Tuesday is election day for municipal and school district candidates. Also on the ballot are three zero tax increase issues endorsed by your Clay County EDC’s Board. We are asking you to vote “yes” on the $44 million Kearney School District bond and both the North Kansas City School District’s $140 million bond issue and the 20-cent levy transfer from the debt service fund to the operating bucket. It is important to remember that none of these issues increase your taxes. To see the entire ballot click here.
Its easy to hear Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and think about greedy developers and not the actual improvement to blighted property and the present and future benefits. 30 years ago Clay County visionaries led by Charles Garney wanted to turn a rock quarry into a master-planned mixed-use development. The 23-year TIF that spurred the growth will mature next year. The land with a previously assessed valuation of $848,530 is now valued at $62.9 million. The local taxing jurisdictions will receive an estimated $5.5 million annually. To date the project has generated nearly $100 million in new tax revenues, the bulk of which is sales tax. Aside from the money, the Clay County development has become a jewel of the northland.
Liberty City Councilman Jeff Watt posted this on his Facebook page: ”At Monday night’s Council meeting we approved the rezoning and preliminary plan for the Garrison Industrial project. The 170k sq ft building will be on 69 south of the Pleasant Valley interchange. As well we also approved Building 3 in the Liberty Commerce Center project at South Liberty Parkway and Withers Road. The 259k building is the 6th building approved of the 7 in the project”. The project includes distribution centers for both Amazon and Walgreens.
Hunt Midwest of Clay County has assembled 3,300 acres adjacent to the Kansas City International Airport, which will support up to 18 million square feet of Class A logistics and manufacturing space and more than 8,000 employees. At completion, the recently dubbed KCI 29 Logistics Park will be the largest logistics park in the State of Missouri, with a capital investment of nearly $1.3 billion over the next decade. The property is contiguous with roughly 2,000 acres already owned by Hunt Midwest. “With Hunt Midwest’s existing land holdings in the area, we saw this acquisition as a good strategic move to augment the unprecedented industrial growth that Kansas City is experiencing. Hunt Midwest will leverage its real estate development expertise, resources and relationships to offer users optionality for both warehousing and manufacturing,” said Ora Reynolds, Hunt Midwest’s President & CEO. “Disruptions in the global supply chains have driven the need to store more inventory closer to the end consumer and to reshore manufacturing back to the United States. We hope to capitalize upon these demand drivers with some big ‘wins’ right here in Kansas City.”
Your EDC is pleased to announce that once again the Caesar’s Foundation will donate $5,000 through Harrah’s for another Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build. We do not have a date yet but will let you know soon. In the meantime we would love to have you start collecting bedding for these kiddos who will soon be off the floors and into their own beds. Last year we were able to build 50 beds and finish 30 others putting 80 kids in a position for a good night sleep. No kid sleeps on the floor in our county.
Our friends at Northland Neighbors Inc. are hosting a reception for the public to meet the two new northland KCPD Majors. Major Santiago Garza will be directing the Shoal Creek Patrol Division and Major Joel Lovelady will manage the North Patrol Division. The reception will be April 6th from 5-7PM at the Raymond R. Brock Hall 5340 NE Choteau Trafficway in Kansas City.
Congressman Graves, representing Missouri’s 6th congressional district, will be speaking at the new Kearney I-35 interchange grand opening April 12th at 11AM. Congressman Graves is the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Congressman headed up the Transportation Summit your EDC hosted last September.
You’re invited! On April 12, NKC Schools will host a Community Hiring Fair. Featuring over 70 companies and organizations from across Kansas City, the event is open to anyone ages 18 and older. Attend to connect with representatives from a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, hospitality, public service, law enforcement and more! Registration is required; click here to attend.
The Kansas City zoo is looking for teenagers who love the outdoors, talking to people and have a love of animals to become VolunTEENs. To apply or for more information click here.
Did you ever want to judge, sponsor or volunteer at a robot competition? Our KC Tech Academy is very involved with BotsKC which is having their annual competition April 22nd and 23rd. For more information, click here. To see some fun videos, click here.
EDC Chair Julie Sola, Vice President and General Manager of Harrah’s Casino, pulled her Board together for a strategic planning session facilitated by iWerx’s Bob Martin. We are planning the future of Clay County. If you want to share an idea please contact a staff member below or reach out to one of our Directors here.
The Doniphan Leadership Institute’s fall 2022 and spring 2023 cohorts are accepting registrations now. These tend to fill up very quickly. You can register or get more information here. The classes are offered through William Jewell’s Pryor Leadership Program.
Our Mid-Continent Public Libraries offer many classes including the Square One courses on how to operate a business. The website offers many opportunities, both virtual and in-person.
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). The State of Missouri has resource teams to assist businesses and community with getting connected to Mo Jobs resources. Contact Pam Harris, Missouri Department of Economic Development, pam.harris@ded.mo.gov or Allan Hedrick, Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, allan.hedrick@dhewd.mo.gov.
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 3.820% for ten years, 4.226% for 20 years and 4.370 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:
Fridays throughout Lent: Find a local fish fry for dinner
This weekend: Kearney High School presents Steel Magnolias March 28th -April 2nd at 7:00PM
This weekend: Oak Park High School presents Sabrina Fair March 31st -April 2nd at 7:00PM
This weekend: Kearney Legends Festival April 2nd from 10:00AM-10:00PM
This weekend: Hillcrest Hope’s annual gala, Night of Hope, April 2nd. Check in at 5:30
Excelsior Springs’ Gatsby Days April 9th at 10:00AM
Gladstone’s Adkins Johnson Farm Civil War Muster April 16th 11:00AM – 4:00 PM
Kearney Education Foundation Breakfast April 22nd at 7AM
BotsKC’s annual competition April 22nd and 23rd. For information click here. To see videos click here.
Northland Ethnic Festival April 23rd from 11AM-3PM at Staley High School. Free admission and parking
Northland Regional Chamber’s Education Banquet April 26th at 5:00PM
Kearney Enrichment Council’s Mardi Gras Gala April 28th
Gladstone’s Adkins Johnson Farm Walk N Wag April 30th 9:00AM
Northland Community Foundation’s Annual Celebration Breakfast May 6th at 7:30
Excelsior Springs’ Second Friday May 8th
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.
Your CCEDC is on the move. Click to join a committee, or to invest with us.
Thanks, from your friends at the Clay County EDC
David Slater, Executive Director davids@clayedc.com
Frances Sheffield, EDFP Loan Officer francess@clayedc.com
Julie Lewis, Business Retention Specialist juliel@clayedc.com
Ethen Pineda, Loan Officer EthenP@clayedc.com
7001 N. Locust, Suite B101 – Gladstone MO 64118 – (816)468-4989
