Government

KC BizCare receives $20K grant to promote economic mobility ahead of 2026 World Cup

By Tommy Felts / June 13, 2025

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…

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KCMO sets aside $1.4M to get small biz, artists in the front door before World Cup arrives

By Tommy Felts / June 10, 2025

A city-led and funded effort to fill vacant storefronts in downtown Kansas City ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is still taking shape, officials said this week, noting that crafting the infrastructure for the program alongside private property owners is expected to extend through the summer. “The World Cup is just the beginning of…

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Topeka’s new community-built innovation incubator turns soil; leaders eager to show the world what grows

By Tommy Felts / June 7, 2025

TOPEKA — It’s not just about breaking new ground in the state’s capital, said Neal Spencer; the Link Innovation Labs project’s global reach serves as “a foundation for growth, impact, and the future of our great city.” “It’ll be a hub for ideas, connection and opportunity — a place where startups launch, collaborators spark, and…

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Global startups plug into Topeka: How Kansas connections are powering their innovation

By Tommy Felts / June 7, 2025

TOPEKA — Collaboration in the Midwest is just a call away, said Romaine Redman. It’s a reality that sets the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem apart, he added, and a heartland trait that seeds Topeka’s Plug and Play accelerator with the potential for international impact. “I pick up the phone and I call someone, and they’re here…

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No time to roll credits: Film tax incentives give Kansas City more screen time than ever

By Tommy Felts / June 5, 2025

After Hallmark movie touchdown, TV and film crews are scoring big in Kansas City, official says With cameras rolling and spotlights shining, Kansas City is positioning itself as one of the Midwest’s most attractive film destinations, said Rachel Kephart, noting reinvigorated support from city hall and an effective mix of local and state incentives. Interest…

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