Thank you to all who attended our Keystone Awards luncheon on Wednesday. For information about and pictures of our winners please click here. Special recognition awards were given to the North Kansas City School’s Early Education Center in Gladstone, the Mid-Continent Public Library Withers Branch in Liberty and the South Bridge Street Renovations in Smithville. Keystone Awards were presented to Claycomo Shooters Indoor Range and Gun Store in Claycomo, Miller’s Custom Cabinets in Excelsior Springs, Fairfield Inns and Suites by Marriott in Gladstone, Oak Ridge Estates Senior Living in Kearney and BesaMe Wellness, North Kansas City Animal Clinic and Daycare and Signature Psychiatric Hospital in North Kansas City.
Congratulations to your EDC’s new Chair Julie Sola, Vice President and General Manager of Harrah’s NKC. The Chair-elect is Kirk Davis, our Secretary is Bruce Cramer of Cramer Capital Management, the Treasurer is Dan Horn of Metro North Crossing and the Past Chair Advisor is Tony Reinhart of Ford Motor Company. They join Clay County Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte and Midwest Small Business Finance Affiliate Representative Lori Dugger of Twin Financial to make up the Executive Committee of your Board. Elected to serve a three-year term on your Board were Rick Birkner of Liberty Hospital, Doug Coleman of Hunt Midwest, Mike Fischer of Briarcliff Development, Nic Rosenberg of North Kansas City Hospital, Ken Hollander of Security Bank, Pete Fullerton of KC Aviation, Adele Ducharme of Saint Luke’s Northland and Rick Morovitis of Hallmark. And a big thank you to Greg Canuteson of the McClelland Law for chairing this organization for the past two years.
The Kansas City Council voted 7-6 to accept the horizontal division of the Northland. While many of the organizations north of the river supported a vertical split, with some very solid reasons, our efforts failed. Sixth District at-Large Councilwoman Andrea Bough and Fourth District Councilman Eric Bunch joined Northland Council members Heather Hall of the First District, Kevin O’Neill First District at-Large, Teresa Loar Second District at-Large and Dan Fowler of the Second District in voting for the vertical split. Your EDC gives a huge thank you to all who worked so many hours on the project. We also respect the Redistricting Committee for their efforts and will work with their recommendation as it has now become the law.
While at the Council meeting yesterday, Councilwoman Hall introduced me to Sonia Warshawski who was being recognized at the meeting. Better known as Big Sonia, she is a survivor of the Holocaust. While small in stature, Sonia’s message is huge.
The Caesars Foundation of Harrah’s is now taking applications for donations. You can get more information here. You may remember that your EDC received a $5,000 grant towards our project with Sleep in Heavenly Peace where we built 50 beds and finished 30 others earlier this year. As our Chair Julie Sola pointed out, there are 80 less kids sleeping on the floor right here in the Northland than there were a year ago.
What do you mean you did not have five minutes to help with transportation funding in the Northland? Fortunately, submittals are allowed until December 22nd. 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
Congratulations to Clay County 7th Circuit Court Judge, the Honorable Janet L. Sutton who was appointed to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District by Governor Mike Parson a week ago. Judge Sutton previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Clay County.
Lance Lenz, Community Interaction Officer for KCPD’s North Patrol, shares data on a weekly basis. As of December 8th there had been 148 homicides in Kansas City with six north of the river. Of course our law enforcement and prosecutors play a large role in keeping the northland’s crime in check. Your EDC also feels that education and opportunity play a significant role. What we are doing with our Northland Education and Business Alliance helps with these two areas. We have been in contact with leaders in school districts south of the river to observe and hopefully implement what we do at NEBA.
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.
KCSourceLink started a new program called BuyKC that helps you to purchase from an area company or hire a local company to help build opportunities, communities and our metro economy. 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 in starting or building a business, this is a great place to get more information.
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:
Tomorrow Smithville’s Bridge Street Theatre presents Happy Hollandaise December 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.
