Economic Opportunity
Family-Friendly PNC Plaza Opens in Power & Light District
PNC Bank is partnering with the Power & Light District to rebrand an outdoor space in the downtown entertainment area “PNC Plaza” and plans to make it a hub for family-friendly activities. The plaza at the base of the H&R Block tower was formerly called Elements Courtyard because of its fountain and fire feature. It’s…
What Will It Take for Banks to Invest in Kansas City’s Low-Income Neighborhoods?
Learn how area lenders want to help rebuild and reinvest in Kansas City’s low-income neighborhoods.
Menlo Moving HQ from Northland to East Crossroads
By Kevin Collison Menlo, a growing tech services company that employs 50 people, has purchased the building housing DERMAdoctor at 1901 McGee and plans to relocate from its current suburban location next year. Brad Sandt, president and CEO, said the East Crossroads was chosen because of its appeal to his employees and the spirit of…
Jobs in Blue Valley
It took a flood at his family’s business – Custom Truck One Source – to lead a frustrated Chris Ross back to his childhood stomping grounds in the Blue Valley neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. Custom Truck’s swamped site was located in the East Bottoms, but Ross knew that city leaders had invested millions in…
Plaza Hotel Proposal Revived, Seven-Story Project at 46th and Wornall
UPDATED May 7, 2019 (Editor’s note: The City Plan Commission unanimously endorsed the Plaza Hotel redevelopment plan Wednesday, which also was supported by Historic KC and neighborhood groups The project will include two separate hotel flags, an Aloft and a Tribute Portfolio, within the Marriott brand. The project previously has been approved for a Community…
City Seeks Proposals for Big Overhaul of Barney Allis Plaza and Garage
By Kevin Collison The city is seeking proposals for a major overhaul of Barney Allis Plaza and its garage, following up on a study that described the square in the heart of downtown as a “forlorn stretch of grass and asphalt.” A request for proposals has been released by the City Manager’s Office with responses…
Some Kansas Farmers May Turn To Local Produce In Search Of Profit
Low crop prices have many Midwest wheat and corn farmers looking for ways to supplement their incomes. One possibility for conventional farmers: producing food for farmers markets. “Food is a multi-billion-dollar economy in Kansas,” says Missty Lechner of the American Heart Association, who works with local governments to encourage the development of local food systems….
Multi-Billion-Dollar Cabela’s Merger Puts A Rural Nebraska City At An Economic Crossroads
Cabela’s is known for big stores filled with museum-grade taxidermy and shelves piled with hunting and fishing gear. The Cabela’s store in Sidney, Nebraska, sits along Interstate 80 with a giant bull-elk sculpture facing the freeway. Next door is the sprawling company headquarters, complete with a forest-green Cabela’s water tower. The “World’s Foremost Outfitter,” as…
Growing Nebraska Poultry Industry Spurs Environmental Concerns
A proposal that would jumpstart the chicken business in Nebraska has some residents concerned about the potential impact on the environment and are trying to block or delay its construction. Costco, the warehouse retailer and grocery chain, plans to build a giant $300 million chicken slaughterhouse on the south side of the town of Fremont…
The ABCs of Port KC
This week KCUR reporter Suzanne Hogan and KCPT reporter Mike McGraw are exploring the economics behind Missouri River navigation and Port KC development. During a conversation that aired today on KCUR 89.3, McGraw told Hogan, “Historically, the port has been just about the river and a big freight facility down in southern Kansas City. But…