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Welcome Senator Bond |
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We are pleased
to have Missouri’s senior United States Senator as our
guest speaker October 10th. The Quarterly
Investor Meeting will be at Longview Mansion from 11:45
a.m. to 1 p.m., and will feature a report from Senator
Kit Bond on current events in Washington, D.C., as well
as his efforts on behalf of Missouri business. The
Senator’s last appearance before the LSEDC was sold out,
so we urge you to make your reservations as soon as
possible by contacting Shannan Cunniffe at
scunniffe@leessummit.org
or by calling 816-525-6617. |
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What's On Your Mind? |
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This quarter your LSEDC begins a new
e-newsletter feature, "What’s On Your Mind?" Each
quarter we will solicit our investors for questions
about business, city activities, development news, etc.
We will then seek answers from appropriate officials and
publish their answers in the e-newsletter. Here are our
first three questions that we posed to Mayor Karen
Messerli and her answers:
When should we expect to hear about the
next Legoland application to the city?
Mayor Messerli reports that city staff
and the proposed developer for LEGOLAND have been
meeting with the Missouri Department of Economic
Development, the State Representatives and Senator for
Lee’s Summit, as well as the Governor to discuss and
identify available State funding sources. Based upon the
success of finding these State sources, the developer
can modify its request to the City of Lee's Summit.
Until the funding discussion has been completed with the
State of Missouri, there will not be an economic
incentive application for the City’s consideration.
Where are we heading with our search for
a new City Manager? Is this a trend that they do not
seem to be staying long?
The Mayor says the search for the next
City Administrator will begin after the City Council
election in April 2008. Four of the eight City Council
positions are up for elections next April. It does not
make sense to hire a person today that may potentially
serve four new Council Members within a few months.
The City has been fortunate in attracting
talented and highly competent individuals to the City
Administrator’s position. A high growth community
provides both significant challenges and opportunities
for the City Administrator’s success. The typical "life
span" of a City Administrator is between 3 to 5 years.
The last two City Administrators’ tenure has been
between 3 to 4 years. Our goal in selecting a new
administrator is to match our needs with an individual’s
skills and abilities to provide a long-term and
successful relationship. During the interim period, we
are fortunate to have a capable and dedicated
administrative staff that will continue to keep Lee’s
Summit focused on our long-term goals.
How is the construction on 3rd
Street being handled? I hear nothing but complaints
about Longview Road reconstruction.
The Mayor acknowledges that there has
been a great deal of road construction in the southwest
quadrant of the City during the last several years.
Longview Road and Longview Boulevard has been a
multi-phased and complex undertaking. Whenever the City
has to completely shut down a highly-traveled corridor
for road reconstruction, it will cause frustration for
everyone involved. We have been very appreciative of the
patience of our residents and businesses in this area
while the improvements have been made.
It has been with purpose that the 3rd
Street Construction Project has been delayed until the
Longview Road project is completed. Having both of these
projects underway at the same time would have left very
few options for motorists. The 3rd Street
project will widen the street to a four-lane arterial
road with turning lanes at key intersections. The
boundaries of the project are from Pryor Road to
Longview Road. The City will be bidding the 3rd
Street project this fall, and construction will begin
early next year. It is possible to have the 3rd
street construction project completed in one year while
allowing traffic through the corridor.
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Good
News and Resources for Lee's Summit Manufacturers |
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LSEDC Vice President Teresa Evans has
been tracking a variety of issues of interest to
area manufacturers. Following are highlights
regarding a new sales tax exemption and resources at
the federal, state and local level to help expand
your business:
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Effective
Aug. 28, 2007, energy (including electricity and
natural gas) used in manufacturing, mining,
compounding, processing or producing a product
may qualify for a new state sales tax exemption.
If you own or operate a manufacturing facility
you should go to The Department of Revenue
website and download more information to see if
you qualify. Go to
www.dor.mo.gov or call
573-751-2836.
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Did
you know that Missouri is currently on track to
set a record for exports for the second year
running? According to a recent press release,
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt said the state’s
exports were up by 14 percent compared to the
same period in record-breaking 2006. To review
the entire release,
click here.
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There
are a variety of resources available to help
Missouri businesses become more competitive in
international trade. The Missouri Department of
Economic Development has a division of
International Trade that’s mission is to ". . .
increase the number of Missouri companies
exporting and increase the volume of Missouri
exports." Their staff can be your point of
contact for a wealth of services such as market
research, outreach, trade counseling, trade
missions, trade shows, export finance programs,
certificate of free sale, business protocol,
background check, agent/distributor search, etc.
For more specific details, click
here.
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Kansas
City SmartPort offers a
marketing assistance program
to help companies start, or increase, their
exports to Mexico and/or Central America. The
program has funds to help companies with travel
and marketing expenses for those doing business
in those countries. For more info
click here.
Kansas City
SmartPort it is a non-profit economic
development organization formed to promote and
enhance the Kansas City metro area’s status as
America’s Inland Port Solution SmartPort has two
main focuses in its mission: 1. To grow the
area’s transportation industry by attracting
businesses with significant transportation and
logistics elements; 2. To make it cheaper,
faster, more efficient, and secure for companies
to move goods into, from, and through the Kansas
City area. For more details,
click here.
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At
the federal level,
Export.gov
brings together resources from
across the U.S. Government to assist American
businesses in planning their international sales
strategies and succeed in today’s global
marketplace.
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Manufacturing Summit 2007 |
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Manufacturing is
where it's at, and The Greater Kansas City Chamber's
Manufacturing Summit, presented by RSM McGladrey, is where
you need to be.
September 21, 2007
7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Crown Center
2345 McGee
Kansas City, Missouri
This year's
Summit will cover transportation and logistics, eco-friendly
manufacturing, legislative resources and support for
manufacturers and an inside look at global manufacturing.
For more information contact:
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce,
816-374-5458 or
knittel@kcchamber.com. |
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KC
SourceLink Wins National Economic Development Award |
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The LSEDC and Chamber
are both members of KCSourceLink, an organization
that connects more than 140 business building
nonprofit resources to small business in the
18-county region, was cited for its commitment to
sound, research-based, market-driven economic
development that has helped support and grow the
local economy. Recently, the organization received
U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2007 Excellence in
Economic Development Award for Enhancing Regional
Competitiveness. U.S Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Economic Development Sandy Baruah and U.S.
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05) presented the
award. Founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman
Foundation, the U.S. Small Business Administration,
and the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public
Administration, the KCSourceLink network comprises
incubators, small business development centers, |
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Left to Right - U.S. Assistant
Secretary for Commerce for Economic
Development Sandy Baruah;
Congressman Emanuel
Cleaver II; and Network Builder, KC
SourceLink, Maria Meyers |
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organizations like SCORE (Service Corps of Retired
Executives), groups that provide micro loans, angel
networks, chambers of commerce, economic development
corporations and more.
To learn more,
visit
www.kcsourcelink.com or
contact Teresa Evans at
tdevans@leessummit.org. |
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At the Lee's Summit Chamber, You Learn Some, Earn Some |
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In business there’s always something new to
learn. That’s why the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce
provides a variety of learning opportunities for area
businesses, for example:
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Recess
for Success
is a monthly series of 1-hour workshops on a variety of
topics such as goal setting, finances, marketing,
business planning, etc.
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Spanish
classes are routinely offered. Classes are 6 weeks long,
1 day a week for 2 hours.
For an up-to-date
listing of available classes visit the chamber’s website at
www.lschamber.com.
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Investor Focus |
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R&D Tool Breaking the Mold |
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Each
quarter we highlight an LSEDC Investor company in our E-Newsletter. If
you would like to be featured, attend our Quarterly Investor Meeting and
drop your business card in the box. If your card is drawn, you will be
featured in an upcoming e-newsletter.
This quarter’s featured LSEDC company is
R&D Tool
& Engineering, headed locally by CEO Rex Luchtel.
Talk about being at the right place at the
right time.
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Just as the soft drink industry was
transitioning from glass to plastic bottles in the 1980s,
R&D Tool was deploying some of the world’s most advanced
mold manufacturing equipment in its Lee’s Summit plant.
Today, with 250 U.S. employees, plus 70 more in England, R&D
Tool, located at 1009 Browning Street, is among the top
plastic mold makers in North America.
The company offers a wide range of products
and design solutions to packaging, food and beverages,
cosmetics, household, and personal care markets. The
facility in Lee’s Summit includes engineering,
manufacturing, prototyping, and sales. The United Kingdom
facility includes engineering, manufacturing, and sales.
"Smart, motivated, well-trained employees
working in this great community has been a real secret to
our success," Rex says.
Getting young people interested in
manufacturing so they will consider it as a profession is a
new priority. Rex takes a personal hand by sponsoring and
assisting all three Lee’s Summit High Schools with the FIRST
Robotics competition.
Rex took time to answer a few questions from
the LSEDC:
Why did you join the LSEDC?
The decision to join the LSEDC is a two part
answer; first we felt we could stay in first hand touch with
all the economic events, issues, and projects that take
place in our great community. Second, we also wanted to be
involved where we could in making the community a better
place to live and work for the future.
What have you gained from your investment in
the LSEDC?
I believe our investment in the LSEDC has
given us the opportunity not only to "stay in touch" with
what is going on within our community but I now have
relationships with an outstanding network of business and
civic leaders. In addition, there has been a certain amount
of personal satisfaction gained from our involvement in
knowing that you helped "make a difference" in your
community.
What projects or activities are you involved
in Lee's Summit that would be of interest to our readers?
Our biggest involvement to date undoubtedly
has been the FIRST Robotics program and its growing success
within our High Schools. Although FIRST is an acronym for
"For Inspiration of Science and Technology" this program
reaches out and teaches students what is really involved in
bringing a new product to market. There are many real world
business lessons learned by students participating in this
program.
For more information go to R&D Tool's website
here. |
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Diane Seif Featured in Latest LSEDC Postcard |
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The LSEDC’s direct mail campaign to
over 2,500 Greater Kansas City leaders continues
with this year’s theme of Lee’s Summit
entrepreneurs. Diane Seif and her new venture,
DVA Enterprises, was the focus of our August mailing. It
states:
What do you do after you start a
pharmaceutical consulting business out of your Lee’s
Summit home and sell it seven years later? If you’re
Diane Seif, you do it all over again.
Seif and her husband Vincent founded RxCCI in
1998. The company grew to 75 employees as it
helped small pharmaceutical, biotechnology
and device companies navigate the
treacherous |
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bureaucratic FDA approval
processes. In 2005 they sold the company to
a global leader in the field.
With the same entrepreneurial spirit of her
mentor, Marion Laboratories founder Ewing
Kauffman, Diane has founded DVA Enterprises, a
commercial real estate and small business consulting
firm that helps companies develop winning strategies
and business plans, and identify sources of capital.
With a track record like Diane’s, keep an eye out
for more success. |
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