City of De Soto * EDC

EDC Mission Statement
The objective of the Organization shall be to promote the general welfare of the City through quality economic development and quality of life projects, including but not limited to fostering and encouraging all facets of development: industrial, commercial and residential – which will have a significant impact upon the economic growth of De Soto.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of locating my business to De Soto?
What existing businesses call De Soto home?
What available sites and buildings are in De Soto?
How has the city prepared for economic growth?
Who do I contact for information?
How can the EDC benefit my company?
What are the membership dues and how can I join the EDC?
Who is on the EDC Board of Directors?
Other useful links

The De Soto Advantage
De Soto has an abundance of benefits for companies that choose to locate in our community. In 2008, the EDC partnered with the County Economic Research Institute (CERI) to complete a De Soto Advantage, a demographic, location and quality of life piece which highlights the advantages of doing business in De Soto. For a copy of the De Soto Advantage, please contact us.
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Companies in De Soto
A wide variety of businesses call De Soto home. The major industries are:

Company	Product	Employment
Custom Foods, Inc.	Frozen bakery products	32
Engineered Air	Custom heating/ventilation and air conditioning equipment	120
Huhtamaki	Plastic injection and molding for the food industry	315
Intervet	Animal health company	166
Mr. Goodcents Franchise Systems	Corporate Headquarters/R&D	30
Performance Glass	Glass manufacturing	40
Rehrig Pacific Company	Plastic shipping containers	40

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Available Sites and Buildings (LOIS)
Interested in finding available buildings and/or sites in De Soto? The EDC utilizes the LocationOne Information System (LOIS) which is a site and buildings database. LOIS helps you find available buildings and sites in De Soto, along with other pertinent information about our community.

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Economic Development Preparations in De Soto
The City of De Soto and the De Soto Economic Development Council partnered with the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City to conduct a Community Housing Assessment Team, also known as a CHAT. The CHAT provided valuable information on our current and future housing needs and involved over 50 participants from the community, area businesses, realtors and developers.

The City of De Soto is and the De Soto Economic Development Council also completed a Targeted Industry Study to determine which types of industries would benefit from a De Soto Location. Based on the evaluation of future growth opportunities, potential synergies with existing industries, near term utility capacity and local development goals, the following industries and industry clusters were recommended as "targets":

Primary De Soto Targeted Industry List

Life Science/Life Science Support Manufacturing

(Medical Equipment and Supplies Mfg)

Logistic Services/Wholesale, Packaging and Distribution

Food Processing Equipment/Commercial Equipment Merchant Wholesalers

Administrative Service Centers/Back Office

The study also focused on existing businesses within the community and what types of industries would be beneficial to their success. The food processing equipment/commercial equipment merchant wholesalers category was chosen to compliment an existing business located in Commerce Park, Mr. Goodcents Franchise Systems. Mr. Goodcents has approximately 40 acres of land in its campus which is ready for commercial and office development. An update to the original study is expected in early 2009.

In addition to all of the studies and assessments above, the City and EDC conducted a Community Branding Exercise. From that, a formal marketing plan will be created and unveiled for the community.
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Contact Information

If you would like to receive information on locating your company to De Soto, please contact the EDC offices at 913-583-1585. For specific information, please see the Contact list below:

Type of Information Needed:	Contact:	Phone:
Chamber of Commerce	Sara Ritter Executive Director	913-583-1585
City Information (Administration and Finance)	Pat Guilfoyle City Administrator	913-583-1182
Codes Department	Steve Chick, Sr. Building Official	913-583-1182
Community Development	Linda Bohnsack Planning Coordinator	913-583-1182
Economic Development	Sara Ritter Executive Director	913-583-1585
Planning Department	Mike Brungardt Public Works Director	913-583-1182

For information on the Planning Process, please contact City Hall at 913-583-1182.
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Activities and Benefits of the EDC
Being a member of the De Soto EDC certainly has its advantages! The EDC can benefit your company in many ways:

	Members get an "inside scoop" on development projects, which translates to possible business leads!
	Promoting De Soto as a great place to live and work to potential residents means more customers for you!
	Members have input on EDC marketing initiatives.
	EDC members help create and maintain a climate for business growth and strong quality of life.
	Being a resource for as your business grows: demographic, vital research information and contact information. Turnaround time is important and we work to get you the information by the next business day…if not earlier!
	As the EDC attracts new business, it broadens De Soto’s tax base and strengthens the economy.
	Networking opportunities to provide increased visibility for your business.
	Your organization gets the satisfaction and recognition of being an important part of planned economic development growth in De Soto!

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Membership Dues

EDC Platinum Members

EDC Membership dues are based on a tiered structure:

Platinum Member

Logo displayed on web site

Listed on EDC letterhead as a Platinum member

Banner with your company name displayed at all meetings

1 Newsletter feature on your company

8 free Chamber lunches

Web page link

Membership Certificate

1 vote for Board of Director’s position

Eligible for a board position

$1,000

Gold Member

Web page link

1 Newsletter feature on your company

6 free Chamber luncheons

6 Annual Dinner tickets

Membership Certificate

1 vote for Board of Director’s position

Eligible for a board position

$ 750

Silver Member

Web page link

4 free Chamber luncheons

2 Annual Dinner tickets

Membership Certificate

1 vote for Board of Director’s position

Eligible for a board position

$ 500

Bronze Member

2 free Chamber luncheons

1 Annual Dinner ticket

Membership Certificate

1 vote for Board of Director’s position

Eligible for a board position

$ 250

Member Level

Membership Certificate

1 vote for Board of Director’s position

Eligible for a board position

$ 150

EDC members are encouraged to be active in the EDC and provide input to the Board as decisions are made that will have a lasting impact on De Soto. New memberships are prorated by quarter. The membership drive campaign begins in November and should be remitted by January. In accordance to the EDC By-Laws, member of the EDC must also be a member of the De Soto Chamber of Commerce.

The members of the EDC are invited to attend Quarterly Membership Meetings, which are held in March, June, September and December. The De Soto EDC recently conducted its Quarterly Membership Meeting on March 25, 2009. Our guest speaker was Skip Kalb, Jr., Director of Strategic Development with the BNSF Railway Company. At the meeting, Mr. Kalb provided a PowerPoint Presentation of the Gardner Intermodal Project which provides economic impact projections for neighboring communities. Click here to download the presentation.

To join the De Soto EDC, contact Sara Ritter or complete the following application and fax it to (913) 583-3553.
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EDC Board of Directors
The EDC Board of Directors consists of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Chamber President and 3 At-Large positions. Nominations are held in October with elections in November. The Board of Directors meet monthly. All members of the EDC are encouraged to attend the board meetings and provide input.

2009 EDC Board of Directors

Chairperson

Kent Dvorak, Terracon

Vice-Chairperson

Brent Lathrom, FCB Bank

Board Members

Ron Ferris, Nabholz Const.

Dante McGrew, Westar

David Moore, FCB Bank

Mayor David Anderson, City of De Soto

Pat Guilfoyle, City of De Soto

Jack Deyoe, USD #232

Treasurer

Jennifer R. Chick, JRC, CPA, LLC

Secretary

Jill Davis, Mary Kay Cosmetics

Executive Director

Sara Ritter