AgEagle, the Neodesha drone company, on Tuesday morning announced its much-anticipated new Wichita office and manufacturing site.
Although the release states that it will be in 12,000 square feet next to the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, the address — 8863 E. 34th St. North — shows that it’s actually by Colonel James Jabara Airport.
It also happens to be extremely close to Amazon’s planned new warehouse just a few streets north of the AgEagle site, at 4044 N. Toben.
One of the sites AgEagle considered was at the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, formerly Mid-Continent, and there was much speculation that AgEagle would locate at or by the airport.
However, some people watching the company’s planned move to Wichita were certain it would instead choose to be by Jabara because of the added proximity of Amazon.
In an April news release, AgEagle announced a contract with “a major ecommerce company.” AgEagle is expanding beyond drones used for farming and last year announced it is branching into commercial drone deliveries.
AgEagle and Amazon haven’t made any announcements about a connection between the companies.
It looks like Amazon also has plans for a second, much-larger warehouse in Park City.
Previously, AgEagle CEO Michael Drozd said Wichita has a “great workforce” and “reasonable cost of living,” and he also marveled at Wichita State University, the National Institute for Aviation Research and aviation companies and suppliers.
In Tuesday’s statement, he said: “We are very pleased to have completed the search for our new manufacturing home and believe we have chosen the ideal location, providing ample room for the planned scaling of our manufacturing operations.”
Drozd also thanked state and local officials “for their enthusiastic support of our decision to move to Wichita. We look forward to settling in quickly.”
Scott Salome of NAI Martens represented AgEagle in the deal for the new space, and Landmark Commercial Real Estate industrial division director Ted Branson represented building owners Johnny Stevens and Clark Investment Group.
The 100,000-square-foot building, known as the Golf Warehouse building, is close to Menards. AgEagle will be on the east end of the building, closest to Menards. Of the company’s 12,000 square feet, 7,000 square feet will be for AgEagle’s warehouse, which includes a dock and drive-in access. The other 5,000 square feet will be office space.
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