The Great Plains Development Authority Board and staff continue to market one of the largest industrial sites in Kansas. A release from GPDA detailed the activity of the industrial park over the last year.
According to a release from the GPDA, 2024 was a successful year for the park. Staff hosted over 40 visits including seven international prospects. New marketing videos were produced and aired on television and social media. As in previous years, park director Brad Reams was a guest on multiple podcasts. Reams also played a role in co-hosting the Danish energy delegation with the Kansas Department of Commerce. When an opening on the board at Kansas City’s Metropolitan Energy Center, the Department of Energy’s Kansas Clean Cities Coalition representative, became available, Reams became the first non-metro board member in the organization’s history.
GPDA was active locally and statewide, sponsoring the Kansas Rural Water Association Regional Meeting Lunch in Parsons and co-sponsoring the Kansas Economic Development Alliance Conference Break and KEDA Day on the Hill.
As GPDA prepared for new tenants, land use planning activities were conducted to ensure tenants fit the existing park guidelines. GPDA initiated a lease for multiple buildings and 35 acres with Tintagel Group Inc., a munitions manufacturing company. Initial plans project 100 new jobs over three years with a facility and equipment investment of approximately $35 million. Renovations are underway for this project.
GPDA continues to lease over 3,900 acres to 30 parties for agricultural purposes. Over 2 million square feet of warehousing space continues to be occupied at GPIP by multiple tenants. Additionally, an option agreement on 50 acres was signed with a non-fossil- based fuels manufacturer. Projected investment and job creation estimates are $500 million and 50 jobs.
GPDA’s work led to a record net surplus of $1.1 million in 2024 allowing for $70,000 to be paid to Labette County in property taxes. Since 2012, $910,000 in taxes have been paid to Labette County and other local taxing entities. No local tax dollars have been received by the Great Plains Development Authority over this period for operations or any other purpose.
Infrastructure improvements also continued to be a theme
See GPIP, Page 2.
with GPDA in 2024. Following past rail and road improvement grant projects, GPDA received state permitting and funding to establish an emergency water connection with the city of Parsons. This project will install over 8 miles of new PVC pipe to connect the water systems and to improve the infrastructure within the Great Plains Industrial Park. Multiple borings will be conducted under roads, a creek and a rail line. Water Tower 1 at Great Plains will be rehabilitated to increase GPIP’s water storage capacity by 250,000 gallons and maintain pressure of both systems. A bilateral valve and vault will be installed at the junction of both systems so either system can supply the other with domestic water service when necessary.
In an unrelated water development, after a two-year process, GPDA obtained a new 6 million gallon a day water permit to meet future tenants’ domestic water supply requirements.
In 2025, GPDA expects multiple changes at GPIP. New gating and surveillance systems will be installed. Contractors will be at GPIP to conduct work related to the emergency water connection with the city of Parsons. Plans are underway to construct a contractor RV facility, allowing space for contractors needed for future projects at the park, as well as other area construction projects. These improvements are necessary to update the 1940’s era facilities currently in use. Engineering groups will also be assisting GPDA with the design of new water and wastewater treatment facilities.
Great Plains Industrial Park plans to host multiple ground breakings in 2025. These projects include a utility scale solar array, fuel facilities, fuel cell manufacturing, food processing, data storage and power facilities and transportation technologies. These projects will require approximately 960 employees, 3,600 acres and a minimum of $6 billion in capital investment. Details of these projects must remain confidential until the time the companies involved are ready to make public announcements. The Kansas Department of Commerce continues to be an integral partner in these projects and considers GPIP a key initiative moving forward for Kansas.
