A NEW IDENTITY

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 16, 2008 by Michael Hooper

By Michael Hooper

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Forbes Field, a virtual ghost town after the U.S. Air Force left in the 1970s, has evolved into a growing community of hundreds of people working in numerous other enterprises.

About 200 employees of Electronic Data Systems Corp. will move from White Lakes Center to a building owned by Chuck Lucius at Forbes Field in late summer. Lucius' 25-employee company, Independent Brokerage, is moving this summer to 3740 S.W. Burlingame Road.

FedEx Ground, Sports Car Club of America, Coca-Cola Enterprises and the Topeka Police Department Firing Range are among the tenants at the industrial park.

Forbes Field was once home to a major U.S. Air Force base, but it closed in the 1970s, eliminating thousands of military and civilian jobs by 1974.

It was redesignated as an Air National Guard base and came under the control of the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority. The 190th Air Refueling Wing occupies the north side of the runways, while the tenant community is located south of the 190th. Because of its rebuilt runways, Forbes has planes flying in and out by every branch of the military through the joint use agreement with the U.S. government.

About 99 percent of the buildings owned by MTAA are leased, said Eric Johnson, interim president and director of operations at MTAA.

The Topeka Air Industrial Park has more than 120 tenants providing Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority more than $1 million in rental income annually.

Key factors in the redevelopment of the property were making sure there was an environment where businesses could locate, grow, expand and be successful.

Johnson said the MTAA has another 200 acres for development.

The park's tenants include large and small companies.

Cardona Coffee has three employees who deliver coffee, cream and sugar, hot chocolate, and ice tea to convenience stores, restaurants, coffee shops and business offices. The company recently launched cuppajane.com - a Web site targeted to working women.

"I feel extremely secure out here," said Kevin Conard, president of the company. There are patrol cars who really do a good job. I have no complaints."

FedEx Ground, with about 50 employees, launched a major expansion last fall at Forbes Field. The company has outgrown its current facility of 32,000 square feet. The new facility will be 62,000 square feet when it is completed this summer.

Karley Champney, senior manager with FedEx Ground, said construction started Oct. 25, and the company should be operational by July 11.

"We started with nine routes; now we're running more than 20 ground routes, plus more than a dozen home delivery routes," Champney said.

Another Forbes Field tenant is Brackett Inc., which designs, builds and distributes bindery equipment, and employs 10 people. It has been at Forbes Field since 1985.

"It is an excellent facility," said Mike Murray, president. "We're happy."

Michael Hooper can be reached

at (785)295-1293

or michael.hooper@cjonline.com.