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IBTS to Provide Plan Review, Inspections for $4B Panasonic EV Battery Plant in De Soto, Kansas

January 27, 2023

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ASHBURN, VA. – The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) will provide plan review and inspection services on behalf of the City of De Soto, Kan., during the construction of Panasonic’s $4 billion electric vehicle battery (EV) factory there.


Through a competitive procurement process, the national nonprofit was chosen by the City to provide plan reviews and onsite inspections for the 5.5 million sq. ft. facility.


Groundbreaking took place in November, with battery production projected to begin March 2025. Construction of this fast-paced project will be monitored by IBTS’ local government solutions team, which will be onsite full-time ensuring that the structure meets code requirements.


Once constructed, the plant will manufacture lithium-ion batteries for auto manufacturers to help meet increasing domestic EV battery demand. The plant is expected to create thousands of new jobs and represents a significant economic development boon for both the State of Kansas and the EV market.


De Soto is a small city in the Kansas City metro region with a population of approximately 6,000 people. While the Panasonic facility represents an enormous opportunity for the area, the project also presented a challenge for the City in meeting the corresponding surge in building code enforcement requirements.


To meet this need, the City selected IBTS to provide third-party building department services through its experienced professional staff, certified by the International Code Council (ICC). IBTS’ Kansas City branch has provided these and other services to local governments in the region for more than 10 years.


“During the selection process, it became clear that IBTS has the expertise, experience, and capacity to ensure the Panasonic facility meets the City’s requirements for employee and community safety,” said De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt, P.E. “We appreciate IBTS’ ability to not only help the City with this important and complex project, but their commitment to our community and its future.”


“IBTS is proud to support the City of De Soto by providing on-time services to ensure the safety of the facility,” said IBTS’ Local Government Services Development Lead Curt Skoog. “We are excited for the opportunity to take part in the historic return of advanced manufacturing plants to the United States and the breadth of opportunities it provides our communities.”


IBTS is a national nonprofit organization and trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments. Our nonprofit mission to serve and strengthen communities is advanced through our professional services. These include building code services and regulatory expertise; compliance and monitoring; community planning; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery expertise; energy solutions; municipal services; grants management; market research; program management and oversight; resilience services; solar quality management; and workforce development and training.


IBTS’ work is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Governor’s Association, and the National League of Cities (NLC).

 

Media Contact:

KAREN M. JOHNSON, Market Engagement Program Director

The Institute for Building Technology and Safety
1-571-357-4820

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Central, Louisiana, January 27, 2025 —The City of Central has achieved a Class 5 rating from the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, enabling homeowners and businesses to receive a 25% reduction in their flood insurance premiums while enhancing community safety and strengthening property protections. The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements. More than 1,500 U.S. communities participate in the CRS program by implementing local mitigation, floodplain management, and educational outreach activities. The City of Central is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area and has a population of around 30,000. Since 2011, the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) has provided municipal services for the City, including leading efforts to improve its CRS rating. “This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to prioritize public safety and strengthen flood resilience in our community,” said Central Mayor Wade Evans. “We are committed to preserving lives, safeguarding property, and ensuring a secure future for Central’s residents.” Situated between the Comite and Amite rivers, about 60 percent of Central’s incorporated area is within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA); these areas require special NFIP floodplain management regulations and mandatory flood insurance due to their high risk of flooding. In 2016, a catastrophic storm, the fourth most costly flood event in U.S. history at the time, sent multiple rivers to record levels in the state; the Amite exceeded its previous record by more than six feet. Following the flood, the City accelerated its disaster planning and floodplain management efforts, which led to achieving a Class 7 rating in 2020; property owners then received a 15% insurance premium discount due to improved zoning requirements and increased educational programs. Mayor Evans’ commitment to public safety and IBTS’ floodplain expertise continue to drive City planning. Central has undertaken numerous infrastructure projects to counter escalating flood risks, which affect much of Louisiana’s low-lying geography. The City has collaborated with East Baton Rouge Parish on a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, implemented an effective hydraulic model to monitor flood and stormwater, and strengthened City ordinances pertaining to building elevation and new development drainage requirements. Future plans include using real-time forecasting models to better prepare for weather events and developing a multi-jurisdictional assessment of floodplain species and plants.  Achieving a Class 5 rating “is the result of collaborative efforts to implement effective flood mitigation strategies,” said Brandon Whitehead, Central’s CRS Coordinator. “We appreciate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the NFIP for their partnership as we continue working toward a safer and more resilient Central.” The new CRS rating, effective October 1, 2025, will automatically renew annually as long as the City complies with NFIP guidelines and continues its certified floodplain management activities. For more information on the City of Central’s floodplain management activities or the NFIP CRS program, contact Karen Johnson, IBTS Market Engagement Program Director, at kjohnson@ibts.org . ### IBTS is a national nonprofit organization and trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments. Our nonprofit mission to serve and strengthen communities is advanced through our services. These include building code services and regulatory expertise; compliance and monitoring; community planning; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery expertise; energy solutions; municipal services; grants management; program management and oversight; resilience services; solar quality management; and workforce development and training. IBTS’ work is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Governors Association, and the National League of Cities (NLC).
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