News Room

Big 5 Goal: Growing Kansas City’s medical research, from discovery to cure.

In September, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce announced five big goals for a better Kansas City. Today, The Chamber is releasing its first quarterly update on the progress of the “Big 5.”

“A great deal of work has been done so far,” says Jim Heeter, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Chamber. “The Champions of the Big 5 have been busy creating the infrastructure necessary for success – building their committees, strategizing, planning, and determining required funding. We’re very pleased with the progress they’ve made.”

Chamber Chair Frank Ellis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Swope Community Enterprises, agrees. “I’m extremely impressed with the Champions’ level of engagement and their leadership.”

Among the highlights of today’s report:

Big 5 Goal: Urban Neighborhood Initiative.

The Urban Neighborhood Initiative (UNI) steering committee has hired a project manager, undergone an extensive process of community involvement and communication, and in late February, will announce the neighborhood selected to be the first target for revitalization.

Big 5 Goal: Moving the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance Downtown.

Feasibility studies are underway, with results to be announced in the next several weeks. The studies are looking at cost estimates, potential downtown properties; the economic impact such a move would have, as well as a study on how such a move would affect UMKC’s Volker and Hospital Hill campuses.

Big 5 Goal: Global Symposium on Innovation in Animal Health.

Plans are to host the first global symposium on animal health in September 2014. Based on guidance from the CEOs of the Animal Health Corridor-based companies, the focus of the symposium will be on innovation in animal health. Leading KC area companies are being contacted for support.

Big 5 Goal: Making Kansas City “America’s Most Entrepreneurial City”.

A project manager has been hired, the needs of local entrepreneurs are being identified, and existing resources are being inventoried and catalogued. A strong partnership between UMKC’s Bloch School of Management and the Kauffman Foundation is being forged. The Bloch School, meanwhile, continues to gain recognition as one of the world’s centers of excellence in entrepreneurship education and research.

Big 5 Goal: Growing Kansas City’s medical research, from discovery to cure.

Funding proposals are being generated to expand the scope of the collaborative research now underway as part of the $20 million Clinical and Translational Science Award given to the University of Kansas Medical Center and its regional partners.

The full Big 5 quarterly report is available here. It is the first of what will be regular quarterly updates. “This is a promise made to the community,” Heeter says, “a promise to be open, transparent and inclusive as we work to achieve the Big 5 goals. In fact, as part of that commitment we are partnering with KCPT – Channel 19 to provide regular updates, a one-hour special at the end of the first year, and a documentary at the end of the second year.”

Contacts:
Pam Whiting
(816) 374-5481
whiting@kcchamber.com

Lauren Wells
(816) 374-5460
lwells@kcchamber.com