Nixon announces $1.2M in grants to KC programs
September 18, 2015 | Ashley Jost
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon made an appearance at Techweek Thursday to announce $1.19 million in grants to three Kansas City organizations through the Missouri Technology Corporation.
Of the $1.19 million, $565,000 is going to LaunchKC, $500,000 is going to the Digital Sandbox KC and $125,000 is going to the Independence Economic Development Council. The 2016 Missouri budget signed by Gov. Nixon includes nearly $16 million for programs at the MTC, a public-private partnership promoting entrepreneurship.
The grants are geared primarily toward providing mentors, access to capital, and coworking opportunities.
“Year after year, we continue to see more enterprising Missourians starting and expanding their businesses, creating jobs and growing our economy” Nixon said in a release. “With these new investments to help startups and entrepreneurs launch their businesses, we will continue to ensure that the next big idea in tech innovation happens right here in Missouri.”
Nixon’s announcement came before he introduced Techweek keynote speaker Jim McKelvey, co-founder of LaunchCode and Square. The governor was introduced by Techweek’s CEO Katy Lynch.
“This city has a burgeoning tech scene, and we’re here to highlight the people, initiatives, and the companies that make KC great,” Lynch said in a news release. “Startups and the organizations that enable them are growing at an exciting rate here. It is very impressive to see how supportive state and local government has been in promoting new business growth in the region. It’s no surprise that there’s a strong sense of community and pride throughout the city.”
Featured Business
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Digital Sandbox alum earns new round of funding — this time for sports tech; Meet the latest batch of just-funded startups
From making the college admissions process easier for students to summarizing books and podcasts using artificial intelligence, the latest startups to join Digital Sandbox KC are a great example of the creativity of this region’s entrepreneurs, said Jill Meyer. The four newly selected companies are expected to receive up to $20,000 in project funding and…
Her red sauce is dynamite but Ragazza’s owner gives the chef title to her Italian heritage
Family is baked into the core of Laura Norris’ restaurants, she shared, from the Italian recipes served at Ragazza in Westport to the brother-sister duo running the new Enzo Wine Bar and Bistro together in the River Market. She opened Ragazza, which now sits at the corner of 43rd and Main streets, in 2013 and…
How a ‘City Hall Swiftie committee’ is bringing joy (and business) to NKC as concert tour hits Arrowhead
The street lights are pointing in an arrowhead, leading Taylor Swift fans to North Kansas City where they can walk the iconic “Cornelia Street.” In June, North Kansas City Mayor Bryant DeLong announced that Swift Street in NKC was to be temporarily renamed Swift Street (Taylor’s Version) in honor of the artist coming July 7-8…
Former Independence mayor named interim executive director for LGBT Chamber
An interim leader was announced Thursday as the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce forms a search committee tasked with identifying the next full-time executive director for the Kansas City-based business advocacy group. Eileen Weir, who served as mayor of Independence, Missouri, from 2014 to 2022, takes on the interim role July 11 after the announcement…