Your Chamber at Work - May 16, 2022

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Newsletters

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Kansas City has always been a city that’s grown by trade. It’s been significant since the Chamber was founded in 1887. At that time, trade was focused to the southwest and Mexico.

Arthur Stillwell founded Kansas City Southern Railway that same year, with a vision of eventually expanding into Mexico. That vision eventually bore fruit in the 1990’s, so that today, KCS operates along 3300 miles of track in Mexico and the Panama Canal Railway. Stillwell’s vision is finally complete.

Trade has been critical to our history, and still is today. We want our small businesses to be able to take advantage of opportunities in the global marketplace.

That’s why the KC Chamber’s World Trade Center is launching the Heartland Export Accelerator, an eight-week program designed to prepare businesses to compete and grow successfully in the international marketplace. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from and interact with international trade experts while building your own, customized strategic export plan. Then you’ll be ready and able to expand your business beyond your borders.

We’re able to offer the Heartland Export Accelerator at a reduced rate, thanks to a grant from the International Trade Administration. If you’d like to participate, please fill out this application. Then get ready to grow!

SMALL BUSINESS CELEBRATION AWARDS LUNCHEON

Get your tickets now for the Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon and support some of KC’s top small businesses! We name the 2022 Small Business of the Year at the Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon, Wednesday, June 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marriott Muehlebach Tower Imperial Ballroom, 1213 Wyandotte. We’ll also announce the winners of the four specialty awards: the Weida International Small Business of the Year, the Legacy of KC Award, the Emerging Business of the Year Award, and the Small Business Equity Award. Keynote speaker is Wesley Hamilton, entrepreneur and founder and Executive Director of Disabled But Not Really. This event is open to Chamber members and non-members. Tables are still available to purchase here. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon. 2022 Small Business Programming Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and Evergy.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: VETERANS COMMUNITY PROJECT

From tiny homes to support services, the Veterans Community Project refuses to let any veteran fall through the cracks. Check out their campus and all the services VCP provides at our next Neighborhood Networking, Friday, May 20, 8:30 to 10 a.m. at VCP’s 8900 Troost headquarters. From housing to employment support to military documentation services and more, Veterans Community Project has become a vital community resource. Register now and learn how you can get involved -- and enjoy some of KC’s best networking. Free for KC Chamber members; $15 for non-members. Our 2022 Neighborhood Networking sponsors are Unbound, Bardavon Health Innovations and Kansas City Current. The KC Chamber's 2022 overall networking sponsors are Delta Dental and Mazuma Credit Union.

DOING BUSINESS WITH MEXICO

World Trade Center-Kansas City invites you to attend Doing Business with Mexico, Tuesday, May 24, Noon – 1 p.m. in the World Trade Center Conference Room on the second floor of Union Station, above the Post Office. You’ll take part in an intimate conversation with Deputy Consul of Mexico in Kansas City, Oscar Soberanes-Benitez and learn more about Mexico’s top imported goods, the long trade relationship between KC and Mexico, and the opportunities that exist for your business. Lunch is included. Cost is $20 for Chamber members and $25 for non-members. Register here.

FACE2FACE SPEED NETWORKING

One of the most popular networking events at the KC Chamber is back - Face2Face Speed Networking! Join us for this fun and high energy event, Wednesday, June 8, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the KC Chamber Boardroom on the first floor of Union Station. This is a free event and open to members only. Register here. Important note: To refrain from hearing the same elevator pitch twice, we ask that only one representative from your company attends. Thanks to our 2022 overall networking sponsors Delta Dental and Mazuma Credit Union.