Your Chamber at Work - April 19, 2021

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Last summer, Missouri voters approved the expansion of Medicaid in the state, which means that as many as 275,000 low-income children, women, and men would get the quality healthcare coverage they need.

Enter politics. Though Governor Parson included the necessary Medicaid funding in his budget, the Missouri House eliminated it and recently approved a budget that provides no funding for expansion. The budget bill is now in the Missouri Senate, and this is where we need your help.

Will you please take five minutes to send an e-mail to Senate leadership and to your senator urging them to respect the will of Missouri voters and fully fund Medicaid expansion as required by law. To find your senator, click here.

The KC Chamber supports Medicaid expansion in Missouri for a variety of reasons. If fully funded, Medicaid expansion will create more than 16,000 new jobs per year. Ninety percent of the costs are paid for by the federal government and, under the newly enacted American Rescue Plan, the feds will pitch in an extra five percent for new expansion states.

Medicaid expansion means any lawful adult resident earning up to around $17,600 a year for individuals or up to $36,150 for a family of four would be eligible for coverage starting July 2021. Without it, the uninsured will continue to seek medical care at the most expensive place available: the emergency room. And Missouri businesses will continue to foot the bill for this costly care through the rising costs of employer-provided health insurance.

Please contact Senate leadership and your senator today and let them know you support funding voter-approved Medicaid expansion. Thanks.

WORKING FOR YOUTH

KC Common Good, Hire KC, and Entrepreneurship KC have collaborated to launch Working For Youth beginning in June. This program aims to train, coach, mentor, and employ 500 youths this summer—10% of Kansas City’s 5,000 youths, ages 14 to 18, living east of Troost. KC Chamber members can get involved by providing an internship opportunity or financially sponsoring an eight-week youth employment and mentorship opportunity for $2,000. Read about the program and how your business or organization can become involved. These experiences can be transformative for young lives. Also visit www.workingforyouth.org.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: GREATER KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Register now for our upcoming free virtual Neighborhood Networking with the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Friday April 23 from 9 to 10 a.m. Hear how the GKCCF is making an impact in Kansas City while connecting with your fellow KC Chamber members. Reserve your spot then click "set a reminder" so you don't miss this great free networking event. The KC Chamber's 2021 overall networking sponsors are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Delta Dental, and Mazuma. The KC Chamber's 2021 Neighborhood Networking Sponsors are Menlo and Unbound.

WORLD TRADE CENTERS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

As a KC Chamber member, you’re invited to attend the virtual World Trade Center Association’s General Assembly Week, April 26 to April 30, for free. This year’s theme is the Power of Community. The WTC General Assembly gives you access to B2B networking via Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered matchmaking, using an algorithm to effectively connect all attendees to business prospects around the world, an exclusive attendee roster of leaders of business, government, and international organizations from more than 320 World Trade Centers across nearly 100 countries, and more. Click here to view the WTCA GA agenda, learn more about AI-powered matchmaking and to register. When registering please make sure to select the WTC Network Delegate option and indicate you are affiliated with World Trade Center Kansas City.

SHAPING THE NEW NORMAL: HOW BUSINESSES ARE EVOLVING POST-PANDEMIC

Join Healthy KC and the KC Chamber's Executive Women's Leadership Council for "Shaping the New Normal: How Businesses Are Evolving Post-Pandemic,” May 5, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. When we say things will get to back to normal, it’s pretty safe to say the pandemic has changed exactly what normal means. Businesses have a unique opportunity to reset their culture. Stacie Engelman, VP, HR Consultant with Lockton Companies, moderates a panel featuring Renita Mollman, Chief Administrative Officer, Burns & McDonnell; Tracy Platt, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer, Cerner; Wendee Woodson, Director of Human Resources, GBA. You’ll also hear their Return-to-Work plans and how they will support the mental wellbeing of their employees. Register now for this free event.