Grundfos will join Sokkia, Intertec Publishing, Farmers Insurance and American Freightways/Federal Express in the Tech Park. "We considered numerous locations for our North American headquarters and narrowed it down to Kansas City and Indianapolis," says Victor Lukic, president and CEO of Grundfos Pumps Corp., North America. "What impressed us was the level of commitment that the team in Kansas City demonstrated. They used an approach similar to that of a business partner rather than a typical government, which made it easy to decide in favor of Kansas City."

Initial capital investment by the company is about $4 million. The headquarters relocation is Phase I of a two-phase project. In three years, the second phase will be reviewed. It involves the development of a 75,000- to 100,000-sf build-to-suit headquarters, a 25,000-sf maintenance and service center and a 150,000-sf distribution center. Karbank Development Co. negotiated the transaction for the Tech Park. CB Richard Ellis & Co. represented Grundfos.

Grundfos, a manufacturer of pumps used in office, industrial, agricultural and residential building projects, will employ about 100 persons at the Kansas City offices, with the average annual salary being about $78,000.