Edgemoor representatives will on hand at the SKCA Economic Development Summit on December 1 to talk about individual and business opportunities at the KCI Airport terminal project.
SKCA Economic Development Summit to feature breaking news on south KC developments
By John Sharp
Breaking news about major developments in south Kansas City and the success stories of new smaller south Kansas City businesses will be featured at the 5th annual South Kansas City Alliance (SKCA) Economic Development Summit Saturday, December 1, at Avila University.
The free event will run from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will include a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch. Persons should register online at the SKCA website www.SouthKCAlliance.org.
Attendees will learn the latest news about the expanding Cerner Innovations Campus, the revitalization of the Red Bridge Shopping Center, new programs at St. Joseph Medical Center, the expansion of Burns & McDonnell’s world headquarters, the new businesses at Three Trails Industrial Park, and the planned replacement of the former Bannister Federal Complex with a major industrial park and perhaps some retail services.
Successful new smaller businesses in south Kansas City will tell their success stories and explain their services. Businesses making presentations will include Betty Rae’s Ice Cream, Big Momma’s Bakery-Café, COCO Brookside, Crows Coffee, Grade A Tree Care and Lady Bye.
There will be a breakout session on building stronger neighborhoods for neighborhood leaders and activists. Dina Newman, director of the UMKC Center for Neighborhoods, will explain the many free training programs the Center offers for neighborhood leaders. Officers from the Police Department’s South Patrol Division will discuss how to start neighborhood block watch programs and assure their effectiveness. Additionally, they will give tips on burglary and theft prevention.
There also will be breakout sessions to help new and potential small business owners on low cost marketing and using social media, on doing business with large corporations and units of government such as the city of KCMO, and on networking.
A special feature at this year’s event will be a presentation by Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate on the opportunities for businesses and individuals to participate in the terminal project at KCI Airport.
Edgemoor representatives will explain an upcoming pre-apprenticeship program to help individuals learn about and become proficient in construction trades and its continuing strategic partnership program – a free six-month program described by the company as “a construction MBA for small construction businesses” that teaches business skills needed in the construction industry.
They also will provide updates on the timing and process for issuing the many requests for bid proposals that will be issued over the next year for construction of the terminal project.
Various speakers will discuss employment growth by major south Kansas City employers and by industry, the need in the area for specific types of goods and services, available commercial properties, area housing starts and south Kansas City population changes and forecasts.
The luncheon speaker at the event will be John Hoffman, an owner of UC-B Properties that has been a leader in investing in housing and commercial projects in areas such as the Troost corridor and the KCMO urban core that other developers often avoid.