Kansas City’s central location, workforce and transportation infrastructure make the region a top choice for distribution and manufacturing operations. Three companies have recently announced new facilities in the Kansas City area, and many established companies are expanding their current operations.

Companies announcing new facilities include:

• Hostess Brands plans to open a new distribution center in Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton, Kan. The new location creates synergies with proximity to Hostess’s corporate office as well as its Emporia bakery, access to a highly skilled labor pool and additional opportunities for future projects. “Our new distribution center supports our overall distribution strategy, which is to ensure customers have access to the freshest snacks possible, and positions Hostess for future growth,” said Hostess Senior Vice President John Kalal. Read more.

• PAE, a third-party logistics provider, will lease 500,000-sq.-ft. of warehouse space at Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC), bringing 75 jobs to the Edgerton community. PAE provides records handling and mail management services supporting the U.S. government in over 100 locations. Read more.

• Amazon will open a new fulfillment center in Kansas City, Mo. The new facility will be approximately 80,000-sq.-ft. and will house operations for the Amazon Flex program, which hires individuals to deliver packages to the end consumer. In addition to the new fulfillment center, Amazon has existing facilities in Wyandotte County, Kan.; Edgerton, Kan.; Lenexa, Kan. and Shawnee, Kan..

Companies with existing operations that are expanding in the KC region include:

• The Ford Stamping Plant in Liberty, Mo., announced a 359,000-sq.-ft.t expansion. This expansion, which will serve the Transit Van line and the F-150, is expected to add up to 267 jobs to the automaker’s workforce over a three-year period.

• Mars Wrigley Confectionery plans to invest $30 million to upgrade its Topeka, Kan., facility. The capital investment will boost the capabilities of its current equipment at the site. To date, Mars has invested a half-billion dollars in the plant which employs more than 420 people.

• Shick Esteve, manufacturer of food automation systems, invested $2 million to build a 108,000-sq.-ft addition to its manufacturing operation in Kansas City. In addition to giving the company’s 180 employees more room to work, the expansion project included new equipment for forming, rolling, laser-cutting and welding fabricated parts.

• LifeLine Foods plans to expand its masa flour production by adding a second mill. The project includes $5.5 million in existing building improvements and $6.5 million in new machinery equipment, for a total project of $12 million.