Kent is in the running for federal headquarters that could bring approximately 2,000 jobs to the area.
That was the word Friday from Kurt Hanson, the city’s economic development manager, who spoke during a breakfast meeting of the Kent Downtown Partnership.
In giving an economic update to the group of 100 or so Kent business representatives, Hanson explained that Kent was now on the “short list” for a new Federal Aviation Administration headquarters. The project, as proposed, would entail 519,000 square feet of office space, and would include employee amenities like a 12,000-square-foot, day-care facility.
Also competing for the development are Kent’s neighbors: the cities of Renton, Des Moines, Sea Tac and Tukwila.
Hanson said a major point in favor of Kent was its proximity to rail lines.
“They want to be within a half-mile of rail,” he said.
The city will be submitting a letter of intent to the U.S. General Services Administration by March 1, and after that, Hanson told his audience, efforts would really get under way in the city’s bid to bring the facility here.
Hanson called the team with whom he was working with on the project “fantastic,” expressing optimism about the city’s chances, and the fact that it was on GSA’s short list for siting the facility.
“This has been all-consuming for me,” he added, of the time and long-term talks the project has required – starting with the Bush administration and now continuing with Obama’s.
The Kent Reporter will update this story as soon more details become available.
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