annual - Leavenworth County Development Corporation

5
ANNUAL
REPORT
M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
To facilitate the creation and
retention of jobs and capital investment
in Leavenworth County
5
OV E RV I EW
LCDC works with four communities, three chambers,
the county, and nearly 70 private sector members to
market the county to new companies and assist those
businesses who are already here. We all worked
together throughout the year to increase job
opportunities for our citizens, increase the tax base,
and improve the quality of life for citizens throughout
the county. Thanks to all our stakeholders, who each
had a role in what was a very successful effort in 2015.
The year ended with economic indicators showing strong
improvement in the Leavenworth County economy over
2014. According to the Kansas Department of Labor,
employment in the county expanded between
November 2014 and November 2015. Jobs grew from
31,492 to 34,093, an increase of 2,601. This nearly
8.3 percent increase in employment is more than
11 times the statewide increase of just 0.7 percent.
LCDC contributed to growth in economic activity by
recruiting new companies and investment to the county
as well as nurturing existing businesses. In 2015, LCDC
facilitated the creation or retention of 218 JOBS and
CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF $20.2 MILLION.
Additionally, LCDC saved local companies $1,525,181
through tax credits, tax reductions and grants for
those firms investing in building improvements, new
equipment and/or workforce training. We look forward
to continuing the effort in 2016.
BL AINE WEEKS, LCD C PRESIDENT
L E AV E N W O R T H
COUNT Y PORT
AU T HO R I T Y
The Port Authority (LCPA) continued its partnership with LCDC to
market properties in two industrial parks owned by the Authority. In 2015,
the Port Authority negotiated a land-for-jobs agreement with Cereal Ingredients, who are adding
32 NEW JOBS AS A PART OF THEIR 81,000 SQUARE FOOT
EXPANSION in the Gary Carlson Business Park. The company will employ more than 135 workers
at least
once the expansion is complete. Nearly 400 people go to work every day in the business park.
In 2015, the Port Authority began to study the location of a new business park in the northern part
of Leavenworth County. Existing industrial space is becoming limited. The board also investigated
strategies on how to improve the competitiveness of the Tonganoxie Business Park, which was shown
to several industrial prospects throughout the year, including companies from Canada and Japan.
C O M M U N I C AT I O N
AND NET WORKING
MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE LCDC ANNUAL MEETING
on January 16th. Dave Kerr, former State Senate President and Hutchinson Chamber of
Commerce President, spoke about his community’s successful efforts in developing a business
park. Throughout the year, volunteers and staff served on several committees, including the
LCDC Executive, Membership, and Infrastructure Committees as well as the LCPA Trails
Committee. The LCDC Golf Tournament in September raised $5,500 for LCDC. As the year
ended, LCDC thanked its members, partners, and other stakeholders at our annual V.I.P. Event.
LCDC staff also reached out to other local, regional, and state business and development groups
by serving on boards and participating in more than 200 affiliated partner meetings and events.
WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT
LCDC, in partnership with the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), released the
Docking Institute’s Leavenworth County Labor Shed Survey in 2015. The study and
additional workforce data are available online at www.LVCountyED.org. LCDC also held
two Classroom to Career events this year. In the spring, St. Luke’s Cushing Hospital hosted
40 students from Leavenworth, Immaculata, Pleasant Ridge, Basehor-Linwood, and
Lansing high schools. Students observed and interacted with professionals in several
health care occupations. The fall session was hosted by the Leavenworth Justice Center.
The 30 students who participated learned about
occupations in law enforcement and corrections. LCDC
also assisted four local companies in obtaining
workforce training funds through the Kansas
Industrial Training (KIT) and Kansas Industrial
Retraining (KIR) programs.
“Thanks to LCDC and to everyone
involved in Classroom-to-Career.
The students felt like they learned a lot
on the tours and from the college reps.”
– Nancy Silverforb, Basehor-Linwood High School
MARKETING
For the past several years LCDC has utilized a balance of social media, networking, and print
advertising to reach businesses, site location consultants, commercial realtors, and potential
residents interested in opportunities within the county. 2015 began with a Kansas Dept. of
Commerce-organized trip to San Francisco to meet with West Coast site consultants.
That was followed by consultant events in Kansas City co-sponsored by LCDC in partnership
with the Dept. of Commerce and the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC).
Leavenworth County was featured in the national publication, Business Xpansion Journal, with
an ad and an article. LCDC continued to reach out to millennials with an ad in KC Options, our
tenth straight year in the publication. An LCDC media release regarding Cereal Ingredients’
expansion RECEIVED NATIONAL COVERAGE in Area Development, Manufacturing
Business Technology, Milling & Baking News, along with regional coverage in the Kansas City
Business Journal and MetroWire. LCDC sent out 10 e-blasts to commercial realtors featuring
available properties in the county. Blogs, news stories, and updates to the two websites
maintained by LCDC and our Facebook pages drove viewers to our social media tools.
R E C R U I T M E N T,
RETENTION AND
E X PA N S I O N
2015 saw several exciting announcements from new and expanding businesses assisted by
LCDC. These companies will add 124 new jobs, retain 94 jobs, and invest more than
$20.2 million in new equipment and facilities. The largest expansion is by Cereal Ingredients
in the Gary Carlson Business Park. The company is investing more than $12 million and
adding 32 new jobs. Genco, a third-party logistics company headquartered in Pittsburgh,
PA, moved into 40,000 square feet in the First City Center in Leavenworth. Genco has
hired 28 new employees. Grinders High Noon bought the former High Noon Saloon, made
a significant investment in the property, and opened with a net increase of 35 new jobs.
Miss Anne’s Daycare & Preschool recently opened in the Gary Carlson Business Park. The
facility provides employees in the park, as well as others in the community, an easily
accessible childcare option. City Electric also opened in the business park. Mid Star Lab is
seeing orthotic patients in a new retail location in Leavenworth. Chapman Services in
Tonganoxie and Canaan Stone Works in Leavenworth each added 4 new jobs.
LCDC’S IMPACT ON THE LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
ECONOMY IN 2015
124
94
NEW JOBS
$20.2 MILLION
$1,525,181
RETAINED JOBS
IN CAPITAL
INVESTMENT
IN GRANTS AND
TAX SAVINGS
LCDC made 100 formal business visits with existing, local companies in 2015 to find
opportunities for removing barriers to retention and expansion. The assistance provided by
LCDC staff resulted in four state job training grants worth $29,316, city grants of $28,992,
utility savings of $40,920, sales tax exemptions of $384,588, and tax credits for new
investment of $671,365. Armed Forces Insurance, Marlow White, Zephyr, and Geiger ReadyMix in Leavenworth, Record News & Printing in Basehor, Probilt and Biomedical Devices
in Tonganoxie, and McDonald Marketing in Bonner Springs made significant investments in
their facilities and retained 94 existing employees. Capital investment of both new and
existing companies assisted by LCDC in 2015 totaled $20.2 million.
“Because of LCDC we have been able to take advantage of two
significant grants along with utility tax savings. These programs
and the resulting savings will be a real benefit and allow us to
continue to grow our business.”
– JER RY L EE, CANAAN STON E WORKS , LLC
Successful economic development can only be accomplished by a strong team and that
team starts with our membership. Thanks to all our investors and volunteers for your time,
dedication, and support in 2015! - ST EVE JACK, E XEC U T IVE DIREC TOR
OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRES I D ENT
TR E A S U R E R
AT-LARGE
Blaine Weeks
Josh Hoppes
Harland Russell
VI CE P RESIDEN T
PA ST P R E S ID E NT
David Schroeder
Mike Nixon
B OARD OF DIRECTORS
Steve Christensen
Marisa Gray
Jeremy Greenamyre
Brian Habjan
Robert Hatch
Josh Hoppes
Tony Kramer
Mike Nixon
Pete Payne
Chuck Peterson
Mike Reilly
Gayle Runnels
Harland Russell
Rick Schneider
David Schroeder
Blaine Weeks
Lloyd Martley,
City Administrator, Basehor
Tim Vandall,
City Administrator, Lansing
J. Scott Miller,
City Manager, Leavenworth
Nathan McCommon,
City Administrator, Tonganoxie
Teresa Commerford,
Leavenworth County Port Authority
EX-OFFICIO
B OARD MEMBERS
Blake Waters, Basehor Chamber
Brandon Johannes,
Leavenworth-Lansing Chamber
Wendy Scheidt, Leavenworth Main St.
Steve Christensen, Tonganoxie Chamber
STAFF
Steve Jack, Executive Director
Ashley Hardin,
Economic Development Coordinator
Mary Mack, Office Manager
2015 MEMBERS
PL ATINUM LEVEL
BRONZE LEVEL
First State Bank & Trust
GOLD LEVEL
Citizens National Bank
Citizens Savings & Loan
Commerce Bank
Country Club Bank
Exchange National Bank & Trust
Geiger Ready Mix
Great Western Manufacturing
Mather Enterprises
Mutual Savings
Saint John Hospital
SILVER LEVEL
Armed Forces Insurance
Cereal Ingredients
Community National Bank
Corrections Corporation of America
Falcon Lakes Golf Club
George Butler Associates
Greenamyre Rentals
Hallmark Cards
Kaaz Construction
Kansas City Kansas
Community College
Kansas Gas Service
Kramer & Associates
Leavenworth County Cooperative
Leavenworth Water Department
Lexeco
Managed Energy Systems
National Bank of Kansas City
Reilly & Sons/Coldwell Banker
S.I. Property Investments
TranSystems
University of Saint Mary
VI Marketing and Branding
Zephyr Products Inc.
Advantage Printing
BG Consultants
Booz Allen Hamilton
Canaan Stone Works
Central Bag Company
Century Van Lines
Corporate Record Systems
CSE Inc.
Evans Real Estate
Heatron
JC Tibbetts Agency
JF Denney
KC Construction
Leavenworth-Jefferson
Electrical Coop
Leavenworth Times
LGL Leadership, LLC
Mary R. Scott CPA, LLC
McCaffree-Short Title Company
Peruvian Connection
Saint Luke’s Cushing Hospital
Schlagel & Associates, P.A.
Storage Box, Inc.
Time Warner Cable
U.S. Engineering
Westar Energy
Young Sign Company
Zimmer Company
SUPPORTER LEVEL
27 Committee
Basehor-Linwood USD #458
Cecilia Harry
Leavenworth County Humane Society
Marcia McCown
Tom Meier
Carl Reed
David Waters
TO VIEW THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL REPORT ONL INE , VISIT US AT LVCountyED.org
Leavenworth County Development Corporation
1294 Eisenhower Road, Leavenworth, KS 66048
P 913-727-6111 | F 913-727-5515 | LVCountyED.org
facebook.com/LVCountyED
facebook.com/LVCountyTrails
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