KCRag Forum

USDA: Many decline move to KC.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/20 ... -wont-move

Sounds like they'll end up in temp office space or existing USDA space over by Swope Park until a new site is selected. So might be possible they wait for new construction for a permanent location.

earthling wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:52 am USDA: Many decline move to KC.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/20 ... -wont-move

Sounds like they'll end up in temp office space or existing USDA space over by Swope Park until a new site is selected. So might be possible they wait for new construction for a permanent location.

I think it's rather insulting the way this is playing out in the national press. I realize there are political issues at play here but the press is playing it up as Republicans/Trump forcing DOA professionals to move to a farm town and/or unsophisticated dump in middle America as some kind of revenge for being a science based organization. I would be willing to bet that the number of scientists that ultimately make the move is far greater than currently being advertised. I've worked in the scientific community for 30 years. It's not that easy to walk off the job and into another job. In most cases, it's a small community and the number of attractive positions are usually very limited. I would suspect that most that stay do so because of other concerns - spouse employment, family, near retirement.

Nonetheless, the media making this into a circus has had collateral damage for KC's reputation which actually has been on the rise.

Most articles I've seen have been more about USDA employees not wanting to leave DC than specifically not wanting to move to KC. Many view that it's about breaking up research that doesn't agree with the Trump admin. Others also say that they need close ties to Congress, but isn't the case anymore with web conferencing.

Reality is... There are far more USDA jobs in KC than DC already. There are over 100 Fed agencies in KC with 35K employees, no issues with ties to DC ecosystem given technology. And there will still be about 100 USDA based in DC after move. But the move is also being handled poorly and too quickly, as HR leaders have pointed out.

earthling wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:17 am And there will still be about 100 USDA based in DC after move.

100 would effectively mean just HQ. The Secretary won't leave DC. The heads of all the agencies are based out of DC even when the agency is elsewhere.

Despite Pending Deal, Kansas And Missouri May Not Be Done With Border War

https://www.kcur.org/post/despite-pendi ... r#stream/0

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order Friday morning that effectively ended the economic border war between Kansas and Missouri.

Kelly’s order mirrors legislation Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed in early June, which won’t take effect until Kansas matches it and the Missouri Department of Commerce verifies that. But Kelly’s order includes one key difference: It calls for local incentive granting authorities in both states to participate in the truce as well.

The order goes into effect on or after Aug. 28, and the two governors plan to discuss the issue at a summit hosted by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 13.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... s_headline

More ammo for those who think the USDA move is more about breaking up scientific research that doesn't agree with Trump admin than cost cutting. USDA is backtracking on those on the fence about moving to KC. Wouldn't USDA want to retain as many as possible on the relocation?

https://www.govexec.com/management/2019 ... ck/158816/

Hostess moving headquarters to Kansas.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... ansas.html

FangKC wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 3:43 pm Hostess moving headquarters to Kansas.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... ansas.html

Looks like their rent is going up. 2018 $2,052,000 2019 $3,577,549

FangKC wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 3:43 pm Hostess moving headquarters to Kansas.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... ansas.html

Incentives?

Weren't they bankrupt pretty recently?

I could see them moving to the Century Link Building at New Century, Century Link is moving out soon and its a nice building, plus they will be 5 minutes from the Edgerton Opertations

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8155809 ... 312!8i6656

brewcrew1000 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:29 am I could see them moving to the Century Link Building at New Century, Century Link is moving out soon and its a nice building, plus they will be 5 minutes from the Edgerton Opertations

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8155809 ... 312!8i6656

800 employees. A big loss for the metro. I take it all of the transfers are to offices outside the KC area? Sounds like the Kansas version of TransAmerica.

Highlander wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2019 6:01 pm

brewcrew1000 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:29 am I could see them moving to the Century Link Building at New Century, Century Link is moving out soon and its a nice building, plus they will be 5 minutes from the Edgerton Opertations

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8155809 ... 312!8i6656

800 employees. A big loss for the metro. I take it all of the transfers are to offices outside the KC area? Sounds like the Kansas version of TransAmerica.

I can't help but think that it was hard for them to attract and keep qualified workers.

langosta wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:25 am I can't help but think that it was hard for them to attract and keep qualified workers.

I always turned them down when recruiters mentioned they had openings, they were too far south.

Not sure if this fits in this category but I really think the Traffic Going South on 35 from Downtown to 435 in the Morning is now worse than the Traffic going North into downtown, same with the evening commute, the backup to go on 635 sometimes backs up to Shawnee Mission in the Evening. Are more people just choosing to live in Missouri/Wyandotte and choosing to commute to Kansas, is it more companies in Kansas now? The traffic has really gotten bad over the last 4-5 years

brewcrew1000 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 8:43 am Not sure if this fits in this category but I really think the Traffic Going South on 35 from Downtown to 435 in the Morning is now worse than the Traffic going North into downtown, same with the evening commute, the backup to go on 635 sometimes backs up to Shawnee Mission in the Evening. Are more people just choosing to live in Missouri/Wyandotte and choosing to commute to Kansas, is it more companies in Kansas now? The traffic has really gotten bad over the last 4-5 years

Downtown employment is down more than 50% of what it was in 2000. Downtown residential on the other hand has more than doubled (maybe tripled).

langosta wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:25 am

Highlander wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2019 6:01 pm

brewcrew1000 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:29 am I could see them moving to the Century Link Building at New Century, Century Link is moving out soon and its a nice building, plus they will be 5 minutes from the Edgerton Opertations

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8155809 ... 312!8i6656

800 employees. A big loss for the metro. I take it all of the transfers are to offices outside the KC area? Sounds like the Kansas version of TransAmerica.

I can't help but think that it was hard for them to attract and keep qualified workers.

Why would they have issues? KC's low unemployment rate? low pay? Wasn't this mostly a call center?

75th and Quivira

https://www.missourinet.com/2019/10/17/ ... -agencies/

The USDA’s Deputy Undersecretary for Research says the transfer of two research agencies to Kansas City is complete and hiring is underway.

Another past report said most went to the existing USDA location near Swope Park. Given only about 60-100 are moving to KC (depending on report), they'll apparently be hiring the rest. But will they seek a large office lease or simply find more space in Swope Park office park as they go? Or squeeze them in with shared tables instead of cubicles?

USDA apparently has selected the former State Street building downtown near Quality Hill...
https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... treet.html