Government

How a $4B Panasonic plant could ‘revolutionize region’s economy’ — starting next year

By Tommy Felts / September 21, 2024

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly believes the opening of the $4 billion electric car…

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How city dollars could help crime victims get back to business; Mayor unveils new fund to support struggling entrepreneurs 

By Tommy Felts / September 13, 2024

A newly introduced fund aimed at helping KCMO small businesses recover from and prevent property crimes — offering grants up to $3,000 for damage repairs and $5,000 for security upgrades — is a step in the right direction, said Joe Giammanco, whose pizza shop was recently hit by criminals. “Programs like this are going to…

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Candidates: Unchecked property crime against businesses driven by prosecutor’s failure to hold offenders accountable

By Tommy Felts / September 6, 2024

Melesa Johnson, Tracey Chappell share their solutions for combatting recent uptick in break-ins at Kansas City businesses Editor’s note: Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker is not seeking re-election, so it’s an open race for her countywide seat. Democrat Melesa Johnson and Republican Tracey Chappell are running in the 2024 general election with a vote…

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Here’s how a new data dashboard could help KCMO redirect funds to small businesses

By Tommy Felts / September 5, 2024

A new data dashboard built to better understand Kansas City’s business needs — and guide the city’s response — is not only revolutionary for the metro, said Nia Richardson, it could be the first of its kind, period. Small business advocates already are calling it a win. “I don’t know of any other city or playbook…

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World Cup will be KC’s biggest-ever event, top founder says (and local businesses can still get in the game)

By Tommy Felts / August 23, 2024

When Neal Sharma co-founded DEG at the turn of the millennium, Kansas City felt like it had an inferiority complex, he said. Fast forward to 2024, and the city is teeming with extrinsic validation, he added. The exited founder-turned-civic leader hopes being a World Cup host city in 2026 pushes Kansas City to take a…

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