Leavenworth County development groups report active projects, major private investments and apprenticeship funding

Leavenworth County Development Corporation (LCDC) and the Leavenworth County Port Authority (LCPA) briefed the county commission on economic development activity and financing.

LCDC Executive Director Lisa Hack told the board that from January to May the organization received 22 project requests for information; roughly eight remained active at the time of the presentation. Active inquiries included life-sciences manufacturing, components for the U.S. energy supply chain, a metal fabrication proposal, a raw material supplier, and a small-service tenant seeking office space. Hack said many larger prospects require rail or a ready building, which limits the county's ability to submit on certain requests.

Hack and LCDC staff highlighted several completed or near-completed projects: - Croucher & Associates purchased two lots in the Urban Hess Business Center and plans a 25,000-square-foot distribution facility to store and distribute cable reels; Hack described it as a roughly $2.5 million project expected to create 11 jobs. The City of Tonganoxie and the port authority provided a partial land discount; a Wichita State study gave a positive benefit'cost ratio for local jurisdictions. - Zephyr Products is finishing a $14 million expansion, consolidating operations from Missouri to Kansas and adding 74 jobs, Hack said.

LCDC and county staff also reviewed workforce development and funding supports. Hack said the county has about $700,000 allocated for registered apprenticeships and that the LCDC is organizing a countywide CTE symposium to coordinate high schools, community college and university partners; the symposium is planned for September. Diana Dodd, LCDC assistant director, said the symposium will include a regional representative from the Office of Registered Apprenticeship and intermediaries who can help businesses set up registered programs and paperwork.

Port authority and LCDC leaders discussed reserve balances and mission. A question from commissioners asked why the port authority holds reserves; a port representative said reserves can be used to buy land for development or to seed a speculative building that would allow the county to respond to requests for ready-to-occupy industrial space. Commissioners and staff discussed the need to prioritize infrastructure and rail access in future industrial-park planning.

LCDC staff reported revenue growth for the organization from 2022 to 2024, driven by higher private investor levels, a restructured golf fundraiser, increased interest income, and increased port-authority contributions tied to property values and CPI adjustments. Commissioners asked for numerical detail and for LCDC staff to continue outreach to smaller communities in the county (Lynnwood, Easton) that are not currently members or active partners.

Why this matters: Commissioners and staff said attracting and retaining employers requires ready sites, workforce pipelines and coordination across city, county and port-authority entities. Officials said long-term investments such as Hills Pet Nutrition and DSM projects in Tonganoxie have large economic impacts and that the county should keep coordinated marketing, infrastructure planning and workforce programs as priorities.

Speakers included LCDC executive staff, the LCDC board chair and outside consultants. Board members asked staff to continue pursuing rail access, to present potential projects that a voter-funded revenue stream could be tied to, and to keep cities engaged in countywide strategies.