EDCKC touts five years of economic development as president and CEO departs

When Bob Langenkamp was approached in 2014 about leading the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, momentum was building for a city on the cusp of a World Series win, economic revitalization and revived civic pride.

“It’s been a great run,” said Langenkamp, reflecting on his tenure as president and CEO of EDCKC.

With his departure from the organization announced Friday, Langenkamp is expected to be immediately succeeded Monday by Greg Flisram, currently senior vice president of business and real estate development at EDCKC, who will serve in an interim role.

Bob Langenkamp, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri

“Today, I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished together,” said Langenkamp in a press release Friday.

Under his leadership, EDCKC has managed and evaluated more than $5 billion in capital investment projects all across the city, while also achieving the job retention, job growth, and capital investment targets established by the EDCKC Board, according to the organization.  

This week, the organization moved to new offices in the River Market, which will reduce operating costs and provide staff with an excellent work environment well into the next decade, EDCKC said.

Langenkamp and his team also have focused EDCKC on a tighter and more deliberate mission, targeting programs for people, tools for projects, and large-scale initiatives that continue to grow city prosperity: 

• EDCKC has grown the successful LaunchKC program into three industry verticals.
• EDCKC is now leading a large-scale, east-side initiative to revitalize and bring both local and national awareness to the industrial development potential for more than 4,600 acres along the Blue River Valley.
• EDCKC’s Loan Corporation has been relaunched as LoanUp, which directs funds to businesses in areas lacking capital availability.
• EDCKC has launched the development of KC-UP, a MWBE-owned business accelerator.

“As I prepare to move on to the next phase of my career, I want to thank all the wonderful staff at the EDC who have made this progress possible,” said Langenkamp. “I also want to thank the EDC Board for the guidance and support they have provided over these years. With the foundation laid over the past five years, with an EDC staff that is running at full steam, I’m confident our city is in really good hands. Let’s grow KCMO.”

Langenkamp next plans to transition to a real estate and development role, according to the Kansas City Business Journal.