The Home Depot Selects
Topeka for
New Distribution Center
Topeka,
Kan., by Greater Topeka Chamber (March 18, 2009) – The Home Depot, the world’s
largest home improvement retailer, will build a 465,500 square
foot distribution center in the Central Crossing Commerce Park,
creating several hundred jobs over the next few years. The new
Rapid Deployment Center will help to improve service and increase
efficiency at the company’s retail locations throughout
the area. The facility, located just north of SW 57 Street and
west of Topeka Boulevard, will be constructed and owned by Seefried
Properties, Inc. of Atlanta and leased to The Home Depot. Construction
by Seefried Properties has commenced on the site.
"We are honored to be selected as the site for The Home Depot’s
new distribution center and to enter into a business partnership
with the company," said Doug Kinsinger, president and CEO, Greater
Topeka Chamber of Commerce/GO Topeka. "The process that we have
experienced with The Home Depot and Seefried Properties professionals
underscores their excellent reputation garnered internationally."
"We are extremely pleased to have this announcement today," says
Vic Miller, Shawnee County Commissioner and chairman of the Joint
Economic Development Organization. "The Home Depot is a company
we are proud to add to the distribution center cluster of companies
in our community."
"The Home Depot represents a wonderful addition to our local economy",
stated Bill Bunten, Mayor of the City of Topeka. "Topeka and Shawnee
County has enjoyed a stable economy because of its diversity of
businesses. The Home Depot again enhances this diversity."
The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty
retailer with 2,200 retail stores in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian
provinces, Mexico and China.
"This is an exciting project for Topeka/Shawnee County and the
entire state of Kansas," said Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary
David Kerr. "When a major company like The Home Depot chooses
to locate here, it speaks volumes about our workforce, our infrastructure
and our overall business climate. We look forward to a long
and productive relationship with the company."
The site is expected to have a total capital investment of more
than $20 million shared between the developer and the company.
Construction began this month.
The jobs created at this new facility in Topeka/Shawnee County
will generate approximately $11 million in total direct salaries
annually once the new center is operating according to an impact
study by Impact DataSource says Steve Jenkins, senior vice president
of economic development for GO Topeka.
"The net tax benefits to the community, after all incentives
and costs of public services are deducted, is $2.8 million for
the first 10 years. Taxable sales and purchases in the County for
the same period are estimated at $77.2 million," Jenkins says.
"GO Topeka staff members have been working with The Home Depot
for many months and JEDO approved the land and cash incentives
for them late last fall," Miller says.
"Topeka’s successful attraction of a major Home Depot distribution
center further strengthens the Kansas City region’s prominence
as a logistics hub," said Bob Marcusse, president and CEO, Kansas
City Area Development Council.
The Home Depot opened its first store June 22, 1979 and by the
end of 2007 the company had 2,234 stores.; Net sales in 2008
were $71.3 billion and net earnings were $2.3 billion.
"The expansion of their distribution network with this project
is further evidence of their success and commitment to excellence
service to their customers," said Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten.
This site is part of a larger program at The Home Depot to improve
its supply chain; making it easier for stores to keep the right products
in stock when customers need them. The Topeka distribution center
is one of 20 facilities the company is building nationwide. The company
employs more than 300,000 associates.
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