Left to right, Clay County Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte, KC First District Councilman at-large Kevin O’Neill, KC Second District Councilman Dan Fowler, David Mecklenberg, wife Sue Mecklenberg, First District Councilwoman Heather Hall, KC Parks Director Chris Cotton, KC Parks Board Chair Jack Holland and EDC Executive Director David Slater were on hand to congratulate the northland leader.
If you have not already, please consider registering for our December 15th Keystone Awards luncheon. We’ll be having the event at Harrah’s. The social starts at 11:00 with dinner starting at 11:30. This will also be your EDC’s Annual Meeting. Despite a pandemic-filled year our county had a lot of great progress and we’ll be showing some of that off. You can get more information and register here. After you register take a couple of minutes and look at our new webpage.
Do you have five minutes to help with transportation funding in the Northland? Clicking on this link will take you to MoDOT’s unfunded needs submittal page. While you can submit a request for any project, your EDC works closely with other Northland organizations to produce a list. Filling out this simple form really does make a difference as community input is part of the scoring system. Working together with the Northland Chamber, Northland Neighbors and the Platte EDC we have determined a list of priorities. In no particular order they are:
1. Enhancing the I-29 – I-35 split and adding lanes
2. 92 Highway to become four lanes from Excelsior Springs to Leavenworth
3. Widening 291 to four lanes from Ash to I-435 and Cookingham Road from I-435 to I-29
Our partners at Maple Woods Community College hosted their first annual President’s Northland Scholarship Breakfast. MWCC President Doctor Larry Rideaux and his team passed out scholarships to five students, all of whom had amazing stories. For more information or to contribute, please contact the President’s office e at 816-604-3044 or susan.Chiappone@mcckc.edu.
The vote on the redistricting for Kansas City will be Thursday at 3:00 at the regular council meeting. The current proposal is for a horizontal split, basically along Barry Road. Your EDC and other northland organizations feel the current vertical split best serves our residents. The new line would put most of the older neighborhoods in the second district and put the expected 30,000 citizen growth in the first district. Instead of spending the general obligation funds (GO Bonds) and public improvement advisory committee’s funds (PIAC) from two districts in the older neighborhoods, money would only come from one. The Kansas City Council still must approve the plan. We hope that the Council will rethink the proposed horizontal split redistricting plan as it is not in the best interest of the Northland. While the four northland council members unanimously support the vertical split, we still need three of their colleagues to agree. Please consider reaching out to them. You can get their contact information here.
Our friends at the Missouri Department of Economic Development are hosting a Youth Opportunities Program Workshop January 12th. For more information or to register, click here.
Learn to sell online or to the government by signing up with a navigator from our partner MoSourceLink. For personalized business help, more information or to sign up for a navigator, click here. If you are interested on starting or building a business, this is a great place to get more information.
The Mid-Continent Public Library has upcoming Square One classes for Canva for Food Business December 15th.
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).
Are you tired of having to get permission to hunt on someone else’s land? Want some acreage and a hunting lodge or event center near Chillicothe? Your EDC is working with Whitetail Properties to sell a piece of property that currently belongs to us. Take a look 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 3.666% for ten years, 3.495% for 20 years and 3.612 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 Liberty Symphony Orchestra’s 51st winter concert 8:00 at Liberty High School
This weekend Excelsior Springs Second Weekends December 10-12th
Tomorrow Photos and Cookies with Santa & Mrs. Claus December 11th noon-3 at the Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum
Tomorrow Excelsior Springs Taste of Christmas December 11th noon-5
Tomorrow Pleasant Valley’s Santa on the Fire Truck December 11th 9:00-noon
Tomorrow Kearney’s Magical Night December 11th 6-9PM
Tomorrow Liberty’s Corbin Theatre’s Jewell Street Five Christmas Show December 11th at 7PM
Smithville’s Bridge Street Theatre presents Happy Hollandaise December 16th and 18th at 8:00
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.
