Woman-led

Just-launched retail hub gets first tenant, battling ‘blight of the heart’ on Troost corner

By Tommy Felts / June 3, 2025

‘We are each other’s bootstraps’ Transforming a long-vacant building along Troost into a space for neighborhood small businesses is about empowering the entrepreneurs already living and working in the east side community, said Father Justin Mathews. The newly unveiled RS Impact Exchange — built within the renovated, 1920-built Baker Shoe Building at 3108-3116 Troost Ave.…

Read More >

You can’t plan for this: ‘Mr K’ finalists wary of another ‘wrench into the face’ from Washington

By Tommy Felts / May 30, 2025

An upended national political and economic climate has rippled down to Main Street, acknowledged leaders of this year’s Top 10 Small Businesses, bringing concerns about racism, DEI backlash, tariffs, and supply chain disruptions to Kansas City’s front door.  “We’ve had people come into the shop and harass our employees, our customers,” explained Dulcinea Herrera —…

Read More >

Hyde Park coffee space reopens with family vibe fitting historic neighborhood’s roots, owners say

By Tommy Felts / May 30, 2025

A newly opened neighborhood coffee shop in Hyde Park hopes to bring a fresh, family-friendly vibe to Kansas City’s bustling coffee scene, its owners said. “We created 1888 Coffee to be something different — not just another café, but a welcoming hub for our community,” said Christine Kehoe, co-owner and operator of 1888 Coffee with…

Read More >

Topeka recruited dozens of Filipino teachers for local classrooms; at year’s end, the district hopes they’ll stay

By Tommy Felts / May 29, 2025

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro.  TOPEKA — Although international educators are not new to the state’s capital city, Topeka welcomed about 50 teachers from the Philippines this past school year to address shortages within the…

Read More >

Entrepreneur duo uses KC Current blueprint to acquire Danish football, build multi-club portfolio

By Tommy Felts / May 27, 2025

A just-announced deal to purchase a premier women’s football club in Denmark reflects Angie and Chris Long’s unwavering commitment to investing in women’s soccer at the highest level, the couple said, noting they’ll continue their work to raise the bar for players, supporters, and communities both nationally and internationally. Ballard Capital, a sports entertainment-focused investment…

Read More >