Urban Outfitters to bring 2K jobs to Kansas

Upward of 2,000 new jobs are on the way to Kansas, with Urban Outfitters announcing Wednesday it will be building a new e-commerce distribution center in Wyandotte County.

Gov. Laura Kelly framed the move as a coup for the state’s economic development in light of COVID-19 and the resulting rise in unemployment, with the 880,000-square-foot facility set to be built near the Kansas Speedway.

“We didn’t know when we first started this that we would be facing the worst public health crisis in a century,” Kelly said at a news conference announcing the move. “But despite COVID-19, today’s announcement has furthered our resolve that Kansas is on the right path. This is a transformational project for our state.”

Urban Outfitters will invest $350 million in the facility’s construction, and David Ziel, the company’s chief development officer, framed the move as a “long-term investment” in the region and state.

“This is a strategic piece,” Ziel said. “We’re not about building after building. We’re about culture.”

It is not clear how much in the way of public support was used to lure the Philadelphia-based lifestyle company to the site, with those figures not set to be announced for another six to eight weeks.

But Kansas City Mayor David Altvey said the additional revenue brought into the city and area school district would be upward of $500,000 — a considerable amount, he said.

The project is also a partnership with Dallas-based developer Hillwood Development, as well as NASCAR, which owns the land where the facility is set to be constructed.

And while the facility is set to most directly benefit the Kansas City area, Ziel said the company would be recruiting “at the broadest range we possibly can” to fill the jobs, which will pay at least $18 an hour.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran said the move was a testament to the quality of the state’s workforce and the work ethic Kansans possess. And officials said they are hopeful that Urban Outfitters might expand its role in the state further going forward.

And Moran said the company’s reputation might entice other firms to pursue economic development opportunities in the Kansas City area and beyond.

“You set the stage for other developments in Kansas City and throughout our state,” Moran said. “The reputation of Urban Outfitters is renowned, internationally known, and the arrival of your company to our state gives us the opportunity to use you. I believe other companies will look directly at Kansas because you’ve chosen our state to be your new home.”