July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
June 24, 2015
Economic development continues in Wentzville Recipe
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Friendly meals featuring milk
Around Town
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Feature Section
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Business
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Movie
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Eagle Scout project completed
Photo by Ray Rockwell The Wentzville Logistics Center will be a 1.3 million square-foot facility that is expected to serve as a sub-assembly operation and to provide warehousing space for the nearby General Motors Wentzville Assembly Center. Additionally, the city of Wentzville and NorthPoint Development will participate in the funding of more than $5.8 million in roadway improvements in the area.
Multimillion-dollar projects near GM Plant to bring jobs and revenue to the region By Brett Auten Economic and employment opportunity continue to be the theme in Wentzville. The city of Wentzville has approved bringing a substantial industrial development project to the region, and before too long the Wentzville Logistics Center will come to life. The Wentzville Logistics Center will be a 1.3 million square-foot facility located on 73 acres near the intersection of Highway A and Westgate Business Court, near Highway 40/61. The facility is expected to serve as a sub-assembly operation and to provide warehousing space for the nearby General Motors Wentzville Assembly Center. Tentative plans call for much of the facility to handle assembly of parts that would then be taken to the nearby GM plant for final assembly. The remainder of the facility could be marketed to other businesses. “It’s a bit unknown at this point what other businesses may end up there,” Dan Lang, Wentzville’s economic development director said. “A number of businesses could fit there it’s just a matter of how much space the tenant requires.” The project is the latest sign of increased production at the GM plant, which now employs about 3,700 people.
The project will be constructed by NorthPoint Development, a Kansas City-based developer, management and leasing firm that is principally focused on industrial, multi-family, and senior living markets in the central part of the United States. NorthPoint has a strong technically based team of engineers that have experience ranging from civil, geotechnical, electrical and industrial process engineering. NorthPoint is unique in that it shares 25-percent of all profits on any project with its employees and over 30-percent of the firm is owned by the employees. Lang indicated that the total investment in the project is expected to exceed $40 million. Groundbreaking for the project is expected within weeks with completion of the building by January 2016. “Based on similar facilities, it could create up to 700 jobs,” Lang said. When complete, the project will represent a significant economic impact to the city of Wentzville and to the region. The building will be the second largest in St. Charles County. The largest building in the county is the General Motors Wentzville Assembly Center, at more than four million square feet. Originally located in unincorporated St. Charles County, the 132-
acre plot has been annexed to the city. The total capital investment could reach between $120 million and $250 million, a city document says. In related Wentzville news, a cooperative public-private partnership, the St. Charles County Road Board, in conjunction with the city of Wentzville and NorthPoint Development, will participate in the funding of more than $5.8 million in roadway improvements. The county will contribute a 50-percent match to help offset the cost of these roadway infrastructure improvements. The improvements will benefit both the project and motorists presently using Highway A and Interstate 70. Wentzville is expected to realize more than $5 million in public roadway improvements. This project will receive a 34-percent tax abatement over 10 years, through the issuance of Chapter 100 bonds. According to a press release from the city, this abatement will help to offset the cost of the public infrastructure improvements necessary to move this project forward. Taxing jurisdictions, including the Wentzville School District, will realize more than $5.7 million in new tax revenue, with development of the project over the 10-year abatement period.
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