Convoy of Hope building distribution center in Republic

International humanitarian relief organization Convoy of Hope is developing a 230,000-square-foot distribution center in Republic.

Spokesperson Jeff Nene said the building would replace its current distribution center in Springfield on South Patterson Avenue. He said the Springfield-based nonprofit has outgrown the 330 S. Patterson Ave. facility, located just off Chestnut Expressway.

"Right now, it's chock-full," he said. "For us, it was important to stay in the greater Springfield area. We didn't want to go anywhere else."

Nene said Convoy of Hope purchased around 135 acres at the Republic and Springfield border. He declined to disclose the purchase prices, noting multiple plats were combined for the project. He was unsure of the distribution center's construction cost and completion timeline.

The city of Republic earlier this week posted a news release showing ground work has started at the project site on West Carnahan Street near James River Freeway.

"We look forward to having this life-changing organization as part of our family," Republic City Administrator David Cameron said in the release.

In addition to housing its distribution, Nene said the new building also would allow the nonprofit to consolidate its disaster services team from leased space in Ozark. City of Republic spokesperson Michael Landis said the project's general contractor is Q & Co. LLC.

Convoy of Hope's headquarters will remain in Springfield, Nene said. The nonprofit's administrative building is located just south of Commercial Street, according to past reporting.

The current Springfield distribution center is larger, at 300,000 square feet, Nene said, but the new building would provide more space for the storage of food and disaster relief products because it has higher ceilings.

Nene said Convoy of Hope sold the South Patterson distribution center to O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: ORLY), which operates its headquarters on the same street. He declined to disclose the financial terms. Until the Republic building is completed, Convoy of Hope is leasing the property in Springfield, he said.

Mark Merz, O'Reilly Automotive's vice president of investor relations, reporting and planning, said the building would be used to support the auto parts retailer's distribution operations.