Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau November 2016 17
In Park III , there are five lots of approximately 72 acres that will be developed in the future . Today all the lots are pad ready , meaning the lots are accessible to a paved street and all utilities are to the lot line .
It is estimated that those remaining sites in Park III will add from 800,000 to 1,000,000 sq . ft . of manufacturing or warehouse space , which would add to the assessed value of $ 20,000,000 to $ 25,000,000 , which at today ’ s mill levy would yield $ 838,000 to $ 1,074,500 in new property tax revenue for the Emporia School District , Lyon County and the City of Emporia . The estimated additional payroll and job creation on those remaining lots in Park III would generate $ 26.4 to $ 33 million in job creation , 600 to 800 full-time jobs .
The Kansas Department of Transportation ( KDOT ) in 2013 awarded a KDOT Economic Development grant to the City of Emporia to construct the project which also included the street paving , engineering , sidewalks and storm water detention dry ponds . The city was awarded up to 50 % of the total project ’ s costs but not to exceed $ 500,000 .
The project became protracted because of a delay with reviews by FEMA and the Army Corp of Engineers , which could be the basis of another article , however , sufficient to say the project was bid in early 2016 , constructed and completed ahead of schedule and opened for use in August 2016 .
The total cost of the project was approximately $ 1,174,177 of which KDOT Economic Development grant paid $ 500,000 . The balance of $ 674,177.47 will be funded from the Emporia ½-cent City Sales Tax fund for industrial and economic development .
The project was a win-win for the City of Emporia and future and existing businesses in Park III .
The key to obtaining the KDOT Economic Development grant funding was quality job creation , safety , reduction of the carbon footprint and investing for future businesses to grow in Emporia . The RDA will continue to submit grant applications to KDOT to leverage the local development funds with state funds .