Economic Development

Economic Development Forces Make Their Case

Ingram's Magazine was pleased to host an exceptional gathering of the area’s economic development leaders on October 28. Participants came from St. Joseph in the north, Topeka in the west, Ottawa in the south, Independence in the east, and just about every place in between.

Among other lines of inquiry, those gathered used the opportunity to communicate their serious concerns about proposed legislation in Missouri and potential legislation in Kansas that likely would limit their effectiveness.

This assembly was part of Ingram’s Magazine’s ongoing effort to highlight economic development issues in Kansas City’s greater metropolitan area.

“You ask what Ingram’s can do?” said a passionate Mike Boehm of Lenexa. “Tell the truth. You can get out there and remind people of the economic impact [of these tools] on the citizens and the tax base.”

On the Horizon to the South

As an opening question, those gathered were asked to share the most promising economic development in the near future in their respective jurisdictions.

Sandy Allison of Miami County spoke of the staggering 21 percent annual growth in the two Miami county towns closest to Johnson County, Spring Hill and Louisburg, and of the county’s determined effort to make sure that the growth remained “smart.”

(front row, left to right)

Greg Kindle, Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Corporation
Art Chaudry, Jackson County, MO
Sandy Allison, Miami County Economic Development Council
Jim Hampton, Clay County Economic Development Council
Kevin Jeffries, Leawood Chamber of Commerce

(standing, left to right)

Phyllis Freeman, City of Edwardsville, KS
Joe Egan, Economic Development Corporation
Jeff Samborski, North Kansas City
Office of Economic Development
Cyndra Lorey, St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce
Tom Riederer, Independence Council for Economic Development
Kate Michaelis, Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce
Mayor Mike Boehm, City of Lenexa, KS
Tracey Osborne, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Doug Kinsinger, Greater Topeka Area Chamber of Commerce
Melinda Mehaffy, City of Gladstone, MO
Pete Fullerton, Platte County Economic Development Council
Tom Weigand, Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
Pam Curtis, Unified Government of Wyandotte County
Joe Sweeney, Ingram’s Magazine
Bob Marcusse, Kansas City Area Development Council
Lynn McClure, Leavenworth Area Development