National wind farm manufacturer Nordic Windpower USA is moving its headquarters from California to Kansas City International Airport (KCI) after Missouri Governor Jay Nixon offered them $5.6 million in incentives.

The company, currently headquartered in Berkeley, will invest some $16 million in the new airport property and will create more than 200 local jobs over the next six years, according to the governor's website.

The incentive package offered to Nordic includes resources from the state's Community Development Block Grant, new jobs training, and employee recruitment and referral programs, as well as sales tax exemptions for equipment and machinery purchased.

"As we look at Missouri's economic future, we know that energy will be a high-growth industry in our state," Governor Nixon said. "By expanding the production of clean, renewable and domestic energy in Missouri, we provide reliable power for our communities, and we fuel the economy of the future.

"I am pleased that we are able to authorize this strategic incentive package for Nordic Windpower, and we look forward to working with the company to create hundreds of jobs here in the Show-Me State," he added.

"Bringing Nordic Windpower USA onboard as a tenant is in synch with our objective of attracting compatible industries to KCI Airport, said Mark VanLoh, director of the Kansas City Aviation Department. "By having a mix of aviation-related and non aviation-related businesses at KCI, Kansas City's job portfolio is diversified much like an investment portfolio. The resulting revenue lowers costs for airlines and can translate to lower fares for travellers."

In 2007, the aviation department acquired the Ambassador Building at KCI (formerly the world headquarters of Farmland Industries), which offers 260,000sqft of Class A office space located on a 23-acre campus adjacent to KCI. The building is now at 65% occupancy with more than a dozen tenants.

By Michael Smith.