Royals to Northtown?: On February 28th at the Mid-America Regional Council’s Board meeting, Clay County Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte notified the metro that indeed North Kansas City is one of the potential sites for a new Royals’ stadium. Working behind the scene with other leaders for months, your EDC has been taking direction from North Kansas City Mayor Bryant DeLong and his Council, running some numbers and notifying MoDOT of the potential need to change the 16th Avenue half-diamond off I-35 into a full diamond. While everything is still very preliminary, including the financing, we are allowed to dream. Those of us old enough to remember watching A’s and Royals baseball at 22ndand Brooklyn know just how much fun neighbor baseball can be. We’ll be OK if the Royals pick another location but imagine the tourism boost we would get with families coming to Worlds of Fun or a ballgame and staying in Clay County with the opportunity to visit the Jesse James Farm, Smithville Lake, Excelsior Springs and Liberty’s downtowns and Gladstone Linden Square. We may not win but we will give this chance of a lifetime our best efforts.
Clay Vendor List: Clay County Tourism and Marketing Coordinator Megan Sahlfeld is curating a “Made in Clay” vendor list. Her three goals are 1) Internally, as they have a need to occasionally purchase items on behalf of the County as giveaways, prizes, etc. 2) Socially, as a way to share with the community some of the unique finds within our County (thinking of weekly social blasts once we have the website and socials fully operational) and 3) Organizationally, as a shared list that we can all benefit from as we seek to support our local businesses. To make things easier, she created a Google Sheet. Click here to add your business.
NKC Hospital Repeats: For the second consecutive year, Forbes ranks North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health as the top midsize hospital and health system employer in Kansas City. Read more by clicking here.
Letting the Mind Wander: Monday the number one and two men’s high school basketball teams in the state played each other for the district title when Staley defeated Oak Park 56-49. When the gym reached capacity fans had to be turned away. Would have been nice to play that game in a northland arena.
State of the Cities/County Sponsored by Liberty Hospital: Your EDC’s most fun event of the year has been set for March 30th. The State of the Cities/County luncheon will be held at Harrah’s in North Kansas City beginning at 11:30AM and concluding by 1:00PM Our mayors have a good time poking fun at their cohorts while letting you know what is going on in their cities. To register click here. To sponsor, call Julie Lewis at 816-468-4989.
Things To Do in Clay: 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: Find a fish fry on Friday nights through 3-31-23
Tomorrow: North Kansas City’s Snake Saturday Parade March 11th at 11AM. Click here for the route
Liberty/Jewell Half Marathon/5K Mar 25th 8AM at William Jewell
Excelsior Springs’s Sippin’ Into Spring Mar 25th 11AM-5PM
Smithville Alderman Candidate Forum Mar 26th 6-8PM at Humphreys
Excelsior Springs’ A French Quarter Fete Piccadilly Gala Apr 1st 5PM 425 S Thompson
Northland Ethnic Enrichment Festival Apr 1st 11AM-3PM Staley High School
North Kansas City’s Spring Fling Beer Fest Apr 1st 4- 8PM iWerx 1520 Clay St.
Click on the high 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).
Clay County Visitors’ Guide: Our friends at the Courier Tribune created a Guide to Clay County for visitors and locals alike. If you are a subscriber and already got this then great. If not, here is a link to some super cool things to do right here.
Zambezi Zinger-Big Slick: Want to be the first to ride the re-imagined Zambezi Zingerroller coaster? The more you donate to Big Slick, the more entries you’ll receive in the Zambezi Zinger First Rider Expedition fundraiser. Worlds of Fun is holding a historic fundraiser that will donate 100% of the proceeds to Big Slick, a non-profit that supports pediatric cancer research at Children’s Mercy. The more money individuals and parties donate, the more entries they’ll receive to be the first-to-ride the return of the Zambezi Zinger!
College For Kids: The Metropolitan Community College is hosting College For Kids to offer enrichment opportunities for those ages 11-15. Click here for more information.
April Municipal and School Board Ballot: The April 4th ballot is available by clicking here. Your EDC encourages you to vote, but only after studying the candidates and issues. Please take a few minutes with a search engine to help you get a full perspective.
Our Mid-Continent Public Libraries offer many classes including the Square Onecourses on how to operate a business. The website offers many opportunities, both virtual and in-person.
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 6.748% for ten years, 6.739% for 20 years and 6.707% 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 invest with us.
Thanks, from your friends at the Clay County EDC
David Slater, Executive Director davids@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
