Did you know the Kansas City Zoo is actually operated by the Friends of the Zoo? Yesterday the Kansas City Council authorized City Manager Brian Platt to execute an agreement for the management and operation of the Zoo for a five-year term with an annual subsidy of $2 million. Trust us when we say that your EDC was heavily involved with getting this agreement done. Our Chair, Greg Canuteson also Chairs the Zoo’s District Commissioners who oversees the distribution of Clay and Jackson Counties sales tax funds. Presiding Commissioner and CCEDC Executive Board member Jerry Nolte, Parks Board and CCEDC member Dave Mecklenburg and Look North keynote speaker Randy Wisthoff are part of the six-member Board. First District Councilwoman Heather Hall and CCEDC Past Chair and Executive Board member Tony Reinhart are on the FOTZ Board. Of course none of this happens without at least seven Council votes. Northland Council members Hall, Teresa Loar, Kevin O’Neill and Dan Fowler coaxed a unanimous vote from their colleagues.
Earlier this week the mayors from across Missouri gathered for a Missouri Mayors United meeting. Springfield Mayor Ken McClure talked of how one of his police officers who is paralyzed from the waist down due to a driver intentionally hitting him was given a kidney donated by the 22-year-old Independence officer, Blaize Madrid-Evans, shot to death in the line of duty on September 15th. Due to the success of the past two years the mayors voted to make an exception to the by-laws to allow your executive director the privilege to continue leading the group as their president.
You can now reserve a table or seat for your EDC’s Look North Awards Gala October 23rd by clicking here. Our Look North Award recipient this year is Tim Harris, founder and managing principal of Star Development. During our cocktail hour we will be entertained by the William Jewell String Quartet. Keith Nelson will posthumously receive a special recognition award for his work on the Francois Chouteau Monument. The keynote speaker will be the zoo’s executive director Randy Wisthoff who is bringing friends. Chairman Canuteson will also reveal, for the first time in public, the plans for your EDC’s Big 4 game changing “587”.
Please take less than a minute to help us fill our hotels and restaurants by signing the petition to bring the World Cup Soccer tournament to Arrowhead Stadium. Sign and see more at KC2026.com.
Northland Neighbors at 5340 NE Chouteau Tfwy in Kanas City is hosting a Faith in Blue event on October 8th from 6-8 PM. You will meet your KCPD Community Interaction Officers. They assist in problem solving and community policing efforts. Do you have a teen that is interested in Law Enforcement? KCPD representatives of their Explorer Post 8600 will have a table. They can talk to your teen about this awesome program. Have you ever wanted to know more about your Kansas City Missouri Police Department? There will be representatives from the KCPD Citizens Academy at a table and they can tell you all about the program or just talk to one of the officers at the event. KCPD Community Interaction Officers will also have a table where you can get a free Easy ID card which includes photos and fingerprints for parents or care providers for seniors. This is to be kept with the parent or provider in case the individual is missing. Meet your Division Commanders and other officers. Receive information and brochures on crime prevention. There will even be some give away items. Citizens Bank and Trust will be providing DNA-ID kits which have been designed to collect information, fingerprints, photographs and a DNA specimen from a child. In the event the child goes missing, this kit is to assist in finding and identifying the child. There will also be many tables with resource providers including and not limited to, experts on assisting in health & nutrition, financing, senior assistance, mental health, domestic violence, homelessness and much more!
If you could spare some time on Monday, October 18th the Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies is hosting a resume review at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty. There will be two sessions. Please click on the one most convenient to you to register from 7:45 am – 9:30 amand from 12:15 pm – 2:00 pm Your EDC wants to make sure you know of the great resources provided by our state that address job seekers, employers and our community. The information provided at https://jobs.mo.gov/ is both relevant and timely. You can also reach them at 1-888-728-JOBS (5627). For the next few weeks the redistricting committee for Kanas City will be meeting on Wednesday afternoons from 4-6PM on the 10th floor of City Hall. The meetings will also be broadcast on channel 2. Northland representation on the Kansas City Council has a huge impact on our county and your EDC has been and will continue to be involved.
In March 2021, Governor Parson established the Show Me Strong Recovery Taskforce. The purpose of the task force is to study and develop recommendations on ways to support businesses throughout Missouri. The Task Force also considers ways to better engage all businesses through existing economic development tools. Please provide your feedback by clicking here.
Manufacturing Day will be October 1st this year. Your EDC feels it is important to expose the next generation of workers to the great careers you can have in manufacturing. For more information take a look at their website or contact Area Business Manager Jamey Quelle at jquelle@missourienterprise.org. Our friends at Metropolitan Community College are inviting front line supervisors to participate in the upcoming Manufacturing Leadership Skills Series they are hosting. The series is designed to advance leadership and management skills for first and second-line supervisors. The kickoff event, to be held October 7-9, will feature two manufacturing pathways, “Safety” and “Lean”. Participants will select one pathway to follow and gain skills needed to manage teams on the plant floor. To read more about the kick-off event, click here.
Did you see where Governor Parson is incenting people to get the vaccination? Missourians who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are now able to enter to win one of the 900 prizes. Drawings will occur every two weeks with the final drawing scheduled for October 8. Once Missouri residents receive a dose, they become eligible to enter the sweepstakes. You can register and get more information at MOStopsCovid.com/facts.
Hunting lodge or event center ownership in you dreams? We can make that dream come true with this event/hunting lodge for sale near Chillicothe! See those dreams here. Did you know that your EDC provides small business loans through our partnership with Midwest Small Business Financing? We want to put your business into buildings and purchase the required fixed assets. Our rates include the Small Business Administration fees and are currently 3.245% for ten years, 3.324% for 20 years and 3.422 for 25 years. Please contact us with any questions. You can read about upcoming SBA trainings and get more information about the SBA’s Resource Partner Training here. Your EDC helps to sponsor weekly educational programs designed to engage, educate and accelerate communities of entrepreneurs and small business owners. Hosted in-person by iWerx, 1520 Clay Street, North Kansas City, MO 64116, Coffee Connect starts at 7:45 and the program begins at 8. To sign up or for more information click here.
Your EDC’s Friday Facts is your go-to read to see what is happening in our County. We want you to see Clay County while spending your disposable income right here:
Tonight Halloween Haunt and Great Pumpkin Fest through October at Worlds of Fun
This weekend Gladstone’s Gladfest October 1-3
This weekend Kearney Octoberfest October 2nd
This weekend Scarecrow Run October 3rd at 7:30AM to support The Northland Christmas Store
This week Tee Off Fore Tri-County fundraising event at T-Shotz October 4th
Excelsior Springs’ Second Weekends October 8th-10thWhiskey Fest October 9th at Gladstone’s Linden Square
North Kansas City’s Howl-O-Ween October 9th 1-2:30
Feed Northland KidsBill Cross 5K October 10th at 8AM
Excelsior Springs Paranormal Ghost Tour October 16th
North Kansas City’s Ghouls & Goblins October 23rd
Monster Jam Thunder Alley October 23 – November 21 at Worlds of Fun
Click on the school of your choice to see their calendar of events. Excelsior Springs, Kearney, Smithville, Liberty, Liberty North, North Kansas City, Winnetonka, Oak Park, Staley, St. Pius , Kansas City Christian and Platte County R-3 (yes, part of their district is in Clay County).
The Northland Education and Business Alliance now has its own YouTube channel. This organization just continues to grow and get things right and your EDC is proud to be a part of it. Feel free to view the dozens of videos from various career opportunities right here in Clay County.
