Category Archives: KCADC

Community partnerships and energy efficiency key to the company’s presence

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 20, 2024) – Today, Google is proud to announce it is expanding its presence in the Midwest with a $1 billion investment in a new data center in Kansas City, Missouri. Additionally, the company announced it is expanding a skilled trade career development program to the region and contributing to North Kansas City School District’s alternative education STEAM program. Google is also working with Evergy to power the site and Ranger Power and D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) to bring 400 megawatts of new carbon-free energy to the grid as part of the company’s ambitious goal to run on 24/7 carbon-free energy.  

Google’s continued investment in technical infrastructure, including its data centers, plays an essential role in supporting the company’s AI innovations and growing Google Cloud business. Google’s data centers help power popular digital services — like Google Cloud, Workspace (which includes Gmail, Docs, Sheets and more), Search and Maps — for people and organizations worldwide.

“Google’s selection of the Kansas City region is another example of our state’s ability to attract and support world-class companies,” said Governor Mike Parson. “Our skilled workforce, superior infrastructure, and prime business climate continue to result in investments from leading employers. We welcome Google to Missouri and look forward to the positive impact it will provide for our growing high-tech sector.”

“Kansas City continues to be one of the fastest-growing technology markets in the country, thanks to our prime location with thousands of hardworking, skilled workers,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.  “Our combined effort with Google is a strong reflection of Kansas City’s success in global industry and our future as an international technology capital.”

“We have reached an important inflection point for tech innovation like AI, and data centers are the backbone of this progress,” said Monique Picou, Global Vice President of Cloud Supply Chain and Operations, Google. “Our announcement today is a testament to the resources, talent and welcoming spirit of the Kansas City community. Together, Kansas City and Google will help power America’s digital future and we are excited to contribute to the bright future of the region.” 

“Google’s major investment in KC will have multiple positive impacts long term. Not only will the tech company invest hundreds of millions of dollars benefitting our region’s economy in myriad ways, but Google’s global brand will now be directly linked to KC’s rising brand,” said Tim Cowden, President and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council. “Google joins other international tech and consumer brands that have recently selected KC for major investments.”

“Data centers and emerging tech infrastructure have never been more vital to our world. Port KC understands that securing Kansas City’s place as a hub for data centers is critically important to the next generation of workforce,” said Jon Stephens, President and CEO, Port KC. “From advanced construction to engineering and IT, we are committed to making KC a leader in creating and growing opportunity for all.”

“This is a significant day for our state as we officially welcome Google to Missouri,” said Subash Alias, CEO of Missouri Partnership. “Google’s decision to expand into Missouri is the culmination of dedicated efforts from a multitude of partners, and we were honored to be part of the team. We extend a heartfelt welcome to Google as we eagerly anticipate its integration into our thriving tech ecosystem.”

“Google’s decision to locate their new data center campus at Hunt Midwest Business Center is the culmination of the long-term vision and sustained teamwork of so many strategic partners at every level,” said Ora Reynolds, President and CEO, Hunt Midwest. “Ten years ago, the Missouri legislature created economic development programs designed to give the state the tools to compete for valuable data center projects. With the leadership of our economic development organizations, local community stakeholders, and our utility provider’s commitment to investing in tomorrow, this collective group has now brought one of the largest and most transformational global technology companies to Kansas City. We have also built a long-term strategy to ensure we can provide the infrastructure, labor, and tax certainty necessary to grow our mission-critical footprint for years to come.”

“This significant investment from Google speaks to the value of Missouri’s economic advantages and collaborative partnerships,” said Michelle Hataway, Acting Director, Department of Economic Development. “We’re proud to support this historic project as Google joins a growing list of innovative companies that are helping Missourians prosper.”

As part of its commitment to community development, Google announced it will bring its Skilled Trades and Readiness (STAR) program to the Kansas City area. The company is collaborating with the Missouri Works Initiative and the Urban League to help increase the entry-level pipeline in the skilled trades with a focus on underrepresented communities. All STAR pre-employment programs are paid training programs, and offer networking opportunities to help participants move directly into employment on local construction projects.

“Technology employs one in 10 workers in Kansas City,” said Tracey Lewis, President and CEO, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. “We’re thrilled that Google’s presence will add to that significant and growing number of employment opportunities in our great community.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Google here in Kansas City and support their goal of building a connected and sustainable world for everyone. This project will bring lasting positive impacts to our hometown community, and our Centennial year is only amplified by bringing this partnership to our home!” said Chris Teddy, Director of Mission Critical, JE Dunn Construction.

More than 65% of young people today will work in jobs that don’t yet exist, but many aren’t developing the problem-solving skills and digital competencies required to prepare for this future. To help bridge the gap, Google is helping support the technology needs of North Kansas City School District with a more than $100,000 contribution to the STEAM center, which prepares high school students with the skills they need to tackle the future’s biggest challenges and opportunities across a variety of disciplines. 

North Kansas City Schools Superintendent Dr. Rochel Daniels says collaborating with Google will benefit students, “Our collaboration will expand students’ access to innovative learning experiences by further leveraging technology and connecting student interests to real-world issues. We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to a continued relationship with Google.”

“Our reliable, innovative energy solutions fuel the growth of tomorrow’s digital landscape. We’re proud to power Google’s investment in Kansas City and commend Google for its leadership in technology and commitment to sustainability.” said David Campbell, President and CEO, Evergy.

Today, Google is also announcing a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Ranger Power and DESRI to support 400 megawatts of new-to-the-grid carbon-free energy capacity from the Missouri-based Beavertail Solar farm. The Beavertail Solar farm is located in a former coal community and will be part of the evolution towards a clean energy future happening around the country. The agreement will support Google’s ambitious 2030 goal to run all its data centers and campuses on carbon-free energy (CFE), every hour of every day. Today, the company already matches 100% of its global annual electricity consumption with renewable energy purchases and, as a pioneer in computing infrastructure, Google’s data centers are some of the most efficient in the world. 

Learn more about Google in Missouri at: g.co/economicimpact/missouri

The largest talent leadership summit in KC brought together leaders from around the region to gain insight into global talent trends and how to leverage KC’s momentum 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – February 26, 2024 – TeamKC, a strategic initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council and the KC region’s authority on HR and talent acquisition, hosted its annual Training Camp event on Thursday, February 22.

The summit, hosted at Starlight Theatre, brought together more than 300 professionals from across the metro to learn about how the KC market stacks up in the global race for talent and how to harness the region’s business and lifestyle assets.

“The power of the TeamKC network is undeniable. These are the professionals working to cultivate our community, bringing in the talent that helps KC grow and succeed as we compete to attract candidates from around the country – and around the world,” said Danielle Hilton, managing director of TeamKC at the Kansas City Area of Development Council. “At Training Camp and events throughout the year, TeamKC fosters knowledge sharing and thought leadership that provides our region’s HR and talent acquisition professionals with the tools they need to attract and retain top talent.”

Community played a central theme throughout the TeamKC Training Camp program:

• Keith Bradley, co-owner of Made in KC, shared his insights on how to incorporate Kansas City’s unique story and leverage its current momentum when recruiting candidates, emphasizing that “enthusiasm is common, endurance is rare.”

• A talent trends panel, moderated by Bill Hurrelbrink of KCTV5 and featuring Julie Deane, chief people officer at KCAS Bio; LeAna Flores, director of diversity, inclusion and belonging at H&R Block; and Kristen Walters, vice president of HR at Panasonic Energy, focused on unique strategies to boost attraction and retention. These included strategic community partnerships, creative total reward offerings and building a culture of authenticity and belonging.
• Keynote speaker for Training Camp, Shane Feldman, shared his “leadership passport” – unique stories handpicked from his travels in more than 30 countries that illustrate how to build engaged communities. Named one of North America’s Top 40 Under 40 LGBTQ+ Leaders, Shane’s universal strategies for community leadership optimize team culture and talent retention.

In recognition of its incalculable contributions to the Kansas City region throughout the last several years, the 2024 TeamKC MVP Award was presented to Union Station Kansas City. As the backdrop to major community events including the NFL Draft, and as a symbol of KC’s perseverance in the wake of the tragic events of February 14, Union Station remains an iconic historical asset contributing to Kansas City as a top destination for talent.

“Today, at the front of our building, a brilliant red banner proclaims: ‘Kansas City Strong and United,’” said George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station. “As candidates visit Kansas City, we invite them to come to Union Station and be a part of our rich and diverse history, showing them the strength and unity of KC’s people and places. We will welcome them with open arms just as we have for the past 110 years.”

Following immensely popular feedback, TeamKC released its second annual Scouting Report, a comprehensive analysis of national recruitment and retention trends. TeamKC also unveiled its new digital edition of KC Options, an annual publication showcasing the region’s most compelling people, places and companies, consistently ranked by HR and talent professionals as the No. 1 tool to seal the deal with top talent.

“The resources and partnerships through TeamKC’s are essential to the network’s success, from access events and networking opportunities to the annual summer intern program that connects early career professionals with lifestyle activities across the region,” Lauren Bertram, talent acquisition director at Burns & McDonnell and TeamKC board co-chair. “When we come together, we are stronger, and the connections we make through TeamKC help us all year long.”

As the KC region’s authority on talent acquisition and retention, TeamKC has helped to attract thousands of individuals to the area in the last decade and supported major economic development successes including Panasonic, USDA, Meta and URBN, among others.

The TeamKC Board of Advisors is comprised of representatives at leading companies in the KC region, including BHC, Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, Children’s Mercy, Dairy Farmers of America, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Garmin International, Inc., H&R Block, Hallmark Cards, Inc., Henderson Engineers | Henderson Building Solutions, Kansas City National Security Campus – managed by Honeywell FM&T, KCAS Bio, Kansas City University, Moonshot Solutions, Lockton Companies, McCownGordon Construction, Netsmart, Oracle, Panasonic Energy and T-Mobile.

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About TeamKC

TeamKC, an initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council, is the KC region’s authority on promoting Kansas City as a destination for talent. Working closely with a number of regional partners, TeamKC acts as an extension of the recruiting and HR teams of more than 250 major employers, a network of 1,100+ recruiters in the KC region, helping them navigate and respond to talent market influences every day. As the region’s effort to help employers attract the best and brightest talent, TeamKC helps ensure candidates say “yes” to relocate to or stay in the region to start or further their career. Learn more at www.TeamKC.com.

About the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC)

Serving the 18-county, two-state Kansas City area, the Kansas City Area Development Council is an economic development nonprofit that promotes the region’s business and lifestyle assets to companies and talent around the world. Working closely with its two states, and 50-plus county and community partners, the region has attracted more than 64,000 new jobs over its 45-year history. KCADC also leads the efforts behind the KC Animal Health Corridor, KC SmartPort, TeamKC, KC Global Design and KC Heartland. | onekc.org

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – February 21, 2024 – Today, The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, MO (EDCKC) and its partners announced that Eastern Airlines, LLC (Eastern) selected Kansas City, Missouri, for its new headquarters location.

This strategic move marks a significant milestone in the airline’s commitment to growth, innovation and expanding its presence in the heart of the United States.

The company has had a presence in Kansas City since 2021 when it purchased a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, Alta Aero Technic, LLC, and formed a passenger-to-freighter design company called Foxtrot Aero, LLC. The move of Eastern’s headquarters consolidates all of its operations to Kansas City located at 11500 N Ambassador Drive in Platte County near the Kansas City International Airport.

“Eastern Air Holdings has had a great experience operating two other businesses at MCI, Alta Aero Technic and Foxtrot. Kansas City and its airport have a great legacy in our industry. We did look at a number of cities to rebase our headquarters, but the enthusiasm of Missouri and the city combined with the generous assistance of the Missouri Works program made our decision easy. The new terminal and our experience proved that it is a metropolitan area investing in its future, and we are proud to be a part of the new airport community,” said Stephen Buscher, Eastern Airlines Chief Financial Officer.

Eastern Airlines, with a rich history dating back to 1926, has been a symbol of excellence in air travel for decades. As the airline industry continues to evolve, Eastern is taking proactive steps to position itself for the future while honoring its legacy.

In mid-January 2024, Eastern announced its acquisition of Hillwood Airways and its fleet of passenger and cargo Boeing 737s, adding to its fleet of B767 and B777 aircraft. While Eastern Airlines is a certified 121 airline authorized to offer scheduled service (domestic and international), the company is focused on business-to-business charter operations, with a particular focus on U.S. government work.

“We applaud Eastern Airlines’ decision to relocate to Kansas City and look forward to its growth in the area,” said Missouri Governor Mike Parson. “Our state’s advantages, including a strategic central location, low costs, and skilled workforce, continue to result in investments from leading companies. Eastern Airlines’ new headquarters is a complement to Kansas City’s new airport terminal and another example of our state’s ability to attract businesses that are creating new opportunities for Missourians.”

The decision to locate Eastern’s headquarters to Kansas City was carefully considered and aligns with the company’s long-term vision. The move will boost the local economy, creating 165 new jobs – ranging from maintenance professionals, and pilots, to flight operations personnel – with an average salary of $96,000.

The transition of the company’s headquarters in Wayne, Pennsylvania, to Kansas City at the end of 2023 was a $4.7 million capital investment.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Eastern Airlines,” said Steven Anthony, Vice President of Business Development at EDCKC. “With a rich history of aviation in Kansas City, Eastern Airlines is a welcomed addition to our expanding economy.”

With a business-friendly environment and a strong transportation infrastructure, Eastern Airlines will benefit from Kansas City, Missouri’s skilled workforce, excellent transportation infrastructure and central location in the U.S.

“Kansas City is an ideal location for Eastern Airlines to establish its new headquarters, offering accessibility to the rest of the country and a strong network of community partners and resources,” said Jill McCarthy, senior vice president of corporate attraction at KCADC. “More and more, companies are choosing KC for their headquarters, and we’re excited to see Eastern Airlines join that growing list.”

The following organizations helped bring Eastern Airlines to Kansas City: State of Missouri; Missouri Department of Economic Development; Platte County Economic Development Council; City of Kansas City, Missouri; Kansas City Aviation Department; Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City Missouri; Kansas City Area Development Council; TeamKC Life + Talent; CBRE; Colliers; Evergy; and Spire.

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About Eastern Airlines

Eastern Airlines has a rich history dating back to 1926 and has been a symbol of excellence in air travel for decades. As the airline industry continues to evolve, Eastern is taking proactive steps to position itself for the future while honoring its legacy. In mid-January 2024, Eastern announced its acquisition of Hillwood Airways and its fleet of passenger and cargo Boeing 737s, adding to its fleet of B767 and B777 aircraft. While Eastern Airlines is a certified 121 airline authorized to offer scheduled service (domestic and international), the company is focused on business-to-business charter operations, with a particular focus on U.S. government work, notably repositioning of troops for the Department of Defense domestically and internationally as a member of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), as well as other government agencies. At any given time, Eastern has 10-15 aircraft parked at its hangar facilities at MCI and is actively working to expand its fleet, with aspirations to grow its footprint over time in Kansas City. To learn more, visit www.iflyea.com.

About EDCKC

The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, is a 501c4 agency that works to retain and grow its resident businesses, attract high opportunity companies, and attract and retain a skilled and diverse workforce. The goal of EDCKC is to foster continued and sustainable growth that benefits a vibrant and diverse community. To learn more, visit edckc.com.

About the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC)

Serving the 18-county, two-state Kansas City area, the Kansas City Area Development Council is an economic development nonprofit that promotes the region’s business and lifestyle assets to companies and talent around the world. Working closely with its two states, and 50-plus county and community partners, the region has attracted more than 64,000 new jobs over its 45-year history. KCADC also leads the efforts behind the KC Animal Health Corridor, KC SmartPort, TeamKC, KC Global Design and KC Heartland. | onekc.org