As expected, the Kansas City Kansas, Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously Wednesday night to give $250,000 from its economic development fund to Kansas City Kansas Community College’s downtown campus project.
Some board members were concerned whether the new campus at 7th and State would be all-electric, a requirement of the BPU’s economic development fund policy.
BPU General Manager Bill Johnson said he had talked to Dr. Greg Mosier, college president, and explained all-electric is one of the requirements of the policy. The only way they will receive the dollars at a later date is that all the requirements of the policy will be fulfilled, and that all the facilities that receive funds will be all-electric, according to Johnson.
Johnson said the process is still being completed, and there was a conversation held recently about electric versus gas heating, but they are fully aware of the all-electric policy.
Board secretary Rose Mulvany Henry asked why the BPU had an all-electric policy for these grants when it is now utilizing resources such as a variety of energy sources.
Johnson said putting all-electric rates in as a requirement grows the BPU’s winter energy usage. The BPU has provided some incentives for developers to go all-electric, but they make sure there will be a return on it, he said.
The $250,000 would not be given to the college immediately, according to BPU officials, but would remain in the BPU’s economic development fund at least through 2021. Johnson said this is a one-time set-aside, which is part of a larger request from the college. The original KCKCC request was for $3 million in cash or in-kind services.
Johnson said he was looking forward to the success of the downtown campus project. “I still believe in higher education for those who can achieve that in life,” Johnson said.
The downtown campus will be a road to the future for a lot of people who previously didn’t have educational opportunities, he said.
There are currently other economic development requests in the BPU’s pipeline for the economic development fund, he said.
Patrice Townsend, BPU director of utility services, said two developers have proposals for the economic development fund, and some are in the early stages, so it may take time to get the information in.
BPU board member Jeff Bryant said he looked at the BPU’s incentives and economic development grants as investments in the community that will eventually show a return on investment.
On Nov. 1, the college received a certificate allowing it to demolish a KCK landmark church on the property at 7th and State, where the new campus will be built.
To see an earlier story, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/landmark-kck-church-could-be-torn-down-as-colleges-downtown-campus-moves-ahead/.
As of 2018?, the commercial building spending rate is/was a $1.44 per sq. ft. per year for electricity and $.30 per sq.ft. using natural gas. Will going all electric in a new building be worth it in the long run? – I don’t have the answer either.