More than coworking: Plexpod lauded as economic driver at EDCKC Cornerstone Awards
May 17, 2018 | Tommy Felts
A Cornerstone Award win for Plexpod is a recognition of the evolving nature of community and connections, said Gerald Smith.
“When we set out to do the Plexpod Westport Commons project, from the beginning it was much more than just another coworking facility,” said Plexpod co-founder Smith. “We believed Kansas City needed a central hub of scale where entrepreneurs would gather, events could occur, and companies would thrive. Economic development was at the very core of this project.”
Presented by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City for more than 30 years, the Cornerstone Awards celebrate people, projects, businesses, programs, initiatives and events that drive economic development and growth in Kansas City.
Winners were announced at a gala Tuesday.
“We believe the great companies of Kansas City’s future are being born everyday at Plexpod Westport Commons, as well as our other locations across the metro,” said Smith, referencing Plexpod communities in Lenexa and the Crossroads Arts District. “We were thrilled to receive this honor, especially in our first year being open at [the Westport Commons] location. Plexpod is proud to be Kansas City birthed and we expect to carry that special KC entrepreneurial spirit with us to other cities.”
Plexpod was named one of Startland’s Top Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2018, having launched Westport Commons in the 160,000-square-foot renovated former Westport Middle School in 2017, and acquiring Think Big Coworking about six months ago.
Other Cornerstone honorees included AutoAlert, Cable Dahmer Headquarters & Collision, Cerner Innovation Campus, Hotel Indigo and Fairfax Lofts Apartments, Hunt Midwest SubTroplis Animal Health Corridor, KC Urban Youth Baseball, Linwood YMCA/James B. Nutter Sr. Community, NBKC Bank, Spring Venture Group, and Urban Café.
“The Cornerstone Awards celebrate the people and organizations that are building the future of Kansas City, Missouri,” said Bob Langenkamp, EDCKC president and CEO. “The 2018 award recipients have played a vital role in creating a thriving economy in our city, and we enthusiastically congratulate them on their efforts.”
For a full list of finalists, click here.
EDCKC also paid tribute Tuesday to Leo Morton, chancellor emeritus for the University of Missouri-Kansas City, with its Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as several special projects and the organizations behind them, including:
- Amazon HQ2 Proposal — Barkley, VML and Xact Technologies
- KCP&L — Clean Charge Network and KCP&L Connect
- A Better KCI — Platte County EDC, Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Area Development Council, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and The Dover Group
- People’s Choice Award — Veterans Community Tiny Homes Project
Featured Business
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Time runs out for Missouri angel investor tax credit push as legislators close session early
A last-minute effort to pass legislation to boost Missouri entrepreneurs and innovators was thwarted earlier this month when state lawmakers abruptly ended their legislative session, said Jason Wiens, who led advocacy for the creation of a new Show-Me State angel investor tax credit. Amid “escalating partisan tensions” May 14 — and headline grabbing speculation about how…
Meat the moment with valor: Veteran cattle rancher deploys co-op model to save the Midwest cowboy
WESTON, Mo. — Almost a decade after launching KC Cattle Company — his veteran-owned and -operated wagyu beef company — Patrick Montgomery is forging a new path to help fellow ranchers and farmers survive. He’s now digging his spurs into Valor Provisions, a direct-to-consumer online marketplace offering premium proteins from small, independent, veteran-owned ranches like…
Student-raised meats graduate to university storefront as consumers look closer at what makes the cut
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — A new partnership puts pork chops, brats and select cuts from across farming projects at the University of Central Missouri in a retail storefront accessible to community members shopping for locally raised meat. UCM Farms — which spans more than 1,000 acres of farm ground within 10 miles of campus — is…
Feel good, but get off the bench: KC’s next big wins require all players join EDCKC in the field
Editor’s note: The following is the fourth in a four-part series exploring the verticals and impact of initiatives within the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City through a paid partnership with EDCKC. Leave KC better than you found it: How matching growth to city’s needs is paying off Wrong tool can wreck a neighborhood; Precision…