Front Row (l-r)
Michelle Sweeney
Ingram's Magazine
(Project Host)
Betty Knight
Presiding Commissioner
Platte County, Missouri (Co-Chair)
Carol McCaslin
Presiding Commissioner
Clay County, Missouri (Co-Chair)

Second Row (l-r)
Patricia Gentrup
City of Liberty, Missouri
Ray Brock
Northland Betterment Committee
Jim Hampton
Clay County Economic Development Council
David Blackburn
City Administrator, Riverside, Mo

Back Row (l-r)
Pete Fullerton
Platte County Economic Development Council
Jeff Samborski
North Kansas City Office of Economic Development
Lynn McClure
City of Gladstone, Missouri
Joe Sweeney
Ingram's Magazine (Project Host)
Michael Short
Commissioner, Platte County, Mo
Dale Garrison
Destination Northland (Project Editor)

Chappell's Restaurant in North Kansas City was the ideal setting for the first Northland Commissioners Economic Development Luncheon Sept. 10. A frequent meeting place for both business and political brainstorming, Chappell's casual intimacy was well suited for the mix of informality and challenges facing Clay and Platte counties.

The participants also included a variety, with representatives from government, economic development and business. Leading the gathering were presiding county commissioners Betty Knight of Platte County and Carolyn McCaslin of Clay County. Economic development council directors Jim Hampton of Clay County and Pete Fullerton of Platte County were also on hand. Individual community representatives included Lynn McClure, Gladstone Economic Development director; Jeff Samborski, North Kansas City Economic Development director, Patty Gentrup, Liberty city administrator; and David Blackburn, Riverside city administrator. Business leader Ray Brock represented the Northland Betterment Committee and Commissioner Michael Short gave a slight edge to Platte County's representation.

United We Brand

The group began by agreeing that "the Northland" is a significant branding tool for Clay and Platte counties. The joint label is unique because no other area county or group of counties can claim a similar designation.

"The Northland has always been easily identifiable," Samborski said. "We share a lot of great things--good education, a safe, clean area. Those common bonds make it a positive attribute."

Short said the identity carries beyond the metropolitan area. "It's very much a positive when dealing with external entities," he said. "When you go down to Jefferson City, you are dealing with them more as a block. It has been very helpful to go down and exercise our economic clout and our growing political clout with Kansas City. It's very positive to package ourselves that way."