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President's Letter
For more than 20 years, the EDC has been recognizing the best Kansas City economic development projects with the annual Cornerstone Awards. To date, over 600 awards have been presented. This year's awards program promises to be special - we are hosting the event at the Airline History Museum at Wheeler Downtown Airport on April 22, 2008. The Cornerstone Awards honor capital investment, new building, equipment technologies, employment increases (especially in minority hiring) and improvements to neighborhoods and/or business districts, including housing, amenities and capital improvements.
The EDC will also be honoring a Kansas Citian with the James C. Denneny Spirit Award, an annual award given to an individual who embodies Denneny's legacy to Kansas City. James Denneny was one of Kansas City's staunchest supporters, serving the community in a variety of capacities, continually working to make our city a better place. For more than 10 years, Denneny served on the board of directors for the Economic Development Corp., often leading the charge for a better Kansas City.
For more sponsorship information or reservations for the Cornerstone Luncheon, contact Jill Quinn at 816.691.2120 or jquinn@edckc.com.
2008 Cornerstone Award Finalists are listed below, one winner from each category will be announced at the awards luncheon on April 22, 2008.
Entertainment
College Basketball Experience
Sprint Center
Public Projects
Kansas City Convention Center Grand Ballroom
City Center Square Parking Garage
KCI Consolidated Rental Car Facility
UMKC Health Sciences Building
Redevelopment
Accardo Arts & Design District
Crossroads Parking Structure
Holiday Inn Aladdin Hotel
Kansas City Wizards Training Facility
Meers Advertising
Musician's Friend
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Sheraton Kansas City Sports Complex
Residential
Single Family
27th Street Development II
Olive Street Homes
Multi-Unit
46 Jefferson
4646 Broadway
Cold Storage Lofts
Graphic Arts Lofts
Parkway Apartments
Plaza West Condominiums
Small Business
FishNet Security's: Security Operations Center Expansion
Kansas City Café
Los Tules Mexican Restaurant
Pediatric Care North
Studna Building
Special Recognition
Bloch Building - Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Crossroads Arts PIEA Area
Stat Corner
Colliers Turley Martin Tucker's recent Emerging Trends newsletter reported that employment growth in select Midwestern cities exceeded the US average growth rate in 2007. Growth rates for December, 2006 - December 2007 are as follows:
|
City |
Growth % |
|
Cincinnati |
0.3% |
|
Columbus |
0.5% |
|
Dayton |
-0.4% |
|
Indianapolis |
1.1% |
|
Kansas City |
1.0% |
|
Minneapolis |
0.1% |
|
Nashville |
0.5% |
|
St. Louis |
1.8% |
|
|
|
|
US Total |
0.2% |
Click to view the full report online: http://www.ctmtdocuments.com/38802.pdf
Hot Projects
Johnson Controls Inc.
The EDC partnered with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Kansas City Area Development Council and the Clay County Economic Development Council to bring 180 new full-time employees to a Northland Business Park. Johnson Controls, Inc. Automotive Interiors Division will occupy a 76,019 square foot building at 3700 Kimball Drive. The company will supply seats for Ford's F150 trucks, manufactured at the Ford Claycomo Plant. The EDC and its partners worked to provide Johnson Controls incentives, including EEZ tax credits, new jobs training bonds and employee recruitment and referral assistance.
Partner Feature
OneKC Wired
You may be interested in a new report that was jointly developed by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) and the Kansas Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Development. Publication of the OneKC WIRED region industry profile marks the first time information of this nature has been exchanged by both states for the KC region. The data provides an excellent snapshot of where the region is today - starting with overall data and then focusing on the three industry sectors targeted by the OneKC WIRED initiative (advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and healthcare). This is the first step in a process designed to assist area leaders in better understanding the region's economy and in communicating the OneKC story. It also provides a benchmark for many of the OneKC WIRED initiatives.
You can download a copy of the report by visiting http://www.OneKCWired.com and clicking on Resources.
KC Problem Solvers
Problem: Adjacent companies located near 39th Street and Southwest Trafficway were dealing with similar problems due to a dead-end street and inconvenient location of an abandoned substation; they were both considering a move out of Kansas City. Illicit activities and loitering was on the rise in parking areas, causing safety concerns for employees and visitors. In addition, the businesses were located just outside of boundaries for adjacent Community Improvement Districts (CID) and Business Associations, lacking a coordinated voice to enhance the appearance, functionality and safety of their properties and the 39th Street business corridor.
Solution: EDC staff facilitated a meeting of stakeholders including the businesses, City Planning & Development staff and KCP&L to find solutions for the abandoned alley and substation. One of the businesses is currently negotiating an option to purchase the site from KCP&L and utilize the site for additional parking. Concurrently, the EDC staff worked with the Kansas City Police Department and the businesses to open the lines of communication to address service delivery and safety concerns. Finally, the EDC is working with the adjacent CID and Business Associations to identify opportunities for the businesses to partner with and/or contract for services with one of the adjacent existing organizations. Both businesses will now stay in Kansas City.
Staff Profile
Janine Pettitt, TIF Contract Compliance Coordinator
The EDC staff would likely concur that Janine excels at keeping everyone laughing; but her real job is helping developers and City staff solve problems on complicated economic development projects. Janine ensures that the EDC and developers comply with various TIF policies, procedures and Redevelopment Agreement provisions. She also coordinates the five TIF Housing Programs and facilitates meetings and programming of the respective advisory committees.
A Kansas Citian since the age of 6, Janine remembers shopping trips downtown and finds it incredibly fulfilling to not only witness, but to be involved in, the downtown resurgence. As the mother of two active boys, she has spent the better part of 20 years on the bleachers of a field or a court organizing annual ‘moms-only vacations' that continue to this day. You might find Janine spending her spare time at Morton's Steakhouse or the Cheesecake Factory or on a really good weekend, scuba diving with friends off the coast of Cozumel.
Did You Know?
In its February 2008 issue, US News and World Report lists Kansas City International Airport as one of the three least miserable in the nation.
KC Headlines:
• Big Twelve Tournament Draws Thousands to Kansas City Live!
• Bombardier Aerospace Considering Kansas City for Manufacturing
Facility--Missouri Legislature Fast Tracking 2 Eco Dev Bills
• CenterPoint Properties and Kansas City Southern Break Ground at
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