Photo courtesy of Chad Godfrey, Owner Home Video Store of Lee’s Summit
the Skinny
News from the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council - December 2015 INSIDE: Note from EDC President Rick McDowell...Celebrating the holidays... Broker Outreach Update...Tech Industry....Marketing and PR....Save the Date... Investor Spotlight...Social Media 1-2-3....Become an Investor
President Update Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year! The Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council has seen a flurry of activity as we head into the holidays and we only expect the high level of deal flow to continue in early 2016. In 2015, LSEDC celebrated several projects including Cerner’s more than $500 million investment in Lee’s Summit, JCI Industry’s $3 million expansion, Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport’s $7 million runway expansion, John Knox Village’s $90 million expansion project and Bennett Packaging’s multimillion dollar, state-of-the-art equipment purchase. These projects combined account for a construction value of more than $620 million and are a sign that Lee’s Summit is indeed bustling with new business activity and investment. We expect this high level of deal flow to continue in the first quarter of 2016, as decisions are made on several key corporate relocation and expansion projects. In addition, LSEDC looks forward to seeing results from its downtown housing and hotel study in the near future. LSEDC procedural and administrative highlights for the year include approval of the City’s first-ever formal incentive plan, as well as completion of a formal process for responding to attraction prospects. In 2015, LSEDC saw a 100 percent turnover in staffing, and this new team is leading a broad communications outreach effort through strategic public relations, a targeted social media campaign, more community visibility for EDC leadership and investors and a specific outreach program for the region’s commercial real estate community. In 2016, LSEDC will continue to partner with the Kansas City Area Development Council to identify and follow up on new business prospects. With our 2015 market study conducted by North Star Destination Strategies completed, we have market and industry insights specific to Lee’s Summit, which will help us target industry clusters, such as information technology, aerospace and e-commerce, all of which are ripe for expansion in our community. As I wrap up my first full year as president of LSEDC, I want to thank you for your continued support. We look forward to a very prosperous 2016 in Lee’s Summit!
Yours Truly,
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Celebrating eachother and the holidays December welcomed mingle and merriment with partners, investors and community members at several holiday parties and events including our own co-chaired event with the Lee’s Summit Chamber. Thank you to all who attended and donated monetary funds to Rachel House and canned goods for Lee’s Summit Social Services. We would also like to thank Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street for hosting another wonderful Holiday Reception at the Stanley Historic Event Space. Donnie and his group really know how to throw a classy party! (We had so much fun we didn’t even take any photos)
Pictured top right: Anne Aubuchon and Kylie Lawson. Bottom left: Matt Baird, Rick McDowell and Jim McKenna. Bottom middle: Mayor Rhoades and Bottom right: Katie and Roger Accurso with Chip Moxley
Pssst.... i don’t know about you, but we’re counting down the days....
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Broker Outreach Program Gears Up For 2016 Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council partnered with the City of Lee’s Summit’s Development Center in 2015 to launch a broker outreach campaign designed to build relationships with the region’s commercial real estate community. The program kicked off in October, as we hosted more than 30 brokers for an informative luncheon. In November and December, we were busy identifying our CRE “Champions” to help lead us in this effort throughout the region. We will be announcing our Champions in early 2016 and look forward to partnering with them to host some exciting social and networking events!
LSEDC Targets Technology Industry Growth According to Lee’s Summit’s 2015 market trends report conducted by North Star Destination Strategies, Lee’s Summit is home to more than 1,000 business services companies, with tech related firms falling under the business services umbrella. Other areas of strength and opportunity identified in the report include distribution and e-commerce operations, as well as health care, manufacturing and aeronautics related industries. With an average annual salary of $82,000, the tech wage in Missouri is double the average private sector wage. The opening of Summit Technology Academy’s new Missouri Innovation Campus will help set the stage for more tech-related investment in Lee’s Summit. In the months ahead, the LSEDC will work with the city and the KCADC to grow these technology-rich industry clusters, paying particular attention to our unique array of aviation and aeronautics industry assets.
In case you haven’t heard.... The City of Lee’s Summit approved a landmark development project with Cerner on Dec. 3. The project marks the single largest investment in Lee’s Summit history. “The LSEDC was extremely helpful in assisting with this transaction and bringing together the right parties to make it happen,” said Scott Siemers, vice president of finance at Cerner. “We are gratified that Cerner chose Lee’s Summit for this investment,” said Rick McDowell, president and CEO of the LSEDC. “Recent studies have identified Lee’s Summit as ripe for technology related investment. We believe this project is a great fit for Lee’s Summit.”
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PR and Marketing Highlights: This month was all about collaboration! With the vibrant holiday atmosphere we couldn’t help but get caught up in all the excitment here in downtown so we sent Krista out to interview some local business owners. Her article was published as a sponsored spot on Kansascity.com by the Lee’s Summit Chamber and promoted by LSEDC and Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street. The article featured holiday photos and list of events including the Mayor’s Tree Lighting and Holiday Open House. Our downtown district is a big asset for our community and potential companies looking for a place to call home. We are proud to help promote that with our community partners.
Save the Date ~ January 6th, 11:30 am to 1 pm - Quarterly Investor Luncheon Unity Village Garden Room The topic will be State of the Industry 2016 featuring: Matt Sogard, Lee’s Summit Medical Center Chip Toth, JCI Industries Jason Sanders, Turner Construction Machelle Riffe, Riffe Communities
January 7th, 6:15 pm - City Council Meeting Lee’s Summit City Hall Regular session. Includes LSEDC Quarterly PSA Rick McDowell, CEO & President
January 28th, 7:30 am to 9 am - Board Breakfast Emaline Ballroom
Open Agenda, candid format to discuss local EDC issues Board Members Only
February 3rd, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm - Special Session: Workforce Development - TBD More information to come
February 25th, 7:30 am to 9 am - Board Breakfast Emaline Ballroom Open Agenda, candid format to discuss local EDC issues Board Members Only
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Investor Spotlight MC Power has a long history of providing general construction and electrical services, solar power solutions and high efficiency lighting services to commercial, municipal and industrial clients all over the Midwest. The company has gotten a little publicity recently with their new project in the works with the City of Independence for a proposed solar farm. If approved by city officials, this would be the largest of it’s kind in the Kansas City area. MC Power has built several such facilities in Missouri, including one in Butler, about an hour south of Kansas City. Looks like more and more industries are looking at sustainable energy solutions which is great news for this Lee’s Summit based company. Check them out on their website at www.mcpower.com for more information.
January 2016 Investor Renewals:
thank you
Grand Street Company, LLC Bob Sight Ford DLR Group, Inc. Lee & Associates Kansas City Jon Plaas, Individual Member Spellerberg, David - AFC Heating & Cooling
We would like to welcome: NEW BENEFACTOR J. David Peer SVP Commercial Banking
SIMMONS BANK
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Follow us on Social Media! We’re beefing up our social media presence! You can find us on Twitter @LSEconDevC. Please “Like” us on Facebook at Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and be sure to tag us in your Instagram photos at LSEconDevCo. If you’ve got exciting news you want to share, reach out to Tina Chace at tchace@leessummit.org.
More than 1500 people Liked or Shared the following top posts on our Facebook page: “John Knox Village is getting a $90 million renovation and expansion” - 955 people reached, 19 Likes and Shares, 37 click throughs
“Tax district approved to build athletic fields for Paragon Star - 365 people reached, 9 Likes and Shares, 35 click throughs
“ICYMI: Lee’s Summit based MC Power Companies is proposing the metro’s largest solar farm in Independence - 197 people reached, 7 Likes and Shares, 11 click throughs
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