Event to focus on major developments and business opportunities in south KC

Cover Photo: Construction on Wonderscope’s new location at the Red Bridge Shopping Center continues to progress. Will the children’s museum bring an economic boost to the area? Photo by Kathy Feist

Everything up to date at the upcoming Economic Development Summit

By John Sharp

South Kansas City residents and business operators will be brought up to date on the current status of major economic development projects in the Southland at the upcoming 6^th Annual Economic Development Summit sponsored by the South Kansas City Alliance (SKCA).

The free event titled Job Growth Continues will focus on the progress of major developments and new business opportunities.  It will run from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 14, at Avila University’s Whitfield Center, 11901 Wornall Rd., and will include a hot breakfast buffet.

Scheduled speakers include:

• Owen Buckley, president of Lane4 Property Group, the owner and operator of the rejuvenated Red Bridge Shopping Center that now is nearly fully occupied; 
• Roxane Hill, executive director of Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City, which is constructing its new 30,000 square foot museum at the Shopping Center that it hopes to open next fall; and 
• Jon Stephens, president and CEO of Port KC, which oversees and manages more than 489,000 square feet of leased office and industrial space in the Richards-Gebaur Commerce Park and has several lots as well as office and industrial buildings available for lease.

Representatives also are scheduled to attend to discuss multiple new developments in the Martin City area, the expansion of the Burns & McDonnell headquarters at Ward Parkway & Wornall Rd., flood control projects to protect the Dodson Industrial District and the Swope Park Industrial Area and other major development projects.

Persons who wish to attend the Summit are urged to register at Eventbrite or on the SKCA website at southkcalliance.org as soon as possible since Whitfield Center only seats 160 people and the event is expected to reach capacity quickly.