More than coworking: Plexpod lauded as economic driver at EDCKC Cornerstone Awards

A Cornerstone Award win for Plexpod is a recognition of the evolving nature of community and connections, said Gerald Smith.

“When we set out to do the Plexpod Westport Commons project, from the beginning it was much more than just another coworking facility,” said Plexpod co-founder Smith. “We believed Kansas City needed a central hub of scale where entrepreneurs would gather, events could occur, and companies would thrive. Economic development was at the very core of this project.”

Presented by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City for more than 30 years, the Cornerstone Awards celebrate people, projects, businesses, programs, initiatives and events that drive economic development and growth in Kansas City.

Winners were announced at a gala Tuesday.

“We believe the great companies of Kansas City’s future are being born everyday at Plexpod Westport Commons, as well as our other locations across the metro,” said Smith, referencing Plexpod communities in Lenexa and the Crossroads Arts District. “We were thrilled to receive this honor, especially in our first year being open at [the Westport Commons] location. Plexpod is proud to be Kansas City birthed and we expect to carry that special KC entrepreneurial spirit with us to other cities.”

Plexpod was named one of Startland’s Top Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2018, having launched Westport Commons in the 160,000-square-foot renovated former Westport Middle School in 2017, and acquiring Think Big Coworking about six months ago.

Other Cornerstone honorees included AutoAlert, Cable Dahmer Headquarters & Collision, Cerner Innovation Campus, Hotel Indigo and Fairfax Lofts Apartments, Hunt Midwest SubTroplis Animal Health Corridor, KC Urban Youth Baseball, Linwood YMCA/James B. Nutter Sr. Community, NBKC Bank, Spring Venture Group, and Urban Café.

“The Cornerstone Awards celebrate the people and organizations that are building the future of Kansas City, Missouri,” said Bob Langenkamp, EDCKC president and CEO. “The 2018 award recipients have played a vital role in creating a thriving economy in our city, and we enthusiastically congratulate them on their efforts.”

For a full list of finalists, click here.

EDCKC also paid tribute Tuesday to Leo Morton, chancellor emeritus for the University of Missouri-Kansas City, with its Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as several special projects and the organizations behind them, including:

• Amazon HQ2 Proposal — Barkley, VML and Xact Technologies
• KCP&L — Clean Charge Network and KCP&L Connect
• A Better KCI — Platte County EDC, Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Area Development Council, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and The Dover Group
• People’s Choice Award — Veterans Community Tiny Homes Project