Your Chamber at Work - February 14, 2022

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Two items to share with you this week:

First, Kansas took an important step forward last week toward what would be the largest economic development project in the state’s history. The bipartisan legislation known as the APEX bill was approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Kelly. The acronym APEX stands for the “Attracting Powerful  Economic  Expansion” Act which does exactly what its name implies: it keeps Kansas competitive in the race to attract a major project that would bring 4000 new jobs and inject $4-billion into the Kansas economy. Kansas is one of two finalists in the race to win this unnamed project. Passage of APEX provides the Sunflower State with a powerful new tool in its economic development toolbox and levels the playing field with other states in attracting megaprojects. The KC Chamber strongly supported the bill.

The unnamed company is rumored to be a major manufacturer, which brings to light an issue our region is facing. According to the Mid-America Regional Council, there are 236,000 skilled trades workers now, but about half of them will be retiring in the next few years. The Chamber’s Workforce Development Task Force has been looking at that issue, and is developing a campaign to encourage students, counselors, and parents to enter the skilled trades as a viable career.

The Task Force is also partnering with the Kauffman Foundation in its Real World Learning initiative, an effort to help students get market value asset certification, allowing students to build up experience and credentials.

With 95,000 jobs available in the KC region, we know that workforce is your biggest challenge. And it’s a challenge that’s both immediate and in the future. The Chamber is working to solve both.

SMALL BUSINESS CELEBRATION, NOW IN FULL SWING

Thank you to everyone who submitted a Small Business Superstar over the past month! The program has really grown since we started with 1,200 small businesses last year. This year, we’ve identified 2,000 Superstars! Keep an eye on social media at the hashtag #smallbizsuperstar and give comments and kudos to the proud companies that are driving our region’s economic growth. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback so far, as well as several inquiries for us to go ahead and open up Small Business Awards applications. So – if you are looking forward to starting your application, you don’t have to wait any longer.  Both the Small Business of the Year application (which includes questions for the Legacy of Kansas City, Small Business Equity, and Weida Award for International Small Business) and the Emerging Business Award, designed for companies with fewer than 3 years in business, are available to you here. In addition, we have two application workshops already scheduled for early March. One is March 2 and one is March 7. The deadline to apply is March 22. If you have questions about the Superstar program or the Small Business Celebration or Awards applications, reach out to Vicky Kulikov, kulikov@kcchamber.com.

Our 2022 Small Business Celebration Presenting Sponsors are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and Evergy. Our CEO Sponsor is Honeywell. Our Candidates’ Showcase Presenting Sponsor is American Century Investments. Our Top 10 Announcement Sponsor is UMB Bank. Our Top 10 Reception Sponsor is Bank Midwest. Our Awards Luncheon Presenting Sponsor is Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Our Executive Sponsor is CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Our Partner Sponsor is H&R Block. Our Associate Sponsors are Arvest Bank, Bank of Blue Valley, Country Club Bank, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Mazuma Credit Union, Menlo and US Bank. Superstar Media Sponsor is Startland News and Superstar Sponsor is FastSigns Overland Park.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR HELP TO DO THE WORK

If you’re having difficulty finding the help that you need for the jobs you have to fill, you might consider hiring the formerly incarcerated. Not sure if it would be a good fit, or if the boss would be okay with that? Jeff Korzenik, a nationally recognized advocate for second-chance hiring, can help you build the case. On Tuesday, February 22, he’ll discuss his new book, Second Chance Hiring: The Untapped Talent Pool and help you understand why he feels so passionately about advocating for consideration of those who have been justice involved. Join us virtually from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and learn about successful experiences of pioneering second chance employers around the country. This event is free and open to anyone. Register here. The event series is presented in partnership with the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce and Independence Chamber of Commerce.

Our Presenting Diversity Sponsors are CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Evergy and Hallmark. Our Workshop Presenting Sponsor is Commerce Bank. Our Cornerstone Sponsors are American Century Investments, Bayer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, JE Dunn Construction, Lockton Companies, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Saint Luke’s Health System, T-Mobile and Waddell & Reed. Our Regional Diversity Sponsors are Arvest Bank, Black & Veatch, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Burns & McDonnell, FleishmanHillard, Heavy Constructors Association, Honeywell, Kansas City Royals, KVC Health Systems, McCownGordon Construction, State Street and VanTrust Real Estate. Our Supporting Diversity Sponsors are Accenture, Bank of America, Bardavon Health Innovations, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, CBIZ, Cerner, Children’s Mercy, Enterprise Holdings, Ernst & Young, Garmin, HNTB, Husch Blackwell, H&R Block, Kansas City University, Lathrop GPM, Mazuma Credit Union, McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, Shook Hardy & Bacon, Southwest Airlines, Spire, Stinson, The Builders' Association, The University of Kansas, The University of Kansas Health System and Turner Construction Company.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING

Fresh Karma Dispensaries, located at 240 E. Linwood Blvd., will host Neighborhood Networking on Friday, February 25. From 8:30 to 10 a.m., members can stop in and learn how medical marijuana helps people improve their lives. Enjoy networking and find out about the products they have to offer. Register here. The KC Chamber’s 2022 Neighborhood Networking sponsor is Unbound. Overall Networking Sponsors are Delta Dental and Mazuma Credit Union.

HEALTHY KC ROUNDTABLE

If the pandemic has been weighing on you and those around you, you’ll want to check this out. Healthy KC is hosting a roundtable discussion where you can talk to your peers about the challenges that your workforce is facing during the pandemic, mitigation efforts for languishing in the workplace, and possible solutions. This event will be held in the KC Chamber’s Board Room at Union Station, March 4, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Register here. Thank you to Healthy KC Presenting Sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. Our Premier Sponsor is Lockton Companies. Our Advocate Sponsors are AdventHealth, Children's Mercy, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Garmin International, Inc., and Health Forward Foundation. Our Supporter Sponsors are CBIZ/MHM, H&R Block, JE Dunn Construction, Kansas City University, KVC Health Systems, McCownGordon Construction, Spire, The University of Kansas, and The University of Kansas Health System.