Minority-Led

Attention passengers: Prepare to fill your carry ons with local goods when KC’s new terminal opens

By Tommy Felts / February 24, 2023

Local businesses are a significant part of Kansas City’s story, Tyler Enders said, and the new terminal at the Kansas City International Airport gives travelers coming into the city the perfect prologue. “Right when people land in Kansas City, they will be introduced to local artwork, local restaurants and local retail brands. When they go…

Cafe finds kinship with KCK entrepreneur, sourcing coffee expertise amid celebration of Black excellence

By Tommy Felts / February 24, 2023

The evolution of a 107-year-old eastern Jackson County service organization is still brewing in Independence as BlendWell Community Cafe pours coffee and deeper connections through a celebration of diversity — and partnership with an entrepreneur across the state line who shares its mission, said Doug Cowan. “In 2015, we bought this building and we started…

Opening day: Long-awaited halal food franchise arrives in KC with more locations on the menu

By Tommy Felts / February 24, 2023

Osama Hanif was as hungry for an opportunity to prove himself as he was to eat his favorite halal food in Kansas City, he said, reflecting on the years-long process to open an east coast franchise restaurant in the Midwest. “Once I had my first taste of growing a company, I knew I wanted to…

Amplified to scale: Superstars initiative shines brighter as Chamber widens spotlight (Photos)

By Tommy Felts / February 24, 2023

Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. For the roughly 400 entrepreneurs who gathered Wednesday at lightwell, being a small business owner began to feel like something much bigger, said organizers of the KC…

Tamba Hali traded cleats for beats; former Chiefs linebacker’s latest music release runs from the field to the fine arts

By Tommy Felts / February 23, 2023

Tamba Hali spent his entire 12-year NFL career with Kansas City. Now — as an Afrobeat recording artist — the home of the Chiefs still factors heavily into his career. On Valentine’s Day (and two days after the Chiefs Super Bowl victory), the former Pro Bowl linebacker released his latest music video — “Fine O”…