BRIEF: Rep. Davids highlights local supply chain, infrastructure investment with stop at JoCo short-line

For Sharice Davids, infrastructure and shipping opportunities in Johnson County are part of a multilayered effort to strengthen domestic supply chains. She underscored those and recent federal and local investment in these efforts in an appearance in Olathe Tuesday morning.

Rep. Davids, a Democrat who represents Kansas' Third District in the U.S. House, stopped in southwest Johnson County for a quick ride around the short-line railroad on the New Century AirCenter property.

The short-line rail serves about eight customers, including DuPont and Sauer Brands, positioned around the transportation hub. It's basically the last mile goods travel before arriving at their local distribution location. Recent federal investments, including the bipartisan infrastructure bill, could help the railroad as well as other local infrastructure while also supporting innovation and workforce needs.

Davids, who represents Johnson County and other KC metropolitan communities on the Kansas side, said she's never ridden on the short-line in Johnson County before.

"It's really a driver for economic development," she said, "and how many companies are interested in setting up shop here because of the prime location for just so many different types of businesses, and getting goods across the country and even internationally."

The airfield, which is always busy, has seen a recent influx in activity with plans to build out a multibuilding industrial commerce center in the next few years. Once that's complete, the air center — a decommissioned naval air base — will have the railroad, an airport, a business park and an industrial center.

All of this, Davids says, puts Johnson County and the metro area at the "cutting edge" because it's been putting in the work to stabilize future economic prospects for years, which supports the supply chain needs in the U.S. today.

"Trucks can connect with rail and rail can connect with trucks," she said. "[People] might not realize that just a couple miles down the road, we have logistics parks, we've got companies that are really the reason that folks all across the country are able to get the goods and supplies that they need."