The Missouri Development Finance Board has awarded $4 million in tax credits to the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy.
The baseball park could open as early as next fall near 18th and Vine near the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
It’s expected the city will be able to leverage $8 million in donations with the credits, which will go to donors who contribute at least $5,000 to the Academy.
“It will increase economic development, improve the lives of our youth, contribute to neighborhood safety, and efficiently leverage public tax dollars with private investment,” Mayor Sly James said in an emailed statement. “I couldn’t be more excited about the positive impact this project will have on the youth of our City and the allocation of these tax credits will greatly aid our ability to raise the necessary funds for the second phase of the project.”
Fundraising for the first phase of the project, which includes new baseball diamonds, youth fields and a walking trail for Parade Park, is already complete. The tax credits will help pay for the second phase, an indoor sports facility.
The city is partnering with Major League Baseball and the Royals to build the park. It will be the seventh such academy in the country.
Elle Moxley is a reporter for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.
