Your Chamber at Work - April 4, 2022

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

We’re looking for employers who are looking for good workers.

On April 15, the Chamber’s Welcoming KC is holding a job fair for refugees and immigrants. It’s a win-win situation: you get highly motivated and dedicated employees while helping people who’ve come to the United States begin their path to the American dream.

Our April 15 job fair will not only connect you to refugee and immigrant job seekers, but will also introduce you to the support available from local resettlement agencies and interpreters. We’re making it easier than ever to reach this critical workforce population.

Refugees and immigrants are hard workers, quick to learn, have a variety of skills, and are loyal employees, with lower turnover and higher retention rates. They’re here because they are seeking the opportunity that is yours to offer.

According to the New American Economy, industries with the highest share of foreign-born workers include administrative support; construction; tourism, hospitality and recreation; wholesale trade; and professional, scientific and technical services.

Whether you work in one of these industries or not, you might find exactly the talent, strength, loyalty and dedication that you are looking for (and really need) to build your best team.

The Welcoming KC Immigrant and Refugee Job Fair will be held Friday, April 15, from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. at North Kansas City YMCA, 1999 Iron Street, North Kansas City. For more information, contact the Chamber’s Jessica Gall. And thank you!

KCMO POLICE CHIEF COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS

Make your voice heard when it comes to choosing the next Kansas City Missouri Chief of Police. There are three more Community Listening Sessions scheduled across Kansas City: a bilingual session Wednesday, April 6, 6 to 8 p.m. at the new Mattie Rhodes Cultural Arts Center, 1701 Jarboe, then a multilingual session Thursday, April 7, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, 2657 Independence, Ave., and on April 14, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the KC Chamber Board Room located on the first floor of Union Station. The latter of the three will also offer a virtual option. A safe community and strong quality of life matter when it comes to a thriving business community and a skilled workforce. The first three sessions in the Northland, the East Side, and South KC have received considerable media coverage from The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Call, KCUR, KCTV5, Fox 4, and other outlets. We plan to present the results of the listening sessions and the survey to the Board of Police Commissioners at an upcoming meeting. Register here to attend one of the sessions – you don’t have to be a resident of KCMO to give us your thoughts - or if you can’t attend, take the survey now and be part of the process. The sessions are the result of a collaboration of 15 business and civic organizations, and every voice matters.

THE FUTURE OF SPORTS FACILITIES

Financing. Location. Land use. Ancillary development. There is a lot that goes into the planning of a sports stadium. Join the Chamber and our partners at ULI Kansas City for a deep dive and discussion on the Future of Sports Facilities, April 6, 3 to 6 p.m. We’ll hear from architects and other agencies about the impact of sports stadiums on communities. Register now for this in-person event in the Chamber Board Room on the first floor of historic Union Station. $45 for Chamber members and $65 for non-members. Co-presented by ULI Kansas City and the Chamber’s Real Estate Steering Committee. Thanks to our sponsors CBRE, Centric, McCownGordon Construction, Polsinelli, and VanTrust Real Estate LLC.

DOING BUSINESS WITH PARAGUAY

Toys, sporting goods, machinery, agricultural equipment, and more. Paraguay can be a key market for your growing international business presence. Join the World Trade Center Kansas City and the International Relations Council for Doing Business with Paraguay, April 7, 2 to 3 p.m. We welcome H.E. José Antonio Dos Santos, Ambassador of Paraguay to the United States, and Counselor Sebastian Ortiz, head of the Trade and Economic Affairs' Office in the Embassy of Paraguay to the United States of America. Learn the available opportunities, industry outlooks, and best practices for a successful business relationship between KC and Paraguay. This free in-person event will be held in the World Trade Center Conference Room located on the second floor in the southwest corner of Union Station.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: BISON STATE BANK

Enjoy some of the region’s best networking at our next Neighborhood Networking, Friday, April 8 at Bison State Bank’s KCMO location, 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 201. Bison State Bank specializes in giving you the personalized customer service of a neighborhood bank combined with state-of-the-art banking technology and industry know-how. Doors open at 8:30 for coffee and light breakfast. Registration is free for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. The KC Chamber's 2022 Neighborhood Networking sponsors are Bardavon Health Innovations, Kansas City Current, and Unbound. Our overall 2022 networking sponsors are Delta Dental and Mazuma Credit Union.