(Wichita, KS - 5/25/2010) Cargill announced plans to invest $14.7 million for a new facility to house research, development, culinary, laboratory, pilot plant and distribution resources on Wichita Street between 1st and 2nd streets in Wichita. The new facility replaces a 210,000 square-foot-building at 2901 North Mead, which has been sold. It retains 50 jobs and expands the facility to 65 projected total jobs within 5 years with total payroll projected at more than $4.7 million annually just for the Innovation Center. 

Headquartered at 151 North Main in Wichita, Cargill has about 1,100 employees in Wichita. In January Cargill announced a $14 million upgrade at its soybean processing plant at 1401 N. Mosley. The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition worked with the company on both projects.

“Cargill is one of our top employers and downtown companies,” said Mayor Carl Brewer. “It is always a pleasure to work with a great company – especially one with an international brand. It’s exciting to hear their plans to build a first-class facility in downtown Wichita that will be visited by people from throughout the country and the world.”

Construction on the new 70,000 square foot building is planned to begin in July of this year with completion in June 2011.

“Retention of our companies and their jobs is a high priority and we’re pleased that Cargill will be investing in its Innovation Center here,” said Sedgwick County Chairman Karl Peterjohn. “It has the added bonus of bringing in many people from outside the community to visit as well.”

“We’re excited that Cargill has chosen to expand its operations in Wichita,” said Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton. “We appreciate the company’s commitment to our state and our workforce.”

GWEDC, working closely with the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County and the Kansas Department of Commerce, negotiated a package of incentives to secure the capital investment and jobs for Wichita and Kansas. The Wichita City Council and Board of County Commissioners will be voting on the incentive package in coming weeks.

“It takes a lot of work on a project like this and we appreciate all of the economic development team’s efforts to secure this project for Wichita,” said Scott Eilert, Cargill vice president and director of meat technology development. “We’re glad to be investing in Wichita and bringing this new center here.”
GWEDC President Vicki Pratt Gerbino said, “We welcomed the opportunity to work with the Cargill team. This project focused on capital investment needed to retain and expand jobs for the Wichita presence of an internationally known and respected company. We look forward to Cargill’s new and improved downtown presence.”