Smithville has been nominated for the Missouri Humanities’ 2023 Small Town Showcase. Please take a minute to vote for them to be a “Featured Five” community by clicking here. Smithville is eager to showcase their Main Street District and their historic square. They are a community that embraces growth, culture, and small-town identity. They are proud of their community’s strength and resilience and the many town events they host throughout the year to engage both citizens and tourists alike.
As long as we’re talking about Smithville, their Mayor Damien Boley was elected by the Mid-America Regional Council’s Board of Directors to be their Secretary. MARC is the metropolitan planning organization for the nine-county Kansas City Metro. This is quite an honor and puts him on the pathway to potentially Chair the Board. Former Gladstone Mayor Carol Suter served as MARC Chair during 2017 and 2018. Before Mayor Suter, you would have to go back to the late 1980’s to find a Northland Chair when Platte County Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight led the metro-wide organization.
Cecelia Robinson of William Jewell and the Clay County African Legacy Inc.gave us a promotional video to share about their Juneteenth Celebration. Please take a look by clicking here. They will also have a booth at next weekend’s Bicentennial Celebration.
This week’s guest speaker at Coffee Connect will be Goldie Powell. She is a Senior Web Master/Developer for Cyber Creationz. She will be speaking about how design is a form of communication and how youth are using it.
The Mid-America Regional Council published their regional trails and bikeways map. Take a look at it here.
Historic Downtown Liberty will host the Clay County Bicentennial Celebration June 4th from 2-5PM where a 1972-time capsule will be unveiled. Live music will be performed by the Clay County Museum Bluegrass Band. The event will be free. There will be family fun and games, the building of a time capsule, photo GIF opportunity, a performance by the StoneLion Puppet Theater, face painting, frozen treats and demonstrations-experiences. If you miss this you’ll have to wait another 50 years for the next one.
The City of Gladstone, MO is updating the Comprehensive Plan and as decision-makers and influencers in the community, they need and value your input. Join us for a stakeholder meeting to learn more about the project and provide your input on the future of Gladstone and how we can Grow Together. There will be two (2) meeting dates to hopefully provide a time that works best for your schedule.Both meetings will cover the same information and material. Please RSVP for one (1) of the following meeting dates to provide your input on the Comprehensive Plan: If you have not already, please register on the project webpage to ensure you receive updates when new activities become available for your input! We also ask you to encourage your family, friends, neighbors, employees, and coworkers to get involved and participate in as many engagement activities as possible. Share your participation on social media by using the hashtags: #GladstoneGrowingTogether #GladstoneMOCompPlan. Please mark your calendars for our interactive Community Event at the Gladstone Community Center from Tuesday, May 24th through Friday, June 3rd, 2022.
I’ll Be There June 16th | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
The Clay County 4-H Fair will be July 8-9 in Smithville this year’s. Sign up to be a contestant, sponsor, or judge by clicking 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 resourceteams 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 5.477% for ten years, 5.516% for 20 years and 5.556% 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 Memorial Day BBQ Bash May 28th 10-2 – Porters Hardware 15700 N 169 HW
Tomorrow: 14th annual Kearney Blues Festival at the Kearney Amphitheater May 28th at 5PM
This week: Liberty Summer Band May 31st at 7:30PM at the Rooney Justice Center 11 S Water
This week: NKC Business Council’s Mickey Finn Scholarship Golf Tournament June 2nd 12:30
This week: Excelsior Springs Health Care Foundation golf tournament June 3rd at 9AM
Gladstone’s Linden Square’s Food.Art.Drink presented by ArtWerx June 3rd and 4th 5-9PM featuring Cherry Bomb Friday night and Boogie Nights Saturday
Smithville’s Kiwanis Kids Fishing Derby June 4th from 9-noon at Helvey Park
Clay County Bicentennial Celebration June 4th 2-5PM on the Liberty Square
North Kansas City’s Arts in the Park June 10th and 11th from 5-10PM at Macken Park 1002 Clark Ferguson Dr.
Excelsior Springs’ Second Fridays June 10th
Liberty’s Popcorn in the Park Movie – Sing 2 June 10th 6PM at Bennett Park
Gladstone’s Linden Square’ featuring Platinum Express June 10th 7:00
North Kansas City’s Friday Night Concert June 10th at 7PM at Macken Park featuring Bob Jovi
Gladstone’s Atkins-Johnson Farm’s presents Yoga on the FarmSaturdays at 8AM June 11-July 30
Kearney’s Tom Carey Appreciation Night at the Kearney Amphitheater June 11th 7PM
Excelsior Springs’ Wine Festival June 11th from 3-8PM
Gladstone’s Bluesfest June 17th and 18th at Oak Grove Park
Smithville Lake Festival June 17 & 18 from 7AM-11PM at the Downtown Courtyard Park 110 E Main St.
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 investwith us.
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
