After being indicted Tuesday by a grand jury on one count of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action, the thug who shot North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez pled not guilty yesterday. The killer, wearing a grey striped jump suit and Officer Vasquez’s handcuffs shuffled his shackled feet into a courtroom packed with law enforcement personnel and family members. If you are interested, many outlets will give you the thug’s picture and name but we would just as soon not give him any publicity.
At noon today our friends at Northland Neighborhoods, Inc. are hosting a forum on the surtax November ballot issue. Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte, County Auditor Victor Hurlbert, North Kansas City Schools Superintendent Dan Clemens and a representative from the City of North Kansas City will lead the discussion. If you intend to attend, please call 816-454-2000 to RSVP or you may join over the internet at https://www.gotomeet.me/NNI-Meetings. Voting is a privilege. Understanding the issues you vote on is a responsibility.
Last week Kansas City passed a new climate plan with a goal of citywide carbon neutrality by the year 2040. Your EDC testified against the plan as we were concerned about a line that said “clean electricity”. The language was replaced with “clean energy”. Power in the region is generated by two monopolies, Evergy (electricity) and Spire (gas). To take away the competition would be financially dangerous. Coal fired electric generation plants are not environmentally friendly. While the Hawthorne Plant was discussed we could find no other reference including the Iatan Plant in Platte County. If you think global warming is not a problem we’ll agree to disagree but let’s get the facts out there and see where we land. Please go to page 20 of this MARC Board packet and review the 2021 Ozone Season Summary. The metro is doing pretty good and trending in the right way. There are six categories of air quality. Last year we had seven results in the third category and nothing below. We have an expense-related housing problem for our young people. Raising the price of energy needs to be cost-effective.
Our friends at William Jewell College will be breaking ground on a new Link capital improvement that will connect the college in various modes. Like virtual flying? Click here and hang on. The groundbreaking will be October 1st at 10:30AM at the Bowles Drive Triangle.
Rebuilding Together Kansas City Executive Director Clay McQuerry will be retiring at the end of the year. With the help of several community leaders, Clay started Rebuilding Together KC in 2001. During that time they have repaired over 1,100 homes with over $3.3 million in repairs.
The 33rd Annual Lake Clean Up Day at Smithville Lake will be September 17th from 9AM to noon. Volunteers will meet at the Sailboat Cove Shower House. Please call 816-407-3400 for more information.
First Missouri Bank with locations in Kearney and North Kansas City will now be known as Verimore Bank.
Forbes has listed North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health as the 54th top employer in Missouri. This honor comes on the heels of Forbes naming NKCH one of America’s Best Midsize Employers and a top midsize hospital and health system in the Kansas City area in February. “I am proud we ranked among Missouri’s best employers,” said Stephen Reintjes Sr., MD, president and CEO of NKCH and MH. “From Environmental Services and Food and Nutrition to Nursing and Laboratory and everything in between, we are one team with one mission – to provide hope and healing to every life we touch.”
The Kearney Chamberreleased their new Visit Kearney app this week. This gives quick access to information about their new Welcome Center, events and things to do around town. Very impressive.
The KC Tech Council has released KC Tech Specs, a report capturing data and analysis around Kansas City’s tech industry. The report is designed to give the tech community, businesses, educators, lawmakers, civic leaders and students a consolidated, data-driven resource to find information about our region’s tech landscape
Our friends at Meta have created a program to boost the marketing of your business on Facebook and Instagram. META has created a toolkit with marketing assets that can be accessed HERE. The website to register is fb.me/SmallBusinessStudioKC. The free workshops will be held September 21st to 22nd.
Kansas City Parks has published their Fall 2022 Activity Guide. Take a look at it here.
As summer wraps up with Labor Day weekend lets take one last trip to Mt. Gilead Church and School at 15918 Plattsburg Road in Kearney. The school offers a unique field trip opportunity to experience history in a one-room school. A teacher in period costume instructs the class in late 1880s style with McGuffey’s readers. Students use slates to practice penmanship and arithmetic. The four-hour program accommodates up to thirty participants. The church is used as a wedding venue. Call 816-736-8500 for more information.
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:
Today: Gladstone’s Linden Square’ featuring Funk Syndicate September 2ndth at 7:00
Tomorrow: KC’s Shoal Creek Reenactment Event Sep 3rd, 10AM-3PM Shoal Creek Living History Museum
This Weekend: Last weekend for Oceans of Fun
Excelsior Springs’ Second Fridays September 9th
North Kansas City’s Friday Night Concert with Running With the Pack September 9th at 7PM at Macken Park
Gladstone’s Linden Square’ featuring Stolen Winnebagos September 9th at 7:00
Kearney’s Jesse James Festival September 9th, 10th and 16th-18th at Jesse James Park
Kearney’s Second Saturday September 10th
Gladstone’s Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum Pick’in on the Front Porch September 10th at 7PM
Liberty’s Moonlight Yoga September 10th at 10:30PM at Stocksdale Park
Liberty’s Corbin Theatre presents Jazz at the Garrison September 12th 6PM
Northland Neighborhoods Inc., Muffins & a Movie (Mr. and Mrs. Bridge) Sep 14th 9AM. Call Terri 816-454-2000
Excelsior Springs’ Downtown Excelsior Partnership Annual Dinner September 15th at 6PM
Worlds of Fun’s Haunt Fridays and Saturdays starting September 16th.
Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch opens September 17th to October 31st
33rd Annual Lake Clean Up Day at Smithville Lake Sep 17th from 9AM to noon. Meet at Sailboat Cove Shower House. Please call 816-407-3400 for more information.
Gladstone’s Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum Big Shoal County Fair September 17th from 10AM to 4PM
Smithville’s Old Fashioned Street Faire September 17th 10AM-6PM
Gladstone’s Fiesta on the Square September 17th 5-9PM at Linden Square
Worlds of Fun’sGreat Pumpkin Festbegins September 17th
Liberty’s Fall Festival September 23rd-25th at the Courthouse Square
Gladstone’s GladfestSeptember 30th to October 2nd at Linden Square
Kearney Chamber of Commerce 2nd Annual Harvest GalaSeptember 29th 6-9PM at the Tobacco Barn Farm
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).
KCSourceLink announced that the Global Entrepreneurship Week will be held right here in Clay County. The weeklong event that draws thousands to network, learn and grow will have its main events at iWerx in North Kansas City and surrounding locations from November 14th-20th. “The iWerx team is excited to be the base camp for GEWKC 2022,” says Bob Martin, founding partner of the iWerx family of coworking and enterprise development facilities. “The small businesses that have set up shop here have defined our character and made North Kansas City a destination for entertainment, culture and community,” says Adam Roberts, serial entrepreneur, owner of Screenland Armour Theatre and North Kansas City councilmember. “We hope to foster some of that entrepreneurial energy at GEWKC, as entrepreneurs and their champions connect to learn more about how to start, grow and accelerate businesses.”
Do you want to know what is going on in the Northland concerning economic development? The Parkville Chamber is hosting the directors of both the Platte and Clay County EDCs for their September 13th luncheon. For more information or to register, click here.
The Doniphan Leadership Institute’s spring 2023 cohort is 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 5.520% for ten years, 5.349% for 20 years and 5.419% 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.
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.
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
