KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two years into construction of the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport, the project is on schedule and on budget – despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It’s going to be a great asset and you’re going to love this new terminal," Geoffrey Stricker, senior managing director for Edgewood Infrastructure and Real Estate, said. "You’re going to have a phenomenal experience coming in, and it’s going to represent the best of Kansas City."
Clyde McQueen, Full Employment Council CEO, told 41 Action News Edgemoor also is exceeding its commitment to minorities and women being represented on the project. More than 20% of minorities and nearly 8% of women are on the job at KCI.
McQueen said he credited those numbers to the community asking vital questions like, “If we vote for this, how many of my friends, neighbors, relatives, are going to be employed in this project? I think that’s what made the difference.”
Roughly 13% of the employees on the new terminal are from Kansas City, Missouri, and about 82% are from the metro area.
Quiema Spencer, a pipe fitter, is one of the Kansas City natives who is proud to work on the project.
“It’s the largest infrastructure project the city’s ever seen," Spencer said. "So we’re making history here, and I’m real happy to be a part of it."
Another feature is the project's workforce apprenticeship program, which offered a $400 weekly stipend during training, along with free child care and transportation at hours that worked with the construction schedule.
McQueen said he believes that was the key.
“Those 3 things, they coexist," McQueen said. "You can’t do one versus the other. You have to be aware of all three when you’re trying to recruit for a construction project like the airport.”
The next big milestone will be once the terminal is water tight, meaning work can continue no matter the weather conditions. That's set to happen this summer.
The new terminal at KCI is scheduled to be completed in March 2023.
