Economic vitality is essential to the overall health of Kansas City’s community, and Mayor James has worked to make the City business-friendly and the region’s economic engine. These efforts have been cultural as well as regulatory, capitalizing on the City’s historical entrepreneurial spirit and encompassed in large part by the City’s new economic strategic plan, AdvanceKC. The initiative has worked to redefine economic development in the City by creating a strategic, holistic approach.
In addition to refining internal strategy and process, economic development requires targeted efforts toward industry and workforce. The Mayor has worked with the Chamber of Commerce to achieve the goal of making Kansas City the country’s most entrepreneurial city. These efforts have included working with the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City on its LaunchKC initiative. Similar City efforts to help entrepreneurs include the Innovation Partnership Program and implementation of the City’s Open Data portal.
The Mayor has also focused on drawing and retaining talent with initiatives such as streetcar implementation and implementation of recommendations from the Mayor’s Task Force for the Arts. The Streetcar has already spurred economic development along the proposed downtown starter line, and Kansas City is clearly poised to build on our already flourishing Arts scene.
Kansas City is poised to achieve status as a world-class, first-tier City. Mayor James will continue to work to ensure that this happens, striving for economic growth and prosperity for our citizens.
