Your Chamber at Work - June 25, 2019

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

The end to our destructive economic border war is in sight.

Earlier this month, the Chamber hosted Missouri Governor Mike Parson as he signed SB 182, legislation that, if Kansas does the same, would end Kansas City’s economic incentive border war. The bill’s sponsor, Missouri Senator Mike Cierpoit (R-Lee’s Summit), and Missouri Representative Jeff Coleman (R-Grain Valley) stood behind him as the governor put his signature to the measure.

The setting was fitting – Union Station – a symbol of bistate cooperation.

Five days later, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said she plans to issue an executive order mirroring the Missouri law, which prevents incentives from being used to lure businesses from one state to the other.

A Hall Family Foundation report found that those incentives cost Missouri and Kansas taxpayers $332 million between 2011 and 2018. What a waste.

The Chamber believes that tax incentives can be useful, but only when net new jobs are created. Our focus should be on attracting new businesses to the region rather than the internecine battle we’ve been seeing.

Ending the economic border war has been a KC Chamber priority for decades. A truce is more than welcome.

REGIONAL BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Make sure you bring extra business cards because this is our Regional Business After Hours. We’ve partnered with our colleagues at the Northeast Johnson County Chamber and the Kansas City, Kansas Chamber for the June 26 event at law firm McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips. The firm was established in 1901 and has a well-known reputation for service with results, ethics, and integrity. The event begins at 5pm at their 10 East Cambridge Circle location in KCK. The event is free, but please RSVP in advance. Thanks to our 2019 networking sponsors Mazuma, SS&C, and Sprint.

RIBBON CUTTING AND NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING AT J. RIEGER & CO’S NEW DISTILLERY

You’re invited to our next Neighborhood Networking event Friday, July 12 with something extra special: this is the official Ribbon Cutting for Rieger’s new distillery and visitor experience. Spend the first half hour enjoying a traditional Neighborhood Networking, then celebrate the main event and join Rieger officials and Chamber staff for the official ribbon cutting and opening of the new facility at 2700 Guinotte Ave in the historic Electric Park district. The visitor experience will feature daily tours and tastings, two distinct bar spaces serving food, beer, and wine, as well as private event spaces. Bring your business cards and make sure your phone is charged to get plenty of pictures at this unique event celebrating one of KC’s most popular brands. Register here. Thanks to our 2019 networking sponsors Mazuma, SS&C, and Sprint.

POWER OF DIVERSITY BREAKFAST

Companies who prioritize diversity and inclusion have a better bottom line. Hear from some of those companies and celebrate others at the annual POWER of Diversity Breakfast, July 24 at the Sheraton Crown Center, 2345 McGee. The Chamber will present the ACE Awards to mid-to-senior level diverse managers having a positive impact on their company’s profitability and diversity efforts. The Supplier Diversity ACE Award goes to a mid-to-senior level diverse manager with dramatic growth in supplier diversity. Attendees will also hear from CEOs in our region who signed the CEO Action pledge, a commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This event is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Register now before it fills up. Thanks to Presenting Diversity Sponsors Hallmark, KCP&L, and Sprint.

HIRING OUR HEROES

Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide initiative to help servicemen and women find meaningful employment opportunities. They spend several months in a corporate fellowship with area businesses that value the unique assets someone with a military program brings to the workplace. The graduation is a culmination of the program. Join Chamber staff, members of the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee, and other regional businesses for the upcoming graduation at Cerner World Headquarters at 2951 Rock Creek Parkway. The event, presented by Cerner, is 9-11 a.m. on July 25. Attendance is free. This is the second of three graduation ceremonies for 2019.