards-Gebaur Commerce Park
At Richards-Gebaur Commerce Park, tenants enjoy easy access to major highways and interstates including I-49, 29, 35, 70, 435 and 635. Additionally, these properties benefit from inclusion in a Foreign-Trade Zone and Class I freight rail service from Kansas City Southern.
One such property, located at
15301 Westover Rd.
, is available for lease and includes the following:
- 97,616 sf available
- Space is divisible
- 16' ceiling clearance
- Wet sprinkler system
- Cross dock loading configuration
- Fenced, outside storage available
For more information and a list of all properties available for lease at Richards-Gebaur, please
click here. For any inquiries, please contact Mark Long, SIOR, CCIM, LEED AP, at
mlong@ngzimmer.com or call 816-512-1011.
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About
Port KC's mission is to grow the economy of Kansas City's port district through transportation, global commerce and development.
Port KC
300 Wyandotte, Suite 100
Kansas City, Missouri 64105
816-559-3750
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