David Edwards

Employment in Missouri’s IT sector grows by 1 percent

October 26, 2024 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The Information Technology industry includes information sector employment such as software publishers and data processing, as well as professional and technical services such as computer system design, technical consulting, and research and development services.

Information Technology represents 3.9 percent of total private sector employment in Missouri, employing 97,068 workers across 18,277 establishments in 2023.

Employment grew an average of 1.0 percent per year from 2018 to 2023, adding a total of 11,227 jobs. The industries with the greatest employment growth include Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Services; Software Publishers; and Scientific Research and Development Services.

City of Independence officials planning to move to new building

October 26, 2024 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

In early 2024, the City of Independence purchased a vacant building: 20201 Jackson Drive, formerly the Landmark Building or the Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) building. Currently, the City of Independence plans to move most City departments to the building in Spring 2025 to increase efficiency, accessibility. and address space constraints.

It is estimated it would cost roughly $40 million to make structural repairs, renovations, and bring the current City Hall building at 111 E. Maple Ave into ADA compliance, but that would not address the space constraints. At a cost of $20 million, the building on Jackson Drive came fully furnished, has the space to house hundreds of employees in one location, and is fully ADA compliant. Simply said, it’s not fiscally responsible to renovate City Hall to bring it up to code.

This move also improves efficiency- both the City’s, and residents’ – by having almost everything citizens need from the Independence City government in one place.  It improves efficient use of space and time, with more than 350 employees in a centralized location.  There is ample parking at the Jackson Drive location as well, which addresses a common citizen complaint of the current City Hall.

There is more work to do and Independence residents will hear from the city many more times before any changes are made.

In addition, the city is embarking on a downtown Independence Square redevelopment plan to drive both people and economic activity to the Historic Independence Square. The City recognizes businesses, activities and mixed-use development contributes to a vibrant historic area. Research shows that city buildings provide little economic activity – unlike museums, theaters, recreation and community centers, and other businesses.

The City is sharing its proposed Square Redevelopment plan with the City Council at the November 12 study session, which is open to the public and can also be streamed online via the City’s YouTube channel and viewed on City7 to Comcast subscribers.

At the same time, the city is considering a General Obligation (G.O.) Bond proposal which could help create opportunities for greater economic activity for Independence Square. A Citizens Advisory Committee for the GO Bond proposal is actively meeting in September and October of 2024. Past meetings are available on the City’s YouTube Channel. 

The Independence Utilities Center, located off 23rd street, was formerly the Medical Center of Independence (MCI) Hospital.  It was renovated in 2018 and discussions are underway to potentially convert it into a new Independence Police Department and Justice Center.   This is also one of the proposed components of a G.O. Bond.

Much of the above is still in a planning stages.  It’s important to note that nothing will change for several months, and the City will provide more information as plans move from proposed to finalized.

Centennial Commission offers incentives to celebrate Route 66 in Missouri

October 26, 2024 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission is launching several sponsorship opportunities for communities celebrating the Mother Road – Route 66, which originated in Springfield, Missouri in the 1920s. Programs include a special event sponsorship program, signature tour stop design competition and interactive signage program.

The charge of the state-appointed members of the Missouri Route 66 Centennial is to prepare cities across the state of Missouri for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Route 66. Missouri has a lot to celebrate and an unprecedented opportunity leading up to and during the anniversary year (2026) to bring new attention and excitement to the state.

The Commission is planning and sponsoring official Route 66 centennial events, programs, and activities in the state; encouraging the development of programs designed to involve all citizens in activities that commemorate Route 66 centennial events in the state; and to the best of the commission’s ability, make available to the public information on Route 66 centennial events happening throughout the state.

The official celebration website is www.celebratemo66.com. Visit there for regular updates and to share what you would like to see during the centennial.

As part of the festivities, the Commission has launched several programs, including a special event sponsorship program, signature tour stop design competition and interactive signage sponsorship program. Each program has specific criteria and guidelines, found on the website.

Route 66 Centennial Missouri Special Event Sponsorship Program

The special event sponsorship program encourages communities throughout Missouri to celebrate Route 66 and to prepare for events and activities during the centennial year, 2026.

Reimbursable funds are for eligible businesses and organizations whose Route 66-themed events exhibit positive tourism and economic development along Missouri’s Route 66 defined alignments. Qualifying events demonstrate a direct alignement statewide efforts to celebrate the Route 66 Centennial.

“The goal is incentive new or existing events to focus their programming on promoting 100 years of Missouri Route 66 through communities and people; culture and flavor; heritage and history, strife and milestones, architecture and tourism,” said Cora Scott, Missouri Route 66 Centennial Chair.

A selection committee prioritizes sponsorship opportunities or as many unique parties as possible to ensure the highest participation, greatest diversity, and strongest branding for Missouri Route 66.

Annual event sponsorship funding is a part of the Commission’s annual budget, but it is subject to the funding allocations. Therefore, requests limits may vary. For 2024, $250,000 has been budgeted, with a maximum $50,000 allowed for any one application.

For more information, or to apply, visit CelebrateMo66.com.

Route 66 Centennial Missouri Signature Tour Stop Design Competition

The Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission is offering competitive design sponsorships up to $15,000 and for the lucky designs selected – with matching fund sponsorships of up to $125,000 to build these signature stops.

The ten Missouri counties along the Route 66 corridor that qualify include:

St Louis County
Franklin County
Crawford County
Phelps County
Pulaski County
Laclede County
Webster County
Greene County
Lawrence County
Jasper County
The Sponsorship Process & 2024 Timeline:

October 2024

The Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission notified Missouri counties, cities, towns, and CVBs along the historic Route 66 corridor soliciting preliminary ideas for the creation of a Signature Missouri Route 66 Stop in their communities.

The Commission will be offering multiple reimbursable sponsorships of up to $15,000 to help fund an eventual final design plan created by a licensed Missouri architect. Winning locations will be eligible for future construction funds from the Commission that will be available on a matching fund basis.

December

Deadline for preliminary design idea submission is 5 pm CST on Dec. 31, 2024. Preliminary submissions will include the concept and location of your Signature Stop along with a rough estimate of construction cost and potential matching fund partners.

January 2025

The Centennial Commission design and build sponsorship selection committee will choose the design finalists.

February 2025
Design finalist locations will be announced and location will be reimbursed for up to $15,000 to finalize their communities Route 66 Signature Stop.

There can be up to 10 design finalists chosen, but not more than one from each of the 10 Missouri Route 66 corridor counties.

March 2025

Final Design proposals will be due on March 31, 2025 at 5 p.m. CST – Complete with final estimated costs, construction timelines and matching fund commitment. All completed design concepts will become the intellectual property of the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission.

Week of April 7 – 11, 2025 – Optional in-person final design presentations at KY3 Television in Springfield, Missouri. These optional hour-long presentations are available to walk the Commission’s design and build sponsorship selection members through your proposal.

May 1, 2025 – Final build locations will be selected and matching sponsorship dollars will be awarded. A minimum of one and a maximum of two locations will be selected from each of the following groups of Missouri Route 66 Counties:

Southwest Missouri – Jasper, Lawrence and Greene Counties

Central Missouri – Laclede, Phelps, Pulaski and Webster Counties

Eastern Missouri – Crawford, Franklin and St. Louis Counties

Route 66 Centennial Missouri Interactive Shield Sign Sponsorship

The Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission will offer sponsorships up to $15,000 for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of a Large Missouri Route 66 Interactive Shield Sign.

Phase 1 Allocation

The Commission has allocated $150,000 for Phase 1. Additional funding for subsequent phases will be determined at the Commission’s discretion.

Eligibility

The sponsorship program is open to all city departments, county departments, and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) in Missouri that have Route 66 running through their communities.

Recipient Responsibilities

Ongoing Maintenance – The sponsorship recipient shall be responsible for the continuous upkeep of the sign, ensuring it remains well-maintained and in good condition.

Insurance – The recipient shall be responsible for obtaining adequate insurance as required by local jurisdictions and providing the necessary indemnifications for the Centennial Commission.

Location – The sign should be positioned in a highly visible location easily accessible to the public for photography. The Centennial Commission will approve the final location.

Installation – The sign must be installed by 1/1/26. The sponsorship recipient is responsible for all installation costs.

Sign Design

The sign design should be similar to the example provided below. While local modifications are encouraged, the primary objective is to foster a sense of unity and connectivity among the signs across the communities. The final design must be approved by the Centennial Commission.

Considerations

The committee prefers that the signs be distributed across all communities along Route 66. Therefore, it is unlikely that multiple applications from the same geographical area will receive more than one sign in Phase 1.

The committee will review applications quarterly as they are submitted. The program will close once the $150,000 has been fully allocated. The committee’s decision will be final. Funds will be disbursed upon receipt of proof of purchase for the sign.

Application

Sponsorship applications are currently being accepted through March 1, 2025 to qualify for this year’s funding. They will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. The program will close once the $150,000 has been fully allocated. The application will be on the celebratemo66.com/ website.

About the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission:

At the request of the Missouri Legislature, the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission will sponsor official Route 66 centennial programs, and activities in the state to involve all citizens in activities that commemorate the Route 66 Centennial.

Commission Members:

Representative Richard Brown
Dru Buntin
Rich Dinkela
Renee Eichelberger
Phyllis Ferguson
Lyndal Fraker
Lula Mae “Luge” Hardman
Mark Hecquet
Brian McDonough
Kelly O’Malley
Rebecca E. Rupard
Cora Scott (Chair)
Patrick Tuttle
Jacqueline “Jax” Welborn

Kansas City’s opens ‘Back to Business’ funding program

October 26, 2024 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The Back to Business Fund program, a recovery and prevention grant program designed to support small business storefronts in all areas of Kansas City impacted by property crime, is now accepting applications.

The program offers financial assistance to help local business owners recover from damage, enhance security measures, and prevent future incidents.

Mayor Lucas and City Council passed the program last month, allocating $325,000 from the Violence Prevention and Intervention Fund for the program.

There were 184 business owners from all areas in Kansas City who completed interest forms for the Back to Business Fund last month. The interest forms were used to notify potential applicants when the application opened, and to fine tune eligibility and criteria for the grant program to make sure it was as inclusive as possible.

“Our small businesses are the backbone of our community and we continue to ensure they have the resources to thrive. I’m proud eligible small business owners impacted by break-ins and vandalism are now able to apply to the Back to Business Fund for grants to ease the burden of repair costs,” said Mayor Lucas. “I encourage eligible businesses to apply and take advantage of the opportunity. Together, we can strengthen our local economy and foster a safer, more secure Kansas City for all.”

Eligible businesses can apply for two types of grants:
Vandalism and Property Crime Recovery Grant Funding: Up to $3,000 per business for repairs related to incidents occurring between July 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025.
Vandalism and Property Crime Prevention Grant Funding: Up to $5,000 per business for security measures acquired between July 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What expenses are eligible or ineligible for reimbursement?
Examples of eligible expenses include temporary window or door board up, window or door repair, graffiti removal, damaged murals, sign repair, gate repair, light repair, security system repair. Security and prevention improvements include security cameras (equipment only, not monitoring services), alarm systems, gates, overhead doors, security lighting, locks.

Ineligible expenses include inventory replacement, wages or rent, lost sales, any damages that have been submitted to insurance as part of a claim unless that claim has been rejected and closed.

Funds can only be used as reimbursements.

How does reimbursement work? How long will it take for reimbursements to process?
Grants will be awarded to applicants meeting the program criteria and will be awarded until the funds are exhausted. Once approved, grants can be deposited into the accounts within 1-3 business days.

Does my business qualify?
Your business must be independently owned and operated, with less than 50 employees, and with more than $1,000 and less than $8 million in revenue.

Your business must have a physical storefront in Kansas City, Missouri, maintain consistent hours of operation, and have sustained physical damage due to break-ins or vandalism OR have taken steps to prevent such damage, on or after July 1, 2024.

Private residences, landlords, or multifamily residential properties are not eligible.

What paperwork do I need to apply?
A copy of your current KCMO Business License, a copy of a current KCMO Tax Clearance Letter, your 2023 Gross Receipts, number of full-time and part-time employees, and primary business owner information to include primary address, race, sex, and primary language spoken.

Gather proof of damage or prevention improvements, including a KCPD incident report, photos, receipts or invoices for items purchased, proof of insurance, and insurance claims and payments if filed.

How do I request a KCPD incident report?
You can apply online for a copy of your KCPD report.

You can also call 816-234-5100 to check report availability, then come in person to any patrol division station with photo identification.

Am I able to apply more than once?
Applicants can only apply for one grant at a time.

A business can apply for the recovery grant twice—once per location, for up to two locations.

A business may apply for a prevention grant only once during the application period, regardless of how many locations it operates.

What is the mural repair policy?
Only eligible businesses may apply to repair murals, not the mural artist or organization on behalf of a storefront.

The clear coat of a mural is considered an eligible expense, when combined with a repair. For example, a business pays for graffiti removal on their mural, and clear coats it directly afterwards for future damage prevention.

Power washing of a damaged mural is an eligible expense.

When will I hear back about my application and whether my business will receive a grant?
Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants will be notified by email and/or phone regarding the status of their grant application once their completed submission has been reviewed.

Please allow up to two weeks for application processing and review. A grant administrator will follow up with any additional questions and next steps. Missing documentation will result in an incomplete application.

For more information about the Back to Business Fund visit bizcare.kcmo.gov or contact KC BizCare at kcbizcare@kcmo.org or (816) 513-2491.

Missouri marks National Mule Day

October 26, 2024 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

“Boone, George, get up!”

As the pair of 1,500-pound gentle giants begin walking around the College of Veterinary Medicine’s parking lot, their horseshoes clank on the concrete.

The magnificent mules — known for their intelligence, loyalty, work ethic, playful nature and strength — are practicing for an annual tradition: taking first-year veterinary students to class on the first day of school.

Nearby, young mules Rose and Bess call out to express their desire to work, and retirees Tim and Terry closely watch their successors shine in the spotlight.

This is the Missouri mule team, and it’s been a fixture at the University of Missouri since 1984.

In honor of National Mule Day on Oct. 26, here are seven facts about these equine ambassadors and the students who take care of them:

1. Mizzou has three mule teams.
Tim and Terry retired in 2020 after pulling the wagon for 27 years. Boone (named after ragtime pianist and composer John William “Blind” Boone) and George (named after George Washington Carver) are now the main mule team. And Bess (named after Bess Truman, whose husband, former President Harry Truman, was the son of a mule breeder) and Rose (named after Missouri artist Rose O’Neill), are the mule team in training.

2. Mizzou’s mules are well taken care of thanks to the Missouri Method.
At Mizzou, students don’t just learn in the classroom. Opportunities such as the Mule Club provide hands-on experience, a learning philosophy known as the Missouri Method. The club’s executive board provides the mules with daily care throughout all four seasons of the year. The care includes daily feeding, grooming and supervised play time in the pasture behind the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Large mules mean large diets. Each mule eats between 20 and 35 pounds of hay each day. They also drink between five and 20 gallons of water daily depending on the temperature.

Grooming all six mules takes nearly 40 minutes, and up to an hour if the mules played in the mud the day before. Every day, the mules are brushed, sprayed with fly prevention and checked for any bumps or scrapes. Their hooves are cleaned out daily as well.

3. The Mizzou mules have a busy schedule.
As the outreach arm of the College of Veterinary Medicine and goodwill ambassador for Mizzou, the mule team often attends public events, such as the college’s Alumni Weekend, Tim and Terry’s Tailgate (the Mule Club’s annual student recruitment event) and the Mizzou Homecoming Parade. You might also catch them traveling across campus on a Saturday or Sunday morning — getting in some exercise and greeting eager onlookers.

4. They aren’t camera-shy.
Mizzou’s mules love attention. Although their favorite displays of affection are nose rubs and inner ear scratches, they’ll happily pose for pictures with fans of all ages.

5. Not every mule is cut out for Mizzou’s mule team.
In order to be considered for Mizzou’s mule team, a mule has to be a cross between a draft horse and a mammoth donkey, as that specific cross creates what is known as a Missouri Mule. On the outside, they must be physically sound, strong and healthy. On the inside, they must also have the right personality — they can’t be afraid of traffic and new sights and sounds, for instance. Mizzou’s mules must also be good around people and pets.

Fun facts about mules

Mules are the official state animal of Missouri

In the 1800s, Missouri farmers were the first to take female horses and breed them with male donkeys to create the massive draft mules. They were prized animals of pioneers, traders and farmers when the American West was being settled after the Louisiana Purchase. Their vigor, strength, steadiness, force and work ethic were often the difference between profit and loss — or even life and death.

Mules are a hidden icon in Mizzou’s logo

If you look closely at the iconic block MU logo, you will notice the head of the mule is in between the ‘M’ and the ‘U’. Once you see it, you’ll never unsee it.