Progress Rail Plans $10M Expansion Creating 85 Jobs Kansas City

Progress Rail, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., announced a multi-million-dollar expansion to convert its Kansas City, Missouri, facility into a re-manufacturing operation focused on railcar wheelsets and bearings. This expansion is expected to create 85 new full-time jobs, with hiring beginning in September 2025. The project is supported by a public-private partnership involving the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, the City of Kansas City, and the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and benefits from programs like Missouri Works and Missouri One Start to assist with job creation and workforce training. Officials highlighted the investment as a reinforcement of Kansas City's role as a national logistics and transportation hub, emphasizing the city's strategic location within a major freight rail corridor. Progress Rail's commitment to sustainability and circular economy practices in rail manufacturing was also noted. Local leaders, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, welcomed the expansion as a boost to the regional economy and industrial ecosystem.