Category: Economic Development Council

Third Street Social has been looking for the right opportunity to make the move over to the Kansas side of the state line. Enter downtown Olathe. The local restaurant with the big city feel has found a home in downtown Olathe at 135 S. Kansas Ave. “Downtown Olathe offers the chance to be pioneers in a rapidly growing area with tremendous potential,” co-owner Andy Lock said. “Its well-developed infrastructure, combined with a thriving nearby residential community, makes it the perfect setting for our expansion.” The new Third Street Social in downtown Olathe will offer the same signature mix of elevated American comfort food and vibrant social atmosphere that has made the concept a standout on the Missouri side. The downtown Olathe location will serve lunch, dinner, daily happy hour, and weekend brunch, ensuring a dynamic experience for every occasion. “Olathe is an ideal choice due to its geographic position, allowing us to extend our brand across the metro area,” Lock added. “The city’s leadership is also aligned with our values, making it a great environment for building strong, lasting business relationships.” Since Third Street put down roots in downtown Lee’s Summit, they have consistently grown its reputation for delivering a delicious menu and exceptional service. Third Street Social has been well-received in Lee’s Summit, Gladstone, and the Plaza area. With so much positive feedback and support for the concept, we believe the timing for our expansion to the Kansas side is ideal, and we’re excited to continue growing our brand in the metro area. “The (downtown Olathe) location’s visibility, traffic, and building size, combined with the vision for its transformation, create the perfect foundation for a destination restaurant,” Lock said. “We believe it will reshape downtown Olathe and attract significant foot traffic.” In the middle of a burgeoning downtown district that will see other new restaurants around Third Street Social, the food is what draws the crowds, but they’ll return for the whole experience. https://youtu.be/Jsx9Gg2I0H0 “Olathe residents can expect a vibrant gathering spot with chef-driven food, great happy hours for meeting up with coworkers, friends, and family, and the best brunch in the metro,” co-owner Domhnall Molloy said. “It’ll also be an ideal lunch destination for local businesses, offering both a buzzing atmosphere and private meeting spaces.” The first Third Street Social in Kansas is set to open sometime in 2025 and will offer the same attention to quality, community and memorable dining experiences that have made it a favorite among diners. After experiencing the culture of restaurants in Chicago, both Lock and Molloy wanted to bring the same experience to their home in KC. Third Street Social is certainly unique. There’ll be plush booths, exposed beams, a large open kitchen and an outdoor patio suitable for just about any weather Kansas can serve up. Well, except those pesky Kansas winters. “As with all of our restaurants, Third Street Social is about more than just great food; it’s about creating a place where people can come together,” Molloy added. “Olathe is the perfect place for us to continue that tradition, and we’re excited to bring this new dining experience to Kansas.”

Jason Pryor and Kevin Timmons are self-proclaimed history geeks. They’re also two of the preeminent restaurateurs in Kansas City. The combination of their personal and professional passions has them renovating an old service station in downtown Olathe to help breathe new life into Olathe’s central core. Pryor, the owner of Pizza 51 in South Plaza area near UMKC, is collaborating with Timmons, owner of Nick & Jake’s in Overland Park, to bring a fast casual atmosphere with not only its pizza menu but also great sandwiches, salads and cold beer to downtown Olathe. “We’re both history geeks,” Timmons said. “So, we certainly want to work in conjunction with the Olathe Historic Preservation Board on this project.” Currently, the building is 1,700 sq. ft., but Pryor said they will add to the historic building to almost double the space to accommodate demand. https://youtu.be/1lUMnn6akyM Pizza 51 will bring its distinct hand tossed, stone baked and always fresh East Coast style pizza, also sold by the slice, to Olathe. The restaurant has begun construction at 200 S. Kansas Ave. with plans for a tentative opening in the spring of 2025. “What a great, unique opportunity to be in on the revitalization of downtown Olathe,” said Pryor. “We can’t wait.” The newest restaurant in downtown Olathe is the perfect combination for the history buffs and top-notch entrepreneurs. The downtown Olathe location – to be called Pizza 51 South – has a similar look and feel to their original location in Kansas City, Mo. Like that location, the new restaurant will be housed in an old service station. The building – which the Olathe Historic Preservation Board helped save –was constructed nearly 70 years ago and originally served as a Phillips 66 station. “It’s the experience and that atmosphere that we pride ourselves in and that is what makes it unique,” Pryor added. “Downtown Olathe has character, and this building has that old-school style and design. The building has character. You sit outside, relax, have a slice of pizza and watch the trains go by.” The arrival of Pizza 51 South continues the revitalization of downtown Olathe, bringing a great new dining option to our community’s core. “We offer a fast casual atmosphere. We’re known for pizza by the slice with a pizza menu that people who know us are accustomed to,” Pryor said. “We also have five great sandwiches and five great salads for those who don’t want pizza all day.” “We’ll also have the best sangria in Olathe and the best 49-degree beer in town, too,” Timmons added. Pryor and Timmons have secured Thomas Nolte as their architect and Phil Crafton with CPS Construction as the general contractor for the renovation of the mid-century service station. “We chose Thomas because he does such a great job with that nostalgic look,” Timmons said. “They both do such great jobs on projects like this.” While Pizza 51 is celebrating the announcement of their arrival in Olathe, they also just finished celebrating the 20th anniversary of their original location near the Plaza. They began serving their delicious pizza, salads, sandwiches and cold beer at their flagship location in September of 2004.

It’s time for Char Bar to make its mark in downtown Olathe. After taking Westport by storm a decade ago and opening in Parkville, Mo. last year to rave reviews, downtown Olathe is the next, and it will be their biggest and best. Culinary Virtue Restaurant Collective is launching their newest – and largest – CharBar BBQ concept in downtown Olathe. The new restaurant will be their first location in Kansas. The new Char Bar Smoked Meats & Pickleball will occupy the northwest corner of Kansas Avenue and Santa Fe Street on the site where the downtown Olathe Fire station once stood at 200 W. Santa Fe. “From our original inception, Char Bar has been all about burning, searing and smokingmeats,” Char Bar partner Mark Kelpe said, “so it’s an absolute thrill to have the opportunity to resurrect this iconic downtown Olathe fire station into our newest Kansas City barbecue palace.” James Westphal and Mark Kelpe are the two partners bringing this concept to life in downtown Olathe. The destination restaurant will feature seven pickleball courts, lawn games, a two-story fire pit, outdoor lounges and plenty of room to let the kids run wild. Char Bar is a southern-inspired smokehouse featuring award-winning KC barbecue and one of the metro’s largest outdoor beer gardens. Their menu also offers a range of gluten-free offerings, several delicious vegan options, signature cocktails and a killer list of happy hour specials. The addition of Char Bar continues the redevelopment of Olathe’s downtown core and offers more than just a place to stop and grab a bite to eat. It’s a place to hang out and enjoy yourself.  The newest Char Bar location in downtown Olathe will be a true family friendly destination. “We’re extremely passionate about Olathe’s family-oriented community and its burgeoningdowntown,” Westphal said. “We look forward to being a part of its future.” The expected time frame for the newest Char Bar opening is late 2025 or early 2026. (Photos are from the Char Bar in Parkville, Mo.)

More than 50 years ago, Lamar Hunt brought Worlds of Fun to Kansas City. The one-of-a-kind (for its time) amusement park was transformative for so many Kansas Citians, young and old. Now, a generation later, James Arkell and Loretto Properties, LLC (which was founded by Lamar Hunt, Jr.), is bringing a state-of-the-art, all-inclusive amusement park to the area, right here at 119th and Renner in Olathe. “My wife’s grandfather built Worlds of Fun, which was groundbreaking for its time,” Arkell said. “Now, we’re building something just as groundbreaking.” What Arkell and Loretto are building is Michael’s Wonder World, an all-inclusive amusement park that will be just the second of its kind in the U.S. The amusement park will be the crown jewel of the $338 million mixed-use district featuring 67,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, a 25,000 sq. ft. medical office building, sports arena and the all-abilities theme park.   The idea of Michael’s Wonder World came from a visit to Morgan’s Wonderland, an all-inclusive amusement park in San Antonio, Texas for the Arkell family, including his 10-year-old son, Michael, who has a rare medical condition, is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair.  The Olathe City Council approved a sales tax revenue (STAR) bond district on 130 acres at the southwest and northeast corners of 119th Street and Renner in mid-September and the group is hoping for a mid-2026 opening for the first phase of development on the SW corner. The new development is a game-changer for Olathe, the entire KC metro area, the Midwest and even the northern half of the U.S. https://youtu.be/ENTuD66N4KI “The location is the best we could have hoped for, as far as regionality,” Arkell added. “It’s right in the center of the country. “Mogan’s Wonderland is pulling people from all over the world, and with us being as far north from them, we’ll open up the opportunity for a whole lot of people who couldn’t make that trip.” Located right off of I-35 makes it an ideal location, but more importantly, for Olathe, it’s yet another economic driver. “This is certainly big news for the City of Olathe,” Olathe Chamber CEO Tim McKee said. “The investment in our market, the number of jobs it will create and the draw it will be for visitors across the region is another big win for our community.” Arkell agrees. “The city is making an investment that’s going to pay off exponentially,” he said. “The utilization of the tools the city is helping us with, allows us to do this. It allows us to show the appeal of Olathe that has been here since the pioneers came across this area.” Arkell is also quick to remind that while the City of Olathe has approved the sales tax revenue (STAR) bond district for the area, the new development won’t affect Olathe residents’ tax bill. “The truth is, not a single person will be affected financially,” Arkell said. “Basically, the city is giving us a leg up, but it doesn’t cost the taxpayers a thing. “We’re just redirecting things and the result is the City of Olathe gets this phenomenal development. It makes sense for us, and everyone involved, to do it.”

Michael’s Wonder World is the centerpiece of the $388 million mixed-use district at 119th and Renner, but directly to the east of the all-abilities theme park is an impressive and equally accessible 5,000-seat arena. What sets this arena apart is that it’s not necessarily designed for basketball or volleyball, but more for sports that aren’t at the forefront when it comes to these types of facilities, but are very expensive, according to James Arkell, COO of Loretto Properties, LLC. This arena will be designed for hockey, dance, cheer and gymnastics, the sports that are oftentimes overlooked. “There isn’t a facility for sports like this,” Arkell said. “It’s also going to have a very community feel to it. There will be graduations, sport competitions and community events, anything you can think of. The arena will be designed and adapted for easy accessibility for everyone.” The arena will be nestled to the east of the amusement park on the southwest corner of 119th and Renner. In addition to the arena, Loretto Properties and VanTrust Real Estate will develop the $338 million mixed-use district featuring 67,000 sq. ft. of restaurant and retail space, a 25,000 sq. ft. medical office space and Michael’s Wonder World.  “One of the great things about Olathe is that it’s great for the family, right?” Arkell said. “Great schools, great housing, great businesses. “We’re building this to make it easy for families to come and enjoy everything that the state of Kansas and the City of Olathe has to offer.” The idea behind the construction of the arena comes from the experiences that Arkell, Michael and the rest of their family have been through. “There are usually a lot of tournaments associated with those sports and if you’re traveling with a family, let alone a special needs family member, we’re trying to make it as easy possible to come into town and have a good time,” Arkell said. He added that the ultra-accessible arena will showcase the hospitality of the area. It’s really about education as well,” he added. “A lot of the things we’ll be building into the area will be about helping people get an understanding of what’s going on with those with special needs. “The hospitality part is something I’m very excited about. We’re going to have an ADA-compliant, fully accessible suite in the arena, too. We’re taking the problems that we’ve run into as a family and tried to adjust things accordingly.” Not only will the arena and amusement park accessible to everyone, a hotel within the mixed-use project will also be ultra-accessible, too. “It will be the only complex with an ultra-accessible arena, hotel and amusement park, as well as ultra-accessible living all in the same area,” Arkell added.

Over the past decade, James Arkell and his wife have been exposed to some pretty amazing environments along with their special-needs son, Michael. More importantly, they’ve seen what was missing. And after a visit to Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio several years ago, something clicked for James Arkell. They made a visit to Morgan’s Wonderland, a fully accessible amusement park deep in the heart to Texas that offers those with special needs all of the same opportunities as everyone else. That gave Arkell the idea to build an amusement park that aims to create rides and attractions that will give dignity to every visitor. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve been exposed to a number of communities and environments that we never knew were out there,” Arkell said. “We wanted to take the resources that we have and replicate something we discovered in San Antonio.” Morgan’s Wonderland gave them inspiration. “The reason was very simple. I have 10-year-old son with a very rare genetic condition,” Arkell said. “He’s non verbal, in a wheelchair, with limited mobility, but the coolest kid you’ve ever met in your life.” They had the motivation, they were then on the lookout for the opportunity. Enter Olathe Gateway, a $338 million mixed-use district featuring 67,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, a 25,000 sq. ft. medical office building, sports arena and an all-abilities theme park. A couple of weeks ago, the Olathe City Council approved a sales tax revenue (STAR) bond district on 130 acres at the southwest and northeast corners of 119th Street and Renner in mid-September and the group is hoping for a mid-2026 opening for the first phase of development on the SW corner. Michael’s Wonder World is the centerpiece of the development. “We were already working on a huge sports project when the opportunity for the land on the SW corner of 119th presented itself,” he added. And so, the journey began. Well, actually, it’s been in the works for a while. “It started several years ago with (former and late Olathe Mayor) Michael Copeland and (current City Manager) Michale Wilkes,” Arkell said. “You could see the passion and vision that they have for the City of Olathe and what they had accomplished over the last 20 years.” The relationship that Arkell fostered with the City of Olathe has remained has turned into a great partnership that will turn this wonderful dream into a reality. And it’s not just a partnership between Loretto and the City of Olathe, either. “I’ve said this before, I think this is going to be the best representation of public, private, non-profit, for profit, you name it,” he said. “Everyone is coming together to make this happen and that’s not easy to do. “We’re not getting any handouts, we’re getting a little help to develop something new, something that will have a generational impact on that region.”   Morgan’s Wonderland houses a medical office called Morgan’s Multi-Assistance Center, a concept Loretto hopes to emulate in Olathe. Those with mental or developmental disabilities may have to visit multiple specialists, so the assistance center would streamline the process by bringing specialists and social service providers under one roof. Loretto and their teams are hoping to replicate as much as they can here in Olathe to make the Olathe Gateway Project truly one of a kind. “There are a lot of people down there that have a shared mission and that’s to give everyone a seat at the table, especially those who different abilities and challenges,” Arkell added. “We’ve been working with them for a year and a half and see if we can replicate what they have down there and bring it up here to KC. At the same time, we want to shine a light on all the great things happening in Olathe, while bringing something that would only be the second in the world. We want to improve the lives of all these wonderful kids and make it easier for families out there to really be together as a family.” With a shared vision, a lot of help from the folks that put together Morgan’s Wonderland and a great team here in Olathe, Arkell sees no reason why this can’t be another amazing all-inclusion “A lot of happy tears have been shed already, which is all the more reason we get it right and get it done,” Arkell said.

What started as a fleeting thought has turned into something special. Really special. About a decade ago, a couple of members of the then Downtown Olathe Business Association started a small get together in the heart of our city. They decided to bring a food truck into downtown Olathe on a Friday evening or even a Friday afternoon. It gained some steam, but needed a bit of a shot in the arm. Enter the Olathe Chamber of Commerce’s Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Olathe CVB took over management of the event, branded it Fourth Fridays and it’s been growing ever since. https://youtu.be/_Fm31ZtE-H8 Our first official Fourth Friday event was in May of 2016 and featured a couple of food trucks over lunchtime. There were long lines, but a lot of promise that afternoon. Fast forward eight years and the May 2024 Fourth Friday event brough more than 6,500 people into the heart of our suddenly ever-changing downtown. Kelly Peetoom, the Vice President of the Olathe Chamber’s Convention & Visitors Bureau, is thrilled with how the event has progressed, but a bit taken aback with the success. “Honestly, we never could have imagined what this event has turned into,” Peetoom said. “We started with maybe 200 people, two food trucks and a DJ hooked up to a tiny generator. “It’s just amazing what it’s become.” Another 6,000 made their way to the June Fourth Friday and close to 6,500 for the August event. That’s close to 20,000 people this summer. It’s not an overnight success story, though. It’s been a lot of hard work. The pandemic didn’t help matters, either. And we even had to relocate to the Olathe City Hall parking lot while the old courthouse was being demolished on the county square. Through it all, the Olathe CVB has persevered and thrived. Word of mouth, social media blitzes and some pretty darn good bands have helped grow the event that has become a destination for many Olathe residents – and even residents from across Johnson County and the KC Metro area – during the dog days of summer. Bands that took the stage for us this summer were May 23 – Bob Jovi with Just What I Needed (A Cars Tribute) June 28 – The Stolen Winnebagos 23 – JAM: Jackson & Mars (A tribute to Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars) Not only was the main stage on the Johnson County Square busy with the headliners, but we were able to help facilitate a second stage down at the Junque Drawer Boutique at the corner of Cherry and Cedar streets. This year’s events stretched three full city blacks from Santa Fe all the way down to Cedar Street along Cherry Street. We had anywhere form 12-15 food trucks each month this summer and offered adult beverages at a beer garden. One of the biggest and best innovations in 2024 was the small business expo we created along Cherry Street from Loula to Cedar. More than 40 booths of businesses – large and small – sold their wares and promoted their companies at the Fourth Friday events each month. “Our downtown is in the midst of a transformation, and we love showcasing it to these great crowds,” Olathe Chamber CEO Tim McKee said. “And being able to offer our members the opportunity to showcase themselves at the small business expo is the cherry on top.” The events featured car shows, children’s activities and plenty of family fun. A huge thank you to our Fourth Fridays presenting sponsor, Honda of Olathe/Subaru of Olathe, and our gold sponsors, the City of Olathe, Communities that Care, Azura Credit Union, Fry Orthodontics, Tommy’s Express Car Wash and LeBlanc & Associates. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2025. See you then. About the Olathe Chamber of CommerceThe Olathe Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber in Johnson County and the second largest chamber in the Kansas City metropolitan region. It has received Five-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – a designation obtained by only 1 percent of the nation’s chambers. Its vison is to be the voice of business that advances the economic well-being and quality of life in Olathe. Its mission is to foster a progressive community through inspired leadership, balanced economic growth, highest educational opportunities and responsive government to ensure a quality family business environment. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @OlatheChamber. About the Olathe Convention and Visitors Bureau The Olathe Convention and Visitors Bureau is a division of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and works in conjunction with the City of Olathe to promote awareness about our community. Olathe is the home of big city adventures and small-town escapes.

The Johnson County Executive Airport is about to get another upgrade. A little more than a year after the county cut the ribbon on their new and improved Taxiway Bravo, expansion continues at the airport in south Olathe. KCAC Aviation kicked off of the construction on its new aircraft maintenance hangar on Aug. 23 at Johnson County Executive Airport with a mid-2025 completion the target. The nearly 30,000 sq. ft. facility will significantly enhance KCAC Aviation’s ability to service and maintain the growing number of Pilatus and Piper aircraft throughout KCAC’s sales region. Local airport commission and county officials, as well as industry partners and KCAC Aviation team members were on hand for the groundbreaking. This new facility marks a significant milestone in the company’s 58-year history as it will double KCAC’s maintenance capacity and streamline the wide range of maintenance services that are offered, from routine inspections to major overhaul repairs. “Our maintenance team has grown by 50 percent since 2021,” said Bill Lento, Director of Maintenance for KCAC Aviation. “With this expansion, our maintenance and avionics teams will be able to work on more projects at once, which in turn will mean better service for our customers and better opportunities for our employees to grow.” The new maintenance hangar is expected to be fully operational by summer 2025. This expansion will provide additional space for aircraft repair and maintenance and will create new job opportunities. Having a second hangar dedicated to maintenance reflects KCAC Aviation’s ongoing investment in the future of general aviation and its dedication to meeting the needs of its expanding customer base. “Breaking ground on our new aircraft maintenance hangar represents a pivotal moment for KCAC Aviation,” said Tony Mateer, General Manager for KCAC Aviation. “It’s not just about expanding our facilities and reducing downtime; it’s about enhancing our capabilities and allowing us to better serve our clients. We’re excited about the opportunities this will bring for both our KCAC team members as well as our customers.” About KCAC Aviation KCAC Aviation is a full-service aviation company located at the Johnson County Executive Airport (KOJC) in Olathe, Kansas, with a Pilatus Aircraft Sales Office at DuPage Airport (KDPA) in West Chicago, Illinois. KCAC is an Authorized Sales and Service Center for Pilatus and Piper aircraft. KCAC also offers Part 145 repair services, avionics installation and repair, private charter service, aircraft management and FBO services.

Chick-fil-A donates $25,000 to Harvesters At Chick-fil-A, there’s no cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach to their distribution services. It’s not as simple checking a box and your delivery is set. That’s what makes Chick-fil-A unique. That’s what makes the new Chick-fil-A Supply in Olathe unique and imperative to the success of the franchise that foster a culture of care in the preparation of their food and the service they offer their customers. Located in the Lone Elm Commerce Center just west of the intersection of Lone Elm and 167th Street, Chick-fil-A Supply is a wholly owned innovative distribution service provider focused on understanding and meeting the unique needs of Chick-fil-A restaurants. Chick-fil-A Supply ensures restaurants have the food and products they need through a seamless delivery experience that extends the Chick-fil-A culture of care. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5toUtL0rO0 That culture of care extends beyond the four walls of the restaurant or their new distribution center. They pride themselves in taking care of the communities they’re part of and it’s as important to Chick-fil-A Supply as it is to their restaurants. In honor of opening of this new distribution center in Olathe, Chick-fil-A, Inc. is donating $25,000 to Feeding America to support local hunger relief efforts of Harvester’s – Community Food Network, a Feeding America partner food bank. The gift also connects back to Chick-fil-A’s commitment to fight hunger and address food insecurity. As the new Chick-fil-A Supply serves the region, it’s all about making things easier for the local Chick-fil-A owner-operators. “Chick-fil-A Supply can innovate to address restaurants’ distribution complexities, such as frequent, high-volume deliveries, varied delivery environments and rapidly evolving needs,” according to a Chick-fil-A spokesman. “These learnings can be applied across Chick-fil-A’s full distribution network, which also includes partner distributors. “Chick-fil-A Supply is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach; the subsidiary works directly with restaurant Owner-Operators to customize supply chain needs to their restaurants.” The cold-storage distribution center began operating full scale in early 2024 and they are focused on ensuring our local Owner-Operators receive the food and products they need in a timely manner – and in a way that will make things easy on their teams. Having Chick-fil-A Supply in Olathe helps facilitate growth in our restaurants, both now and in the future. The new, 147 thousand sq. ft. facility anchors and Lone Elm Commerce Center on the north side of 167th Street and employs 77 team members with the potential to add 10 to 15 more over the course of the next five years. The decision to call Olathe home was a no-brainer for Chick-fil-A Supply. Olathe offered access to the full breadth of distribution talent and was located conveniently between several important markets for Chick-fil-A. It allows them to serve their owner-operators well into the future. The distribution center in south Olathe serves Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout the Kansas City market, as well as restaurants in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Missouri. It currently serves more than 70 restaurants and in the next five years, will serve at least 15 more restaurants. They chose to be in Olathe because it was the right fit for their workforce, business and long-term needs. We couldn’t agree more.

Tucked away along Old 56 Highway near Harrison Street sits an unassuming, somewhat large building that’s supplying the world with something many of us don’t think about much, if ever, really. The appropriately named, Global Ground Support, has been headquartered in Olathe for the past 25 years and has become the world’s second-largest aircraft deicer truck manufacturer, supplying deicers across the national and around the globe. Global builds three different types of deicers, but the crown jewel is their G-2875ER extended reach that features a 95-foot spray radius and has the longest side reach and highest cab/nozzle heights of any mobile deicer in the world. The cab extends up to 72 feet from the truck that is designed specifically for the Aurbus A-380, one of the largest planes in the world. https://youtu.be/_vVWUzkiMaE It’s more than just providing ground support equipment for commercial use, though. For the past 25 years, Global has proudly served as the exclusive provider of deicers for the U. S. Air Force. Global has delivered more than 600 military-grade deicers in the last two-plus decades. There are 50 employees at Global and they pride themselves on quality craftsmanship and locally sourced material. “Seventy percent of our supplier base is within 60 miles of here,” Melissa Shriver, VP of Business Operations for Global, said at a product showcase event this week. “We’re very proud of that.” Global’s latest development is a Glycol Transfer Vehicle (GTV). The GTV delivers and stores deicing fluids at the deicing pads, decreasing the downtime of the deicers having to drive up to 30 minutes to fill locations.   “This really helps does change the game for those that have to travel up to 30 minutes to refill,” said Marshall Keith, Director of Operations for Global. They are putting the final touches on the first truck that is set to go out the door later this summer. The refueling truck is just the latest in helping to diversify Global’s offering. Not only do they provide deicers all over the world, they also provide additional ground support vehicles nationally and internationally. The Global hi-lift catering trucks deliver food and beverages to airplanes. Whether it’s keeping commercial jets across the world safe to fly in the winter months, keeping airlines fully-equipped and ready to serve or keeping the aircraft that protect our country safe, Global is making an impact – from right here in Olathe.