South KC hub heats up with $100M+ cold storage investment; logistics site expected to bring 190 jobs
August 13, 2025 | Startland News Staff
A strategic collaboration between Americold and CPKC underscores Kansas City’s growing role in advancing cross-border commerce and temperature-controlled logistics, officials said Tuesday, celebrating the grand opening of a 335,000-square-foot Import-Export Hub in South Kansas City.
Corporate and economic development leaders celebrate the grand opening of Americold’s Import-Export Hub within the I-49 Logistics Center in South Kansas City; photo courtesy of Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC)
Americold’s new $100 million-plus facility is expected to create nearly 190 new jobs and serve as a hub for Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) Mexico Midwest Express (MMX) service — the only single-line rail offering for refrigerated freight between the U.S. Midwest and Mexico.
“Americold’s investment is a powerful example of what’s possible when global industry leaders recognize the value of Kansas City,” said Tracey Lewis, president and CEO of Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC). “This facility strengthens our position as a logistics powerhouse and reflects our commitment to attracting transformative projects that deliver long-term economic impact for our workforce and community.”
RELATED: KC’s next big wins require all players join EDCKC in the field, Lewis says
Strategically located within the I-49 Logistics Center — an emerging hub for industrial development and multimodal connectivity — the facility showcases Kansas City’s advantages in freight access, geographic centrality, and capacity for scalable growth.
“This is more than infrastructure — it’s a fully integrated solution that connects food producers to consumers faster and more efficiently,” said George Chappelle, CEO of Americold. “By combining our cold storage capabilities and food flow expertise with CPKC’s rail network through Kansas City, we’re creating a new North American cold chain that delivers real value to our customers. Simply put, we’ve unlocked a better way to move food.”
“This grand opening marks the realization of a shared vision,” added Keith Creel, president and CEO of CPKC. “This facility is the first of many across our unrivaled North American network. By combining Americold with our secure, single-line cross-border service, we have created a new refrigerated supply chain for our customers shipping food and other temperature-controlled products across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.”
EDCKC worked in collaboration with Missouri Partnership, KC SmartPort, the City of Kansas City, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Missouri One Start, Evergy, and Spire to support the project and align it with local workforce and infrastructure priorities.
“We’re proud to welcome Americold to Kansas City,” said Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. “This facility not only brings quality jobs to South KC residents — it reinforces our city’s strategic role in supporting national and global supply chains. We look forward to being a long-term partner in Americold’s success.”
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
LaunchKC finalists revealed: Kansas City newsmakers and startup stars in the making
A dozen Kansas City tech entrepreneurs are set to compete next month against a mix of firms from across the country — and one startup from Israel — in arguably the city’s most elite and hotly anticipated pitch event of the year. LaunchKC announced its 20 finalists Tuesday — each vying for their piece of…
‘Buddha was a Baller’ seeks to awaken success without overthinking, Mindsport founder says
Buddha had the mind of an athlete, said Ryan Stock. The spiritual sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded inspired Stock, creator of the MindSport app and a former basketball coach, to put his own thoughts to paper. His book, “Buddha was a Baller,” is set for release Oct. 28, the Kansas City entrepreneur said.…
Pipeline opens applications for 2019 fellowship class, reveals three-city 1MC pitch event
An application for Pipeline’s 2019 fellowship class isn’t just about next year, said Joni Cobb — it’s an opportunity for a lifetime of support from the organization’s network of developing and top-tier entrepreneurs. “Pipeline is available for life for each entrepreneur who successfully completes the fellowship year,” said Cobb, president and CEO of Pipeline, in…
Report: Black women’s impact overlooked in KC startup community and beyond
Raise a hand if you know that black women have created more than 1 million jobs, Dell Gines challenged. A statistics-based question –– frequently answered with an expected, yet glacial silence –– acknowledges an unprecedented phenomenon in both the small business community and within the confines of the often-exclusive startup ecosystem, said Gines, Federal Reserve…