KCUR plans to ramp up its coverage of education and entrepreneurship after a financial boost from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the University of Missouri-Kansas City announced Friday.
The $100,000 grant from the Kansas City-based Kauffman Foundation will help KCUR increase the number of in-depth stories it produces “on two important topics, which touch the majority of Kansas City-area residents,” KCUR General Manager Nico Leone said in a written statement.
Leone said KCUR plans to hire at least one additional reporter as a result of the grant.
“Education and entrepreneurship significantly impact the vibrancy of our metropolitan community,” Barbara Pruitt, Kauffman communications director, said in a written statement. “Through this grant, KCUR will be able to provide a better understanding about how these issues affect their daily lives.”
The grant comes as KCUR is making other changes to its newsroom. The station recently increased arts and health coverage. In April, KCUR and Kansas City public television station KCPT announced a news collaboration.
Also, KCUR launched a three-member community engagement team in November.
KCUR, the NPR affiliate member station in Kansas City, Mo., is a service of UMKC.
