The Kansas CW | Sedgwick County Seeks Industrial Park Proposals
Member Center:
by Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.)
Sedgwick County is looking for land to build a large industrial park. The county commission voted today to put out a request for proposals to developers and land owners.
The idea of an RFP came after the commission considered buying 800 acres from Bel Aire. The county wants to create a shovel ready industrial park, to attract businesses looking to build or relocate.
Many developers and neighboring communities complained they didn't get a chance to be considered for an industrial park. They said it wasn't fair to automatically put it in Bel Aire. The county was willing to spend $6.5 million for the land.
The Greater Wichita Economic Development Corporation says the community has lost out on attracting businesses because there isn't a large industrial park. The director says she doesn't care where the park is located, she just wants a place to market.
County manager Bill Buchanan says with the recent announcement of Siemen's locating in Hutchinson, its suppliers are looking to locate near the plant. Buchanan says an industrial park like this could possibly attract some of those suppliers. He says nothing is guaranteed, but he feels the county would be in a better position with a large industrial park.
The county will send out the RFP's Wednesday. There's criteria the land must meet in order to be considered. The criteria includes, at least 500 acres of land suitable for industrial facilities. It also includes things like, being within 500 acres of a rail line, within three miles of a four lane highway and within one mile of natural gas service. Those submitting an RFP must also include a purchase price and if options to buy land in 100 acre pieces are available.
Buchanan says the criteria came from the GWEDC. The commission tweaked some of the criteria in an effort to include more land options. RFP's are due July 1st.
