Turkey Leg Anyone? When you read about the events happening in our County you will see that the festivals will be ending soon. Consider getting out of your house. Click on a high school or farmers’ market of your choice. Drop by the Rotary booth at Gladfest for a turkey leg. Grab a beer in Excelsior. Get scared at Worlds of Fun or discover Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch, take a long run or get a pumpkin. Just have something to talk about Monday when your co-workers ask you what you did over the weekend.
Justus League of Her Own: Jennifer Langston-Justus, President and CEO of Dream Properties was named the Missouri Realtor of the Year at the State Convention last week. Jennifer is not only an excellent realtor but is extremely involved in local, state and federal politics. Jennifer played an integral role in the creation of Clay County’s new constitution.
Royal View: Your EDC has set up and given quite a few viewings from the Oxbow rooftop overlooking the potential future site of the Royals. We will show you where the stadium will be located and the land that will become the ballpark experience. You will also see the quality of the development that will be coming to North Kansas City whether we land the Royals or not. Give us a call to find a mutually agreeable time for your club, service organization or other group. This is exciting and we want to share it with you.
EDC Merger? The Boards of your EDC and the Platte County EDC are looking into the benefits and challenges of joining forces. This is very preliminary and will not be decided in the next year but we feel it is worth taking a look. Please know that this is something we do not have to do. We have been working together on legislation, infrastructure, the Northland Workforce Development Center and bringing companies to the Northland. We have a lot of the same members and Directors. If you combine the EDCs of two of the three fastest growing counties in Missouri there may be an opportunity to coordinate something pretty special.
Top 20 Employer: North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health is ranked No. 20 among all employers in Missouri, moving up 34 positions from 2022. NKCH and MH ranked fifth among in-state hospitals and health systems, up from ninth last year. The health system ranked among Forbes Best Employers by State for the third time in four years. Read more here.
Streets of Gold? Hardly: The Northland Community Foundation released their 2023 Needs Assessment Summary this week. Consider taking a look and maybe see where you can help make a difference. Beginning in 1978 with $200 they have provided over $6 billion in grants.
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 Hunt Midwest, 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. The platinum sponsorships is still available. More information on the luncheon is below our events section.
Manufacturers Day: Celebrated nationally on the first Friday in October, MFG Day is manufacturing’s biggest annual opportunity to inspire the next generation, positively shift perceptions about the industry and build the foundation for the manufacturing workforce of the future. This day engages underrepresented communities and shifts perceptions about careers in modern manufacturing, leads skilled training and career development programs, provides thought leadership and research on the changing state of the workforce and builds partnerships to scale up its impact on manufacturing in the United States.
Northland Health Alliance Leader: The Northland Health Alliance announced the appointment of Emily Fundermann as its first executive director. With an extensive background in philanthropy and relationship management, Fundermann is poised to lead the organization into a new era of collaboration and impact.
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.
This Weekend: Gladstone’s Gladfest Sep 29th-Oct 1st at Linden Square
This Weekend: Excelsior Springs Slightly Off Broadway Theatre –Legends of Rock Sep 29- 30th 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: Screenland Armour Theatre’s outdoor movie -Saturday at 8PM is Romy & Michele’s HS Reunion
Tomorrow: Gladstone’s Big Shoal Farm’s Pumpkin Days 10AM-4PM Saturdays until they are gone
Tomorrow: Excelsior Springs’ Mug Shots Sep 30th Noon-5PM in downtown Excelsior Springs
Tomorrow: Watkins Mill State Park’s 10th Annual Get Outside 6K Sep 30th at 8AM
Sunday: Gladstone’s Scarecrow Run Oct 1st at 7:30AM at Linden Square
Thursday: Historic Downton Liberty’s Witches’ Brew Girls Night Out Oct 5th 5-9PM
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 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 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.
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.
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 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
