July, 2009
Mission
The mission of the EDC is to drive economic development and create an environment in which businesses and residents prosper in Kansas City, Missouri.
Priority 1: Retain and grow existing Kansas City, Missouri businesses.
Strategic Direction 1: Increase the EDC’s knowledge and effectiveness in meeting our customers’ needs.
- Participate in 50 business/community/professional association meetings.
- Conduct 6 “EDC business workshops”, one in each Council District.
- Assist 5 KCMO companies with technical assistance requests.
- Assist 10 KCMO companies with retention or expansion projects.
- Implement a pilot Business Deputies Program.
- Conduct 20 business retention calls (subject to approval of the FEC Business Retention contract).
- Capture real time business intelligence via the kcbizcare initiative and via the Synchronist program (subject to approval of the FEC Business Retention contract).
Strategic Direction 2: Improve the business environment so that businesses can thrive.
- Closely align the EDC’s 2010 legislative agenda with those of the City and Greater Kansas City Chamber.
- Lobby as necessary in Jefferson City and Washington, DC to advance the mutual economic development agendas
Strategic Direction 3: Increase the level of awareness and value of the EDC to customers and stakeholders.
- Continue to refine and produce the EDC’s Annual Performance Report to describe the ROI on City investment.
- Enlist the EDC Board’s involvement in order to convey the value/impact of the EDC’s work to key stakeholders, as well as potential customers.
- Offer regular communication opportunities to City Council members to understand their priorities and issues.
- Enhance our website and newsletter communication channels.
- Develop FAQ sheets for the EDC and its programs/services and make associated presentations to the EDC Board and to additional Statutory Agency workshops.
- Support the work of the EDC Executive Committee’s Strategic Operations Workgroup to benchmark best practices and put forward business model options.
Priority 2: Support development of disadvantaged and opportunity areas within KCMO.
Strategic Direction 1: Identify both disadvantaged, as well as opportunity areas in order to target and facilitate new development or redevelopment.
- Black Heritage District – continue to advocate for state enabling legislation.
- Blue Valley Industrial Area – obtain approval for PIEA plan and continue to support the formation of a CID.
- 63rd & Prospect – continue to refine project.
- Ruskin Heights – identify redevelopment opportunities.
- Greater Downtown Area – provide technical support and consultation for the GDAP.
- Riverfront – Port Authority to partner with at least one developer to respond to GSA project.
- Richards-Gebaur/CenterPoint – Advance the permitting and land use agreements to allow for limestone recovery.
Strategic Direction 2: Advocate and assist in implementing pro-business/development procedures and policies in KCMO.
- In conjunction with City staff, finalize the ED&I Policy implementation via the associated User’s Manual.
- Consult with the City of KCMO in order to implement City regulatory/permitting process improvements identified via the Small Business & Entrepreneurship initiative.
- Continue and expand staff-to-staff meetings between the City and EDC to improve communication and processes.
- Solicit a new “But-For” Analysis template jointly reviewed/supported by the EDC and City of KCMO.
Strategic Direction 3: Identify neighborhood and community priorities for economic development.
- As the City’s contractor, implement the Neighborhood Stabilization Program for rehabilitation of foreclosed properties in targeted areas.
- Support the Mayor’s New Tools Initiative.
- Charitable Fund to identify other industrial or mixed-use opportunities now that Paseo West is nearing completion
- Demolish Shoppers Parkade (11th & Grand).
- Demolish the former Naughty but Nice bookstore and construct a surface parking lot (39th & Main).
- Complete the Martin City URA.
- Commence infrastructure and vertical development in Columbus Park.
- Commence construction of four affordable and LEED certified homes in the Vineyard Neighborhood.
- Complete the Front Street extension on the Riverfront connecting the Northeast Industrial District and the CBD.
- Complete the ASB Underpass Trail project.
Strategic Direction 4: Advocate for increased financial resources to support these initiatives.
- Assist the Financial Capital Committee of the Mayor’s New Tools Initiative in identifying alternative financing options.
Priority 3: Promote workforce development and job growth opportunities for Kansas City, Missouri residents.
Strategic Direction 1: Establish linkages between employers and employees.
- Coordinate the implementation by all the Statutory Agencies of the City’s Workforce Utilization Program.
- Present a “First Source Employment Strategy” to the TIF Commission on a pilot basis.
- Refer business clients with hiring opportunities to the Full Employment Council.
- Collaborate with the KC Wired program.
- List bid opportunities for economic development projects on the EDC’s website.
Strategic Direction 2: Target workforce opportunities in high unemployment and former employment clusters where infrastructure and workforce currently exist.
- Continue to provide technical support to the Vine Street District initiative focused on job creation.
- Utilize opportunities generated by the “Green Impact Zone” for urban core job opportunities.
Strategic Direction 3: Advocate for increased resources for training, education and transportation that provide opportunities for the Kansas City workforce.
- Identify state and federal resources via the FEC, Metropolitan Community College and other involved agencies.
- Advocate for use of federal resources under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act to be utilized for jobs in the urban core.
Strategic Direction 4: Advocate for programs and resources of value to the creative class
- Participate in KCADC’s Workforce 2.0 Initiative.
Priority 4: Promote entrepreneurship in order to support new business formation as well as growth opportunities for existing KCMO businesses.
Strategic Direction 1: Identify partnership opportunities to advance the “entrepreneurial agenda” within Kansas City.
- Building on the launch of the kcbizcare initiative, continue to strongly support that effort in conjunction with the City.
- Begin additional phases of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Initiative with particular focus on active involvement of identified partners.
- Building on the success of the existing Kansas City Biotechnology Center (4420 Madison) take a leadership role in order to create more wet lab incubator space in Kansas City, Missouri.
- Strongly support the “Grow Me State” initiative with the Missouri legislature including reintroduction of the MOSIRA bill.
- Participate in the “2009 Year of Innovation” initiative.
Strategic Direction 2: Expand the utilization of the EDC Loan Corporations’ small business financing programs.
- Increase referrals from KC SourceLink and Missouri Enterprise.
- Continue the contract with UMKC’s Small Business & Technology Development Center to increase the SBA 504 pipeline and provide business counseling opportunities for Loan Corporation customers.
- Increase the capital utilization rates of the EDC’s Revolving Loan Funds through continued work toward Fund consolidations or modifications.
- Continue to eliminate all loans within the Central Bank special loan portfolio.
- Have eight SBA 504 loan approvals this fiscal year.
Priority 5: Recruit new business investment to the city.
Strategic Direction 1: Continue and strengthen relationships with the KCADC, Missouri Dept. of Economic Development and the Missouri Partnership.
- Respond aggressively to prospect recruitment opportunities surfaced by our partner agencies and recruit 5 new businesses to Kansas City.
- Participate in value added marketing activities organized by our partner agencies.
Strategic Direction 2: Pursue legislative efforts designed to improve the City’s and State’s business climate and modernize its economic development tools.
- Collaborate with the state and local/regional economic development partners to put forward a “Missouri Economic Development Strategy” and associated 2010 legislative agenda.
- Support the proposed Port Improvement District legislation.
Strategic Direction 3: Continue to enhance the EDC’s marketing tools.
- Complete a new trade show booth.
- Enhance and add content to the EDC’s website.
- Refine our one page program “fact sheets”
- Produce the EDC e-newsletter on a monthly basis
- Develop FAQ sheets for the EDC and its programs/services.
