Kansas City SmartPort

Kansas City SmartPort is an economic development group for the existing logistics industry in Kansas City and the attraction of logistics investments in the Kansas City Region. KC SmartPort is a nonprofit, investor based organization.

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History

KC SmartPort was born out of the Mid-Continent TradeWay Study; an analysis to 'determine the feasibility and national benefits of establishing the Kansas City region as a place where international trade processing activities can be carried out"*[1]. The study was jointly commissioned, in 1998, by the Mid-America Regional Council, The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas City Area Development Council.

International Trade

The current proposal calls for officials from Mexico to inspect and tag cargo and before it is shipped via truck or train expedited through the international border to the Pacific deep water ports at Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, and Manzanillo, Colima, where the exports would be sent to Asia. It is claimed the port would be 15% cheaper than shipping exports to the California ports at San Diego and Los Angeles.

Initiatives

Supply Chain Education Group A coordinated effort to raise the awareness and understanding of what supply chain management is and it's function in modern business practices.

Kansas City has proposed two ports:

• The 14th & Liberty Street truck port near the city's first union train station in the city's West Bottoms (which is already in contract).
• The Richards-Gebaur train port south of the city which would be served by the Kansas City Southern Railroad (which is considered a long term project).
• And a proposed international collaboration in order to ship goods through Canada to Europe.

KC Logistical Advantage

Kansas City has the most rail traffic in the United States in terms of tonnage passing through the city.

Kansas City has the third highest trucking center in the nation.

Kansas City has the largest area of free trade zone in the United States - more than 10,000 acres (40 km²).

Kansas City has the largest underground warehouse space in the world.

Kansas City has the largest air cargo facility in the region and the largest navigable inland waterway.

Office & Board of Directors

• Michael A. Priest, Chairman

• Chris J.F. Gutierrez, President

KC SmartPort in the News

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/07/20/focus2.html http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/07/20/focus3.html http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/03/09/story5.html http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/12/22/focus10.html

References

• Official site
• http://www.marc.org/transportation/pdf/ITPCexecsum.pdf