By David Slater, Executive Director
Mahomes Throw Shades at St Pius: Last week Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes visited the Northland to shoot an Oakley sunglasses commercial with the St Pius X football team. There is only one person in the commercial that will not be talking about this for the rest of their lives. Plus it appears the young men got some shades. You can watch the commercial here. Also a member of the Royals’ ownership group, you would have to think Patrick might have included a trip to their future home in North Kansas City while in Clay County.
Nice Win for Liberty: This week it was announced that US Motor Works, a manufacturer and distributor of after-market automotive parts, is investing $19.2 million in a new, 167,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Liberty. With a lead from the Kansas City Area Development Council, Heartland Park will become their strategic location in the center of the country. Read more here.
Look North Tickets Available: As we announced last week Hunt MidwestPresident and CEO Ora Reynolds is the recipient of our 2023 Look North Award. The luncheon will be October 27th at 11:30 at Harrah’s in North Kansas City. Tickets are $60 with a table of eight for $450. Information on sponsorships is available by calling your EDC at 816-468-4989 or JulieL@ClayEDC.com. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
Senator Hoskins District Tour: Your EDC spent over five hours with Senator Denny Hoskins this week meeting with officials from Clay County, Liberty, Lawson, Excelsior Springs, Kearney and Smithville. These leaders all can now put a face with a name. Senator Hoskins Chairs the Economic Development and Tax Policy Committee and also sits on the Appropriations (budget), Education and Workforce Development and Insurance and Banking Committees. While with the local officials we focused on their jurisdiction. In the car between stops we talked about a lot of things including the North Kansas City Royals and the new Workforce Development Center.
Relax on the Royals: There is a lot of misinformation on the Royals coming to North Kansas City and your EDC asks you to ignore it unless it comes directly from the Royals, Clay County or North Kansas City. When this all started we were a huge underdog but working together it appears we are in a very enviable position and have become a target for negative lobs. Three of our County Commissioners ae on a negotiating team with the Royals. North Kansas City has been working on this project for months before we even knew we could be one of 14 locations. While not directly involved with the negotiations, your EDC has had plenty of contact with all sides and offered suggestions. Our job has been more public relations and it is time-consuming, but well worth it. We will support the agreed upon deal as being one of 27 markets in the world with Major League Baseball would be amazing.
KCI Regional Transit: Sorry about the wrong link last week: The Mid America Regional Council would like your opinion on KCI regional transit options. Please click here for more information and to take the survey.
Weekend Day Trips in Clay: For our last weekend of the summer lets return to North Kansas City’s Macken Park for a little baseball. The Endless Game pits two teams of 30 against each other for 100 hours of non-stop baseball to blow past the current Guinness Book of World Records mark of 83 hours and 13 minutes. Your EDC did a little math figuring about three innings per hour. So with 300 innings to pitch each player would have to toss an average of ten. These guys are 50 plus years old and some of them will be in catching gear. The game started yesterday at 8AM and will end Monday at noon. Temperatures Friday, Saturday and Sunday peak in the 90’s. Monday is predicted to reach triple digits. The goal is to raise $300,000 for charities.
Missouri Conservation Magazine: Every month great pictures of our state and information on the outdoors are available through the Missouri conservationist. You do not have to be a hunter or fisher to enjoy nature. Take a look here.
Zoo Aquarium Opens Today: Due to the support of Clay and Jackson County residents passing a 1/8th cents sales tax in 2012 our zoo has been able to create many nice exhibits. The latest, the Sobela Ocean Aquarium, opens today. You must have reservations and can get them by clicking here. Shirley and Barnett Helzberg, the major donors to the Helzberg Penguin Plaza, are also major funders for the aquarium. They decided to name it after their grandchildren Sawyer, Oliver, Benton, Elias, Leo, Amelia and Arthur.
Coffee Connect: This Wednesday we are headed to the Builders Association Training Center at 105 W 12th St in North Kansas City. Their staff is dedicated to the mission of providing high quality and valued services that contribute to the betterment of each individual member and the construction industry. .Networking begins at 7:45 with the presentation at 8.
Fun Things To Do in Clay: Your EDC’s Friday Facts is your go-to read to see what is happening in our County.
Tonight: Gladstone’s Linden Square presents Flashback Sep 1st
Tomorrow: Screenland Armour Theatre’s outdoor movie this Saturday at 8PM is Whip It
This Week: Liberty’s Corbin Theatre presents Jazz at the Garrison Sep 4th 6-8PM
This Week: Historic Downtown Liberty presents Girls Night Out Sep 7th 4-8PM
Briarcliff Business Partner Alliance’s Briarfest Sept 8-9 At Macken Park music, food, brews and fun
Gladstone’s Linden Square presents Funk Syndicate Sep 8th
Smithville’s Community in Action 5K Sep 9th at 8:30AM in Downtown Smithville
Kearney’s Jesse James Festival Sep 8-9th and 15-17th at the Jesse James Farm
Gladstone’s Linden Square presents Fiesta on the Square Sep 9th
Gladstone’s Big Shoal Farm’s Pumpkin Field Festival Sep 16th 10AM-3PM
Excelsior Springs Chamber’s Third Saturday Wine Tours September 16th 10:30-5
Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch open Sep 16th through October 30th
Gladstone’s Atkins-Johnson’s Farm – Pickin’ On the Front Porch Bluegrass Concert Aug 19th 7PM
Liberty’s Fall Festival Sep 22-24 on the Historic Downtown Liberty Square
Smithville’s Backyard BBQ Bash Sep 23 9AM-5PM in downtown Smithville
Gladstone’s Big Shoal Farm’s Country Fair Sep 23rd 10AM-3PM
Gladstone’s Gladfest Sep 26th-Oct 1st at Linden Square
Kearney’s Harvest Gala Sep 28th 6-9PM at the Tobacco Barn Farm
Excelsior Springs’ Mug Shots Sep 30th Noon-5PM in downtown Excelsior Springs
Visit Clay New Website: Clay County’s Tourism and Marketing Coordinator Megan Sahlfeld has updated the. Find things to do, places to stay and what’s new. If your event is not listed contact Megan at msahlfeld@claycountymo.gov. You can also follow on Facebook.
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, Oakhill Day School, St. Pius , Northland Christian and Platte County R-3 (yes, part of their district is in Clay County).
Farmers’ Markets: It’s that time of the year when the farmers’ markets start popping up. Here are the ones your EDC found in Clay County. Kearney, Lawson, Smithville, Gladstone, Liberty, Downtown Liberty and Excelsior Springs. Simply click on the location for more information.
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 7.614% for ten years, 7.061% for 20 years and 6.989% 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.
David Slater, Executive Director davids@clayedc.com
7001 N. Locust, Suite B101 – Gladstone MO 64118 – (816)468-4989
