Please Enjoy Your Memorial Day Holiday: Those who gave all are to be celebrated this weekend. Please remember them as you enjoy your weekend. Take a couple of minutes and listen to this song.
Kansas City Data Centers Good to Go: If you have been following the news there was a situation with the 16 data centers to be built in Clay County north of I-435 and south of Smithville on Highway 169 in Kansas City. To get into details would be too long for our newsletter but we have to give a shout out to the companies involved and your EDC’s Board member Jim Bowers Jr for coming up with a solution. Like you, your EDC heard of how the Northland has been defeated 4-9 for years. We have been busy building relationships not only in the Northland but also south of the river as we have several common interests. This is one and it is huge. Does this happen without your EDC’s relationship building? We may never know but what we do know is that 11 years of construction jobs is back in play.
Weekend Day Trips in Clay: Now that it is unofficially summertime your EDC wants you to enjoy your spare time and money right here. Beginning today we will take you to a hidden gem and encourage you to take a few hours and visit these sites throughout our county. Let’s start with Watkins Mill State Parklocated between Lawson and Kearney. A 100-acre lake with a paved bicycle path around it, plentiful fishing, a picturesque campground and choice picnic spots make Watkins Mill State Park an ideal place for an afternoon or longer. The park has ample fishing opportunities and an abundance of white-tailed deer and wild turkeys to watch. The park is adjacent to Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark.
Coffee Connect: This week we are going to hear from Cinder Block Brewery and learn how one of Clay County’s best craft brewers got their start. Drop by this Wednesday at 7:45AM for networking with an 8AM presentation at 110 East 18th Ave. North Kansas City, MO 64116.
Only One Pup Left: Maple Woods Vet Tech School still has not found a home for Ethel. You can meet your new best friend by clicking here.
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:
This Weekend: Smithville’s American Legion Post 58 May 29th at 10:30AM 2607 Missouri Highway 92
This Weekend: Liberty’s VFW Post 4043 and American Legion Post 95 May 29th at noon at Fairview-New Hope
Excelsior Springs Healthcare Foundation Golf Tournament June 2nd at 8AM
Gladstone’s Food Art and Drink Festival June 2nd and 3rd Linden Square Friday 6PM Magician Augie G and 7PM Cherry Bomb. Saturday 5:30PM Nick Nave, 7PM Sass Monkey and 8:30PM Women of Rock
Excelsior Springs’ Slightly off Broadway Theatre presents Twelve Angry Men June 3rd and 4th
Liberty’s Jazz at the Garrison June 5th 6PM 502 N Water
Smithville’s KC Symphony in the Park Jun 6th at 6PM at Smith’s Fork Park
Liberty’s Summer Band Concert June 6th, 13th 27th and July 2nd 7:30PM Rooney Justice Center 11 S Water
Smithville’s Art in the Park Jun 7th 10AM at Heritage Park Shelter House
Smithville’s Learn to Kayak June 7th 6PM Jerry Litton Center 16311 DD Hwy
North Kansas City Business Council’s Golf Tournament June 8th 10:30 at Staley Farms
North Kansas City’s Friday Night Concert June 9th 5:30 Dropkick Mollies and Selekto at Macken Park
Gladstones Linden Square presents Platinum Express June 9th 7PM
Clay County African American Legacy Inc’s 27th Annual Juneteenth Celebration June 9th and 10th
North Kansas City’s Arts in the Park June 9th and 10th at Macken Park
Kearney’s Second Saturdays June 10th
Oakhill Day School’s Helen Willis Golf Tournament June 12th 8AM at Staley Farms Golf Club
Liberty’s Popcorn in the Park June 16th 6PM at Bennett Park Baseball Field featuring Minions: The Rise of Gru
Smithville Lake Festival June 16th 5-11PM and June 17th 10AM-11PM Downtown Smithville
Kearney Amphitheater presents Shooting Star and Missouri June 17th at 7PM
Excelsior Springs Chamber’s Third Saturday Wine Tours June 17th 10:30-5
Excelsior Springs’ Waterfest June 23rd and 24th downtown 2-10PM
Smithville’s Movie at the Courtyard June 24th at 6PM movie to be announced
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).
Read Over TV: Mid-Continent Public Library’s Summer Library Program begins June 1 and will run until August 24. The Summer Library Program encourages families to spend at least 20 minutes a day reading or engaging with literacy…or you can just watch an extra half hour of TV.
Clay County Juneteenth: Come Join the 27th Annual Clay County Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on June 9th & 10th hosted by the Clay County African American legacy Inc. on the Historic Downtown Liberty Square and at Garrison School Cultural Center. This two-day celebration of history and culture will begin at 10:00 am. on Friday morning with trolley tours of over 10 historic African American sites and monuments in Liberty, with local tour guides Dr. Cecelia Robinson, city councilmen Shelton Ponder and Harold Phillips portraying 19th Century Liberty pioneers. The two trolleys will load from the Liberty Fire Station located on the corner of Mississippi and Prairie Street. Tours are $20.00 and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis with one morning tour and one afternoon tour: 10:00-12:00 am and 1:00-3:00 pm. Friday evening events at Garrison will include guest speakers, food trucks and musical entertainment by local DJ, Kent Houston.
Saturday morning events will begin at 10:30 am with a ribbon cutting and dedication of a permanent exhibit room in honor of Clay County African American Veterans followed by a skit on the life of Underground Railroad Conductor Harriet Tubman, starring Kansas City Actor Shirley Johnson. Afternoon events will feature a Community Parade from Garrison Cultural Center on Main Street to the Historic Liberty Square for live entertainment: Concert with rapper, singer, and song writer Krizz Kalicko, and J.J. and the Old School Blues Band, Prose and Poetry, Juneteenth history, Step Show, Martika Daniel’s One-Woman Carnival Show, and a Beer Garden at La Costa Mexican Restaurant.
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.
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.
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 6.506% for ten years, 6.410% for 20 years and 6.320% 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.
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 of 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 Specialist juliel@clayedc.com
Ethen Pineda, Loan Officer EthenP@clayedc.com
7001 N. Locust, Suite B101 – Gladstone MO 64118 – (816)468-4989
