Royals Update, Thank You Sponsors, Turning 30 and Plogging
By David Slater, Executive Director
Royals Update: The Kansas City Royals will not decide on their new home by the end of this month. This press release explains the decision. While your EDC is not directly involved with any of the negotiations we were asked to invite 30 Clay County leaders to a presentation led by Royals President Brooks Sherman last Wednesday. Making the cut was not easy. Our audience contained people from all walks of the professional world as we will need to work together to get the largest economic development opportunity ever presented to Clay County to be a success. The property owners did give your EDC a fob and we are asking you to reach out to your service organizations, clubs or other groups and find a mutually agreeable time to see the area from the rooftop of the Oxbow in NKC. We want you to be able to visualize the district and have your questions or concerns answered.
Thank You to Our Sponsors: We really appreciate our sponsors for the Look North luncheon next month. Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes, PC and NorthPoint Development filled our two gold-level spots while Oak Hill Day School, The Full Employment Council, CBRE and Olsson supported us at the silver level. Our Northland CAPS students are working on a video for our award recipient, Ora Reynolds, which will feature comments form Kansas City Chiefs President and CEO Clark Hunt. One more silver and our platinum sponsorships are still available. More information on the luncheon is below our events section.
587 News: Clay County Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte and your EDC met with Brandon Slater of the Mormon Church, David Block and Bill Maas of Block & Company, Councilman Kevin O’Neill and Kansas City staffers to share our frustrations on the slow process of getting our plans adopted. Commissioner Nolte made it clear that the EDC’s job is to bring business to Clay County and we have other options. Following that gathering Brandon, David, Bill and I met with leadership of the Olsson Studio to discuss adjustments to the Olsson Plan.
Turning 30: Hunt Midwest’s residential real estate division is celebrating 30 years of building award-winning new homes, luxury multifamily and senior living communities across Kansas City and beyond. Hunt Midwest broke ground on its first new home community in 1993 at North Brook, a 300-acre tract with plans for 1,000 new homes. Read more here.
Also Turning 30: Our friends at the North Kansas City Business Council are also turning 30. Come help them celebrate at their September 28th luncheon from 11:30-1:00 at the iWerx Pavilion 1520 Clay St. in North Kansas City. You can register by clicking here.
North Kansas City Groundbreaking: Blume NKC, the highly anticipated North Kansas City Gateway Project located just North of Buchanan St. and 29th Avenue in Northgate Village, is having a groundbreaking ceremony September 28th at 11:30AM. To RSVP or you have questions please contact cterrell@boxdevco.com.
Plogging Anyone? Because some people feel it is their right to just toss their trash (of course we understand when it is accidental) we have plogging which is picking up trash as you jog. Of course you can also walk. The idea is to have a cleanup while enjoying the outdoors in your community. North Kansas City, Kansas City, Excelsior Springs, Liberty and Smithville all have routes. You can get more information and sign up here. I’m going to type this real slowly so those of you who intentionally litter might be able to understand, but just stop it.
Coffee Connect: This Wednesday we are headed to MyCo Planet to hear Robin Moore tell us about growing gourmet mushrooms and just how it all started. The presentation will be both entertaining and enlightening. 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 Jimmy Harris Band Sep 22nd at 7PM
This Weekend: Liberty’s Fall Festival Sep 22-24 on the Historic Downtown Liberty Square
This Weekend: Excelsior Springs Slightly Off Broadway Theatre – Legends of Rock Sep 22 23rd 7:30
This Week: Worlds of Fun’s famous Haunt runs tonight through Oct 28th
This Week: Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch opens through October 30th
Tomorrow: Shoal Creek Living History Museum – 19th Annual Harvest Festival 10AM-3PM Sep 23rd
Tomorrow: Screenland Armour Theatre’s outdoor movie- Saturday at 8PM is Big Trouble in Little China
Tomorrow: Smithville’s Backyard BBQ Bash Sep 23 9AM-5PM in downtown Smithville
Tomorrow: Gladstone’s Big Shoal Farm’s Country Fair Sep 23rd 10AM-3PM
This Week: Kearney’s Harvest Gala Sep 28th 6-9PM at the Tobacco Barn Farm
Gladstone’s Gladfest Sep 29th-Oct 1st at Linden Square
Excelsior Springs’ Mug Shots Sep 30th Noon-5PM in downtown Excelsior Springs
Watkins Mill State Park’s 10th Annual Get Outside 6K Sep 30th at 8AM
Gladstone’s Scarecrow Run Oct 1st at 7:30AM at Linden Square
Kearney’s Oktoberfest Oct 7th 12-8PM at Lions Park
Gladstone’s Linden Square presents Whiskey Fest Oct 7th at 7PM
Liberty Kiwanis’ Chris Cakes Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser Oct 7th 8-11AM at Liberty North High School
Excelsior Springs Chamber’s Third Saturday Wine Tours Oct 21st 10:30-5
Look North Tickets Available: As we previously announced Hunt Midwest President 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.
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,Lawson 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 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 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
