The South Kansas City Alliance will hold its second annual Economic Development Summit Saturday at Avila University.
Alliance leaders say the aim of the conference is to encourage hopeful entrepreneurs while building relationships between area residents and businesses.
The conference will showcase the $7 billion surge of new economic development in south Kansas City that includes Cerner, Three Trails development, the new Burns and McDonnell headquarters, the Oxford on the Blue research park and numerous other projects now underway or recently completed, as well as the renovation of Truman Corners and the Red Bridge Shopping Centers.
Representatives of those and other companies were scheduled to speak at the conference, as were leaders in education. Government was also represented, including appearances by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders and 6th District City Councilman Scott Taylor.
“This year we've added a focus on educational issues and how we can integrate some of these companies into our local schools,” Taylor said.
An example already in place, the councilman said, is Burns and McDonnell engineers who help coach students in the Center School District with their robotics projects. He said that as a former school board member he is interested in creating partnerships between schools and businesses that are mutually beneficial and help prepare students for rewarding careers.
Steve Bell is afternoon news anchor and business news reporter for KCUR. You can reach him at 816-235-5173 or steveb@kcur.org
