KC BizCare receives $20K grant to promote economic mobility ahead of 2026 World Cup
June 13, 2025 | Startland News Staff
A sixth-month initiative to rapidly boost small businesses and entrepreneurs in Kansas City is expected to help KCMO leaders drive readiness for the massive influx of FIFA World Cup visitors in summer 2026.
The National League of Cities (NLC) this week awarded Kansas City a $20,000 grant and expert guidance to promote economic mobility in the city ahead of the unprecedented, 40-day sports event that is expected to bring 650,000 professional soccer fans to the region.
Mayor Quinton Lucas speaks in April during the Downtown Council’s annual luncheon at the Kansas City Convention Center; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“As Kansas City prepares to welcome the world for FIFA World Cup 2026, we’re committed to ensuring that every corner and zip code in our community benefits from this historic moment,” said Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri.
Industries targeted for impact through the program include outdoor dining, liquor licensing, short-term rentals, and restaurants.
Kansas City is one of 12 municipalities from across the country competitively selected to participate in the NLC’s grant initiative, which is supported by the Gates Foundation.
“The Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant to KC BizCare will help level the playing field for small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing essential business readiness training,” Lucas said. “When the world’s eyes are on Kansas City, we want them to see a city where opportunity is truly accessible to all.”
Editor’s note: KC BizCare is a partner of Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom.
RELATED: KCMO sets aside $1.4M to get small biz, artists in the front door before World Cup arrives
Regional leaders discuss Kansas City preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside host city supporters from Populous and Purina during an update event June 11 at Union Station in Kansas City; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
The NLC program is expected to help fund the promotion of regulatory processes — as well as to expand, test, and implement economic mobility measures — that could impact small businesses and entrepreneurs during the runup to the World Cup, as well as during the games (set for June and July 2026) at Arrowhead Stadium.
KCMO Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw speaks to small business owners during an April town hall event; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Participation in the program also has the potential to leverage additional funding for Kansas City to promote economic mobility efforts, according to the KC BizCare Office.
In the past two years, NLC worked with 20 other municipalities, providing more than $350,000 in awards, coaching, and peer-learning opportunities. A team from Kansas City is expected to join representatives from the 23 other municipalities from the current and previous cohorts in a joint economic mobility conference in October.
“I suggested staff to pursue this opportunity because economic mobility must be a reality for every Kansas Citian,” said Ryana Parks-Shaw, who serves as mayor pro tem for KCMO. “This grant allows us to remove barriers for small businesses and entrepreneurs in a pivotal moment for our city. As we prepare for the global spotlight of World Cup 2026, we’re making strategic investments that will position our communities to grow and thrive well beyond the tournament.”
Click here to learn more about city-led efforts to prepare Kansas City entrepreneurs for the coming FIFA World Cup.
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
None More Lonesome: Creative’s expression takes new form as ‘street art meets pop art meets tattoo flash’
Growing up in Olathe, Brett Crawford doesn’t really remember many places for local artists to put their work on display, he said. But times have changed and the artist and musician, who moved back to the Kansas City area during the pandemic, will see his None More Lonesome collection of paintings on display at Mean…
Rapidly scaling PayIt raises another $90M amid ‘long-overdue transformation’ of govtech
Growth and continued innovation are on the docket as Kansas City-filed PayIt closes a $90 million funding round. Led by the global firm Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, the capital injection is expected to keep fueling PayIt’s commitment to simplify the way people interact with the public sector in everyday places like the DMV and court…
Outside look from the inside: What a visiting economic fellow found in KC (rival BBQ is just a taste)
After spending his summer in Kansas City, the metro reminds Alvin Gusman a lot of his hometown, Austin, he said. The Texas A&M student is in the last two weeks of his 10-week Equity in Economic Development Fellowship with the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC), reflecting on the experience. “I’ve actually really enjoyed…
55-shoe collection to online sneaker platform: How Nazr El-Scari opened a market to affordable, rare kicks
Sneakers are a distinct statement of individuality, Nazr El-Scari said, lacing up his venture’s sole purpose: to put dream shoes within reach “Growing up, I remember the excitement of opening a new pair of shoes. My older brother and his friends always had the dopest sneakers that you couldn’t find anywhere in Kansas City; it…