FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2006

Contact: Matt Derrick
(816) 942-8800, ext. 213

Home Builders Eye Franklin County Impact of Intermodal Project
Chapter event features presentation by Burlington Northern Santa Fe

The intermodal transportation facility planned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe near Gardner will have a tremendous economic impact on the region, with the $150 million hub expected to bring thousands of new jobs to the area. Ottawa area residents get the chance to learn first hand what the intermodal project will mean to local businesses during a discussion presented by the Franklin County Chapter of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Ottawa Country Club.

Skip Kalb, director of strategic development for BNSF, will discuss the details for the state-of-the-art logistics park. A fiscal impact analysis estimated the transportation hub would create a $1.7 billion economic impact for the state of Kansas over the next 20 years, directly and indirectly leading to the creation of more than 13,000 new jobs. The facility is expected to contribute more than $330 million in revenue to area schools and government over the next two decades.

Earlier this month, citizens in Gardner overwhelming rejected an initiative that would have prohibited the city from annexing the proposed intermodal site southwest of Gardner for 10 years. The city is now anticipated to move quickly toward annexation, which is expected to have a positive impact on the project by helping to better connect the facility with the surrounding community.

Intermodal transportation is big business for BNSF. Intermodal involves shipping containers by a combination of rail and trucks and accounted for nearly half of the company’s revenue last year. Growth in demand for intermodal transportation has been driven by a number of factors including increased foreign trade, higher fuel costs and greater traffic congestion. Logistic parks such as the facility planned for Gardner utilize advanced technology to increase operational efficiency, lower shipping costs for businesses and reduce environmental concerns.

The program outlining the impact of the intermodal facility is being presented by the Franklin County Chapter of the HBA. The chapter was created last year to provide an opportunity for home-building professionals and other community leaders in the area to focus on issues impact both the housing industry and local neighborhoods. Chapter members engage in regular meetings to network with fellow business professionals and discuss what role the housing industry can play in building a better community.

To register for the Gardner intermodal project discussion, visit www.kchba.net or for more information call (816) 942-8800.

The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Kansas City is the voice of the housing industry and the source for housing information. Comprising more than 1,000 member companies, the HBA represents an industry that contributes approximately $2.5 billion to the Kansas City economy, and supports more than 36,000 jobs in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

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