Blue Buffalo building warehouse in Olathe

OLATHE, KAN. — General Mills has its sights set on establishing a new warehouse in Olathe servicing its Blue Buffalo pet nutrition division. On Feb. 20, the Olathe City Council approved an incentive package to support the construction of a nearly 730,000-square-foot warehouse on 57 acres of the I-35 Logistics Park off Old 56 Highway.

The incentive package includes nearly $71.6 million in industrial revenue bonds, which will cover the land, building, furniture, fixtures and equipment costs, according to the council. In tandem with the bonds, General Mills has requested a 50% property tax phase-in over 10 years. Once the company starts paying property taxes on the new warehouse, the City of Olathe expects to accrue $254,000 annually in property tax revenue.

According to the council, the warehouse project will be completed in a single phase and is expected to bring 103 new jobs and $51.6 million in new wages to the area over the next decade. General Mills expects the new warehouse will add $370 million in sales for the company over the next 10 years, and plans to invest up to $5 million in the facility over the same period.

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