Kansas City Bringing In Long-Term Partners

KANSAS CITY—GEICO just chose the Kansas City region as the location for its newest service center. And according to officials from The Kansas City Area Development Council, the move provides more than a one-time shot in the arm to the local economy.

“It’s an American business icon,” Tim Cowden, president and chief executive officer of KCADC, tells GlobeSt.com. The second-largest private passenger auto insurer and one of the fastest-growing major auto insurers in the US, GEICO is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, and “they do everything with the long-term in mind.”

The legendary investor made the announcement yesterday in Lenexa, KS, one of the city’s western suburbs, where the company will invest almost $10 million in a 55,000 square foot office at 11214 Renner Blvd. It will begin hiring immediately and expects to open the facility in August 2018.

“It says a lot about where Kansas City is going,” Cowden says, especially since GEICO chose the region after a two-year national search that evaluated multiple markets. The operation will create 500 new sales and customer service jobs over the next five years, and these positions start at $17 an hour or more. “These are very good, career-track jobs.”

The suburban market has proven it can attract and retain the necessary talent, he adds. “We’re not surprised that Lenexa received the nod.”

“We are looking forward to being part of this vibrant community and adding talented people to the GEICO team,” says Tony Nicely, GEICO’s chairman.

KCADC worked with a number of regional partners in attracting GEICO to the region: State of Kansas, Kansas Department of Commerce, Lenexa Chamber of Commerce and EDC, City of Lenexa, KCP&L, Johnson County Community College, University of Kansas – Edwards Campus, Kansas State University, CBRE, JLL, JE Dunn Construction, the University of Kansas Health System and the Kansas City Veteran Coalition.