Government Stories

Toll project won’t just make Kansas’ most dangerous roadway safer, Davids says; it’ll be smarter

OVERLAND PARK — Two new express lanes along U.S. 69 in south Johnson County are expected to boost businesses, consumers, economic development and tourism as Kansas continues to grow and global events like the 2026 World Cup are added to the region’s roster, said Sharice Davids. “It’s all connected — our entire state,” said U.S….

Hemp could be the next superfood: How one state-backed company is connecting farmers to retailers now

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro.  AUGUSTA, Kansas — A Kansas company specializing in agricultural and industrial hemp hopes that a collaborative, educational approach in a burgeoning industry will benefit farmers, the environment, and end users…

Porter House KC earns MO infrastructure grant, pushing its retail incubator closer to opening

Funding from a pilot physical infrastructure grants program is expected to help The Porter House KC complete phase 2 of the build out for its new 811 Retail Incubator, focused on boosting retail entrepreneurs from the urban core. “This grant will allow us to serve over 90 small businesses focused on retail operations within the…

Trio of Kansas City startups among Missouri’s latest equity investments; $2.4M awarded in July

Three high-profile tech startups in Kansas City each earned a portion of the $2.4 million awarded in July by the Missouri Technology Corporation, the agency announced this week “We are thrilled to announce another set of awards to support the high-tech, high-growth startups committed to growing in Missouri,” said Jack Scatizzi, executive director of MTC….

In second term, Mayor Q says he’ll help get City Hall out of entrepreneurs’ way as they build a more diverse economy

Creating economic equity in Kansas City goes hand in hand with building a sustainable city, said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “We will not be the city that we need to be — we won’t have the workforce, the entrepreneurs that we need — if we’re not actually investing in equitable tools in any number of ways,”…