Your Chamber at Work - June 26, 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

The KC Chamber Board meets today and one of the main items on our agenda is approval of the Chamber’s Public Policy Agenda for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

Our public policy agendas (including agendas for Kansas, Missouri, and the federal government) serve as the guiding documents as we advocate for the business community and the Kansas City region in the various legislatures in which we interact.

Among the key points in the proposed KCMO agenda: We support sustainable solutions to grow our city while closing opportunity gaps in economic and workforce development. We also support improving healthcare and social and criminal justice measures as essential elements of success in achieving these goals. Kansas City has the opportunity to progress towards the accomplishment of these community goals in the coming years as we build upon the opening of a new world class air terminal and hosting the NFL Draft and FIFA World Cup. These events will attract attention from across the globe. We must leverage that elevated profile.

Our proposed KCMO agenda focuses on three areas in which the KC Chamber hopes to partner with City leaders: city operations, inclusive prosperous development, and quality of life. Specific items under those categories include: 

• Responsible, data-informed investment in city infrastructure, basic services, and public safety.
• Growth-oriented mobility, transit, and multi-modal transportation infrastructure, with particular attention to improving access to jobs from our chronically distressed neighborhoods.
• Measures to reduce violent crime, promote social justice, increase transparency and trust between law enforcement and the community, and enhance opportunities for formerly incarcerated residents.

Once approved, we’ll be sharing our agenda with Mayor Quinton Lucas and the newly-elected KCMO City Council and working with them to ensure progress toward these goals. Our congratulations to Mayor Lucas, incumbent Councilmembers Kevin O’Neill, Andrea Bough, Melissa Robinson, Eric Bunch, and Ryana Parks Shaw, and new Councilmembers Lindsay French, Melissa Patterson Hazley, Crispin Rea, Darrell Curls, Nathan Willets, Wes Rogers, and Johnathan Duncan.

CELEBRATE THE POWER OF DIVERSITY

This year’s POWER of Diversity Breakfast will focus on Kansas City as a welcoming community. Keynote Suzanne Hogan is senior producer for KCUR Studios, the podcast wing of KCUR 89.3 FM, Kansas City’s NPR affiliate. She is currently the creator and host of the podcast “A People’s History of Kansas City,” a show that shines a spotlight on overlooked everyday heroes and visionaries. In addition, the Champion of Diversity and Nonprofit Champion of Diversity awards will be presented to organizations that are modeling best practices in DEI for the business community. And for the mid- to senior-level managers that are putting in the work to make sure their companies excel at DEI, we have Ace Awards to present. Hope you can join us on July 26 at the Muehlebach at 7:30 a.m. for the POWER of Diversity Breakfast. Cost is $80 for Chamber members and $100 for non-members. Tables of 10 are available. Please RSVP. Thank you to our Presenting Diversity Sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Our Cornerstone Sponsors are American Century Investments, Bayer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, JE Dunn Construction, Lockton, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Saint Luke’s Health System, T-Mobile, and The University of Kansas Health System.

THE WORLD IS THEIR CUSTOMER!

The Heartland Export Accelerator was launched in Fall 2022 to help businesses in our region compete and grow successfully in the global marketplace. The showcase event on July 12 will include all participating companies from the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 cohorts. The participants will present their business, talk about their experiences in HEA, and share where they are growing next! The Showcase will take place from 3-5 p.m. at the Plexpod Westport Commons, 300 E. 39th St. in Kansas City, MO. Please RSVP. The Heartland Export Accelerator is presented by World Trade Center Kansas City, in partnership with the International Trade Administration, and sponsored by Commerce Bank.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: DETERMINATION INC.

Who knew residential construction could change lives? Determination Inc. knew. On July 14 you can network with your fellow Chamber members and with the visionary leaders of Determination Inc. who are building community and entrepreneurial opportunity among the formerly incarcerated. We’ll meet from 8:30-10 a.m. at Trades CoWork, 1701 Troost Ave. in Kansas City, MO. Neighborhood Networking is free for KC Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Please RSVP. Neighborhood Networking is made possible because of sponsorship by Rock CFO, Southwest Airlines, and Unbound. The Chamber’s overall networking sponsors are Delta Dental and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

HEALTHY KC NETWORKING FORUM

Even after the rise of hybrid working, employees still spend a large portion of their time in the office. Creating a healthy physical work environment is critical to employee physical and mental wellbeing. Healthy KC is taking a deeper look at this on July 20, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Garmin, 1200 E. 151st St. in Olathe. This Networking Forum will include a panel discussion of how business leaders in the region are cultivating their work environment as it impacts their business and employee health. This event is free to attend but please RSVP. Healthy KC is presented in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.