PQ Corp. Invests $120M in Kansas City Plant Expansion

By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor

PQ Corp. recently announced plans to invest $120 million in the expansion of its chemical plant in Kansas City, Kansas. The expansion would add between 40 and 50 jobs to the 100 existing jobs.

The Kansas City Star reports the Pennsylvania-based company held a ceremonial groundbreaking with Governor Sam Brownback and other state and local officials in attendance. Design and engineering work has already started at the plant located at 1700 Kansas Avenue. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

PQ Corp. has several other manufacturing plants across the country but said it chose the one in Kansas City, for expansion due to its dedicated workforce, existing infrastructure and the strong backing it has received from the state. The investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to Kansas, Wyandotte County and the Kansas City area.

Business incentives for hiring additional employees and sales tax incentives for capital construction purchases to be used in the expansion were received as economic development aid from the state. The State and local governments will also offer around $25 million to the company in grants, loans and training costs. State officials said they expect to recover their investment in the next two years.

Based in Malvern, Pennsylvania, PQ Corp. produces inorganic specialty chemicals and engineered glass materials.

In other local real estate news, The Kansas City Star reports a record $115 million in construction activity was reported in April by Overland Park city officials. Around two-thirds of the total was due to a significant increase in residential construction activity with $59 million in apartment construction and $17 million in single-family housing.

Logo Courtesy of: www.pqcorp.com