Your Chamber at Work - February 6, 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

It’s a game-changer.

When the new terminal at KCI opens February 28, Kansas City will have a new and welcoming front door to visitors when they come calling. And those of us here will enjoy a terminal vastly improved from the three-terminal configuration we’ve used for the last fifty years.

Our new experience begins with parking your car in the 6100-space parking garage right across from the new terminal or at the curb space dedicated to taxis, ride-sharing platforms, and shuttle buses. (Those buses, by the way, are nearly all-electric – KCI was first in the nation to use electric buses.) Arrivals and departures areas are on different levels, easing congestion.

Once inside the new terminal, you’ll be greeted by a light-filled space with artwork everywhere. Under the city’s 1 Percent Public Art program, $5.6-million was budgeted for the program-the largest in the history of the program. The works of many Kansas City artists are showcased from the garage to throughout the terminal.

Security checkpoints are centralized with up to 18 lanes (the current airport has 14).

No more sitting on the floor waiting to board your plane – the new gate areas will accommodate you easily. And there will be food available! Nearly 50 restaurants – 80 percent of them Kansas City-based – including, of course, barbecue.

Though restrooms aren’t usually a topic here, you’ll be glad to know the new terminal will have plenty of options, so no more standing in line. Two of those facilities will be gender-neutral, a benefit to parents traveling with children of the opposite gender or with an elderly family member in need of assistance.

And did I mention the new jetways? No more traveling down a claustrophobic tube to board your plane.  The new jetways are glass-enclosed offering views of the airport and its surroundings. When it opens, KCI will become the largest operator of all-glass passenger boarding bridges in the U.S.

All this, with construction on-time and on-budget.

Like I said, the new terminal is a game-changer, which is why the KC Chamber pushed so hard for the new terminal. February 28 can’t come soon enough!

SMALL BUSINESS CELEBRATION

Applications are now open for one of the most prestigious awards out there: the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award! This award and our Specialty Awards are part of the small Business Celebration. This is open to Chamber member small businesses based in Greater KC with fewer than 250 employees. This event has grown to be one of the biggest small business celebrations in the country over the past 30 years. Past winners include Chicken N Pickle, Charlie Hustle, Alpha Energy, TREKK Design, and many more. Applications for the Mr. K Award and the Specialty awards are open through March 15 and can be found here. If you have questions about your application, make sure you attend one of our Application Workshops on February 28 or March 2. Special thanks to our Small Business Presenting Sponsor Evergy.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: THE NEXT PAIGE AGENCY

Start off the biggest Red Friday of the Year with some championship level networking! Join us Friday, February 10 for Neighborhood Networking at The Next Paige Agency’s 5930 Troost space. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Learn about KC’s first Black-owned talent management – and the 2021 Chamber Small Business Equity Award Winner. Enjoy coffee and a light breakfast while you connect with your fellow Chamber members. Register here to save your spot. It’s free for KC Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Thanks to our 2023 Overall Networking Sponsor Delta Dental, and our 2023 Neighborhood Networking Sponsors Rock CFO, Unbound & Southwest Airlines.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ALLYSHIP SERIES

The KC Chamber’s Diversity & Inclusion Workshop Series returns for 2023 with a focus on Allyship in the workplace. Register here as we welcome ALLY LAB for an engaging workshop on ally skills, February 28 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in our Chamber Board Room on the first floor of historic Union Station. This workshop is designed to help you create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. This event is free. Thanks to our Presenting Diversity Sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union, and our Allyship Series Presenting Sponsors Evergy and Hallmark.

FILLING THE GAP: A HOLISITC APPROACH TO RETENTION

Recruiting and retaining a strong workforce is about more than just a paycheck. This year’s annual Healthy KC Breakfast & Vendor Expo is focused on Filling the Gap: A Holistic Approach to Retention. Join us 8 to 10 a.m., March 9, at Hy-Vee Arena, 1800 Genessee St, KCMO. You’ll hear from experts in the HR field, health and wellness, and other organizations on how everything from personal health resources to the psychosocial work environment to community involvement and more can be key to retaining your strong workforce. We’ll also celebrate Healthy KC Workplace Wellness Certified Companies, and learn about the 2023 Healthy KC Certification. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time to connect with health-focused vendors who can help your workforce be its healthiest yet. The event is $35 for Chamber members and $45 for non-members. Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.