Thanks to the continual growth of the global food company Cargill, Inc., there will be about 100 new jobs added to the Lenexa Southlake Technology Park. The food distributor recently signed a lease that runs long-term for 25,000 square feet of space in the Waterside I Building. While this is great news for the Lenexa commercial real estate and job market, though this isn’t the only growth for the company. According to reports, the Minnesota-based company is also setting up new operations in Costa Rica, too. The Southlake Technology Park was recently acquired by Hines Interest LP, which is an international commercial real estate firm based in Houston, Texas. The purchase of 40 Lenexa office and industrial buildings totaled $89 million for the buyers.

Commercial real estate is having a very strong year so far, and it’s a great time to be a property owner and a broker. Employment is strengthening here in Kansas City, consumer confidence is growing, and corporate confidence is high as well.

However, there is more exciting news for the retail and commercial real estate sectors here in Lenexa. Cargill expanded on another side of town, with its updated and bigger lease in the 5200 Metcalf Building, which resulted in the company doubling its occupancy in the building. New Horizons Computer Learning Center recently leased 12,647 square feet of space too, after leaving the Metcalf South Mall and moving over to the College Oaks Office Park in Overland Park.