Dodge City/Ford County Development Corp first to complete Sunflower’s site certification process
Stamped for approval! The Dodge City Business Park became a certified site, which verifies that the 245-acre business park meets necessary criteria for industrial development. On March 11, the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation was the first organization to complete the site certification process through the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Certified Sites Program.
“I am excited to have the Dodge City Business Park certified as an approved, developable site under the Sunflower program. The thoroughness of their process brings great credibility to our site and community,” said Joann Knight, executive director for the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation.
Sunflower developed its certified sites program to spotlight the quality industrial opportunities within its members’ service territory spanning central and western Kansas. To obtain the certification, a community must gather a comprehensive list of criteria on a potential land site, such as site characteristics, utility infrastructure, site availability and price.
“Having the due diligence completed on these sites in advance adds a competitive edge to a community’s effort to respond to potential opportunities,” said Nikki Pfannenstiel, Sunflower’s manager of member services, “and saves time for the business developer because there are no surprises with sites that are fully vetted.”
A benefit of the Sunflower Certified Sites Program is an independent third-party review of a site’s potential for industrial opportunities.
Chad Sayre, vice president at Allstate Consultants who performed the independent review, applauded Sunflower’s rural development program.
“It has been a pleasure to work with the Sunflower team and their member communities to refine the Sunflower Certified Sites Program criteria and provide an engineering and technical view of the potential these great sites possess,” Sayre said. “Sunflower is
making sure the world knows that their member communities in Kansas are open for business and ready to grow.”
To qualify for Sunflower’s program, a community must be served by one of Sunflower’s member distribution utilities. Dodge City’s application was supported by The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc.
“We are proud to be the local electric cooperative sponsor for Dodge City’s certification through Sunflower’s Certified Sites Program,” said Shane Laws, Victory’s CEO. “It’s exciting to reach this milestone, and we look forward to showcasing Dodge City’s Business Park through our marketing efforts. Having the first community complete the certification is just the beginning of what we see as more business development opportunities in our region.”
Sunflower is looking forward to working with other communities within its members’ service territories to certify sites for industrial opportunities.
For more information visit us at www.sunflowerecodevo.com or contact Nikki Pfannenstiel at 785.623.3334.
About Sunflower Electric Power Corporation — Sunflower is a regional wholesale power supplier that operates a system of solar wind, natural gas, and coal-based generating plants and a transmission system of approximately 2,400 miles for the needs of its seven Members, who serve customers living in central and western Kansas. Visit Sunflower’s website at http://www.sunflower.net
Sunflower’s member cooperatives include Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Dighton; Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Ulysses; Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Norton; The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Dodge City; Western Cooperative Electric Association, WaKeeney; and Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Scott City, Kansas. Southern Pioneer Electric Company is also a Member of Sunflower.
About Sunflower Electric Economic Development — Sunflower Electric Economic Development (SEED) is a collective initiative of Sunflower and its members, who continue to take pride in being pioneers, in seeing the potential in their communities and businesses, in trying new ways of doing things, and remaining committed to their goals. The Sunflower Certified Sites Program is a facet of SEED. Are you interested in a better environment to relocate or expand your business? Contact Nikki Pfannenstiel (785.623.3334 or pfannenstiel@sunflower.net) for access to all the resources that Sunflower Electric Economic Development can offer through Sunflower and its partners.