By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It wasn’t too long ago that business and industry looking to build wanted land. That then became property with utilities and rail spurs available so that they would be “shovel ready.”
Now that has been taken to another level as evidenced by the proposal to build a 50-thousand-square-foot building out at the Kansas Enterprise Industrial Park in Hutchinson. Chamber President Debra Teufel says it is a rapidly-changing trend in the competition to attract new business.
“That really was driven by data that we’ve been talking about for the past two years and what we’re seeing in the request for proposals,” Teufel said. “Those proposals typically come to us with a request for a certain size building, and over 70% of those have been looking for existing buildings.”
Teufel says more companies are looking to keep things closer to home with supply chain issues that have plagued business and industry over the past year.
“Manufacturers are really starting to take a closer look at their supply chains,” Teufel said. “A lot of that is coming . . . from overseas and they don’t have time to wait any longer. Some are starting to invest so they do have a second supply chain.”
Teufel says the building proposed in Hutchinson is a good start, but momentum needs to be watched carefully.
“There is definitely a balance there and that’s why I wouldn’t suggest a developer go out and overbuild,” Teufel said. “I think a 50,000-square-foot building is very marketable and very suitable to be absorbed by this market and also still keep up with the labor force issues.”
Teufel says potential companies simply want things to move faster and it's becoming a statewide evolution.
“We’re seeing more project activity than ever coming out of the leads from Topeka,” Teufel said. “Our Department of Commerce is out there across the country beating the drums for new projects. This has been a really eye-opening phenomenon lately where more of these RFP’s (request for proposal) say preference for an existing building or existing building required.”
Teufel says she’s confident that the proposed building will have a tenant before it is completed.
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