LSEDC - News Releases

LSEDC News Releases Archive

What Do You Think About Lee's Summit?

Please help the City of Lee's Summit create the perfect brand message for our community by participating in an online community survey. The City is working with North Star Destination Strategies, the ...read more >

LSEDC Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Click here to view the video produced by LSEDC to commemorate its 25th Anniversary....read more >

LSEDC Begins Valued Industry Program Business Visits

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (February 15, 2011) - This week, the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) - along with a team of 12 trained volunteers - launches its 2011 Valued Industry Program (VIP). ...read more >

Exergonix Chooses Lee's Summit for Global Headquarters

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (January 5, 2011) - At today's Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) Quarterly Investor Luncheon, Exergonix CEO Don Nissanka announced the company has selected Lee's Summi...read more >

Exergonix Location Decision Update

For the latest information about Exergonix's location decision, please read the article from the Lee's Summit Journal below.http://www.lsjournal.com/2010/12/14/60552/city-wants-exergonix-for-christmas...read more >

Lee's Summit Approves Incentives; Featured in Various Media Outlets

The Lee's Summit City Council's approval of $12 million of incentives to entice a national company to its airport and clean-tech company Exergonix was featured in several news outlets. Click the links...read more >

LSEDC and Chamber of Commerce Endorse No-Tax-Increase General Obligation Bond Issue

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (September 30, 2010) - The leadership of Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce and the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) have both passed resolutions of support for the Cit...read more >

Lee's Summit Ranks 27 of 100 Small Cities in America According to Money Magazine's Best Places to Live

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (July 12, 2010) - Today, Money Magazine announced its 2010 Best Places to Live, and Lee's Summit made the list. The highest rated Missouri city on the Eastern side of the Kansas City ...read more >

Federal Reserve's Tom Hoenig to Speak at LSEDC Annual Investor Meeting

The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) invites you to attend its Annual Investor Meeting, where Tom Hoenig, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, will present up...read more >

Jim Devine is 2010 Missouri Professional Economic Developer of the Year

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (May 20, 2010) - Jim Devine, President and CEO of the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC), has been named by the Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC) as the 2010...read more >

Lee's Summit Continues to See Growth in Commercial and Residential Development

Gale Communities and Emery Sapp & Sons Partner on New Construction Projects LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (April 20, 2010) - Gale Communities and Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) have once again partnered to spur ...read more >

Two Lee's Summit Companies Plan Expansion

Pave Guard Technologies and Meyer Companies to Open Solar Technology Distribution CenterLEE'S SUMMIT, MO (April 8, 2010) - Two Lee's Summit companies, Pave Guard Technologies and Meyer Companies, have...read more >

2010 Eastern Jackson County by the Numbers Now Available

A statistical profile comparing Eastern Jackson County to Jackson County, Missouri and the Kansas City metro area to put data in a larger regional context. Drills down to specific information about Le...read more >

YouTube Video shows why Lee's Summit Received Missouri's 2010 Award for Creative Community

The City of Lee's Summit has produced a dynamic, new video capturing why the City was recently awarded the prestigious 2010 Creative Community Award from the Missouri Arts Council. The video contains ...read more >

Economic Development Council and Chamber of Commerce Support R-7 School District No-Tax-Increase Bond Issue

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (March 22, 2010) - The leadership of the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) and the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce have both passed resolutions of support for the R-7...read more >

Lee's Summit Recognized as Wealth Center and One of Fastest Growing Communities

The Lee's Summit community continues to mount up recognitions in 2010 including making the list of U.S. Wealth Centers according to Portfolio.com, a bizjournals property as well as BusinessWeek magazi...read more >

LSEDC and DLSMS Kick Off Downtown District Study

The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) has partnered with Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street (DLSMS) to coordinate a survey of businesses in the downtown district of Lee's Summit. The bu...read more >

This Old House Magazine Recognizes Lee's Summit

Old Lee's Summit has been recognized by This Old House Magazine as one of the Best Old House Neighborhoods for 2010! (Old Lee's Summit includes the neighborhoods surrounding downtown). Click here for ...read more >

Lee's Summit Honored as Missouri's 2010 Creative Community

The 2010 Missouri Arts Award for "Creative Community" was officially given to the City of Lee's Summit during the awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 10, in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Buildin...read more >

Eastern Jackson County Development Alliance Offers Micro Entrepreneur Workshop

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (January 14, 2010) - On January 26, the Eastern Jackson County Development Alliance (EJCDA) will host a FREE workshop for new and existing micro entrepreneurs in Eastern Jackson Count...read more >

Downtown Lee's Summit Great American Main Street Video

Downtown Lee's Summit is one of ten communities selected to complete a rigorous semi-finalist application for the Great American Main Street Award! The following video was submitted as part of the app...read more >

LSEDC Awarded $20,000 Grant from Truman Heartland Community Foundation

At a luncheon held on November 12, the Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) awarded the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) a $20,000 grant in the Community Action category. The ...read more >

Missouri Arts Council Selects Lee's Summit as Creative Community

The City of Lee's Summit has been selected by the Missouri Arts Council (MAC), a division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, to receive the 2010 Missouri Arts Award for Creative Commu...read more >

Lee's Summit Economic Development Council Honored with Award from the Missouri Economic Development Council

For the second time this month, the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) will be recognized by its peers in economic development. At a luncheon held today in Columbia, the Missouri Econom...read more >

LSEDC to Receive International Economic Development Award

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) will recognize the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) with an honorable mention for its exceptional annual report at the IEDC Annua...read more >

Nominate New Longview and Lee's Summit for "American Character Along Highway 50"

The LSEDC and Gale Communities are coordinating a grassroots effort for New Longview and Lee's Summit to be a featured destination on a new television program hosted by Tom Brokaw that will air on the...read more >

Lee's Summit Economic Development Council Board of Directors Endorse Airport Expansion

At a Board of Directors meeting held on September 2, the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) Board members unanimously voted in favor of a Resolution of Support for the Implementation of...read more >

Colorado-based Company Selects Lee's Summit for First Midwest Regional Office

Colorado-based Rio National Insurance Group has selected Lee's Summit for its first Midwest regional service office. The company recently leased 3,000 square feet of the Bank of the West building on N...read more >

Jim Devine Featured on KMBC

Jim Devine recently spoke with KMBC about the pending Kokam legislation. Click here for the full story...read more >

2009 Valued Industry Program (VIP) Report Now Available

The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC), recently completed its 2009 Valued Industry Program (VIP) business retention and expansion initiative, releasing the results at the June 3 Board ...read more >

2009-2010 Executive Committee and Board of Directors Announced

For its upcoming fiscal year beginning on July 1, LSEDC announced its Executive Committee and new Board of Directors members. LSEDC welcomes Keith Asel, Vice President of Private Banking - Commerce Ba...read more >

Lee's Summit Journal Column Focuses on Redevelopment

LSEDC President and CEO, Jim Devine, recently chronicled a site visit he conducted with the St. Louis County Economic Council as he evaluated their request to become an IEDC Accredited Economic Develo...read more >

Economic Development Topic of Discussion at LS 360 Presentation

Economic Development and LSEDC were topics of discussion during the May 7 presentation of the Lee's Summit 360 Strategic Planning Process to City Council. Please click the links below to see video cli...read more >

LSEDC Featured in April 17 Issue of Missouri Focus

The April 17 issue of the MO DED Missouri Focus newsletter featured LSEDC: The Art (and Culture) of Economic Development Lee's Summit Economic Development Council Embraces Cultural Arts to Attract Cr...read more >

Senator Bond Visits Lee's Summit

On April 15, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond visited Lee's Summit for a Town Hall meeting, joining a panel of community leaders to discuss a flailing economy, taxes and energy policy.They spoke with members of the...read more >

The Art (and Culture) of Economic Development in Lee's Summit

Lee's Summit Economic Development Council Embraces Cultural Arts to Attract Creative Workforce On April 1, the arts were alive in Lee's Summit! The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council's (LSEDC)...read more >

Arts, Culture and Economic Development: Best Practice Article

Please see PDF for article on how San Antonio is leveraging arts and culture for economic development....read more >

LSEDC Releases Economic Conditions Survey Results

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (March 11, 2009) - As part of its ongoing strategy to retain and expand business, the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC), along with its counterparts from other economi...read more >

FPC Honored With Capstone Award for Downtown Lee’s Summit Revitalization

On April 3, Kurt Pycior, president of FPC Development and Construction and LSEDC Executive Committee member, will be honored by his peers in real estate and development at the Kansas City Business Jou...read more >

LSEDC Supports Blue Springs R-4 $86.5 Million No Tax Increase Bond Issue

Quality schools play an important role in attracting, retaining and expanding businesses to our area. In Lee's Summit we are fortunate to have two excellent school districts in our community: Lee's Su...read more >

Downtown Lee's Summit Featured in National Trust Article

Downtown Lee's Summit is featured in a National Trust for Historic Preservation article on www.preservationnation.org, as a result of DLSMS staff responding to a national survey conducted by the Natio...read more >

Lee's Summit R-7 School District Earns Missouri Distinction in Performance Award; Scores Perfect 100

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District was one of just 13 metropolitan-area school districts to earn Missouri's coveted Distinction in Performance Award this year, according to a Dec. 12 announcement fr...read more >

City of Lee's Summit Receives 2008 Digital Cities Survey Award

The City of Lee's Summit is a recipient of the 2008 Digital Cities award according to the results of the eighth annual Digital Cities Survey, which examines how cities use technology to create a seaml...read more >

BusinessWeek Names Lee's Summit Best Place in Missouri to Raise Kids

Lee's Summit was recently featured in BusinessWeek magazine as Missouri's best affordable town for raising children. Most important factors in this analysis were school performance, affordability and ...read more >

Free Wi-Fi Now Available in Downtown Lee's Summit

On November 1, the City of Lee's Summit - partnered with the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council, the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street - launched the first phase of Wi-F...read more >

KC Star Features Show Me Angels

Thanks to media relations outreach by LSEDC, the November 4 issue of the Kansas City Star featured an article about Show Me Angels, a new angel investor network in Eastern Jackson County. Show Me Ange...read more >

Downtown Lee’s Summit Named Best Streetscape by The Pitch

The Pitch magazine does an annual "Best of Kansas City" edition, which rates everything from TV celebrities to public restrooms. This year, Downtown Lee's Summit was named "Best Streetscape"! ...read more >

Lee’s Summit Mayor Karen Messerli Receives Distinguished Service Award

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO (October 2, 2008) — Mayor Karen Messerli was recently honored by her peers in civic government when the Missouri Municipal League (MML) presented her with its Distinguishe...read more >

AEA Members Land at Lee’s Summit Airport

The Lee's Summit Municipal Airport recently saw some action as members of the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) landed there to attend the international association's board of director's annual f...read more >

LSEDC Co-Sponsors Speakers Series With Regional Perspective, Local Impact

To complement the Lees Summit 360 Charting Tomorrow Strategic Planning Process, LSEDC, in conjunction with the City and the Chamber of Commerce, has developed a Speakers Series to bring thought leader...read more >

Auction Company Chooses Lee’s Summit for Kansas City Office

Purple Wave to Hold First Live Auction at New Lee's Summit Facility on August 26 at 2 p.m. LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (August 20, 2008) - Purple Wave, an online and live auction firm specializing in real estat...read more >

National Avionics Association Relocates to Lee's Summit

The Aircraft Electronics Association invests nearly $3 million moving its headquarters from Independence to the Chapel Ridge development in northern Lee's Summit. Read news article>...read more >

Money Magazine Recognizes Lee’s Summit as Best Place to Live

Lee’s Summit Ranks 79 of 100 Small Cities in America LEE’S SUMMIT, MO (July 14, 2008) — Today, Money Magazine announced its 2008 Best Places to Live, and Lee’s Summit ma...read more >

LSEDC Kicks Off Valued Industry Program

A team of volunteers from Lee's Summit businesses has been assembled to conduct the Valued Industry Program (VIP) interviews and surveys. They are: First Row - Jacques Smith, Bank Midwest; Ron Cox, Ci...read more >

Teresa Evans, LSEDC Vice President Obtains Certification

Teresa Evans, Vice President of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC), recently received a certification in the development and use of effective business retention and expansion ...read more >

ViraCor Receives More Praise

On May 13, LSEDC Angel Investor ViraCor Laboratories was honored as one of 16 companies to receive the Business Journal’s “Champions of Business” Award. ViraCor was also named as a f...read more >

LSEDC Honors Excellence in Teaching with Bud Hertzog Leadership Awards

The Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC), along with the R-7 School District and Chamber of Commerce hosted the Excellence in Teaching Awards on April 30 at the Stansberry Leadershi...read more >

Lee’s Summit Economic Development in Action

LSEDC Instrumental to Acceleration’s Selection to Missouri Quality Jobs Program LEE’S SUMMIT, MO (April 2, 2008) — Acceleration, a leading pharmaceutical research and drug testing l...read more >

Local EDCs Partner to Arm EJC Businesses with Incentive Information

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO (March 25, 2008) — On April 1, 2008, the Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Grandview, Independence and Lee’s Summit Economic Development Councils will join forces to spons...read more >

LSEDC Sponsors Legislative Tour of Summit Technology Campus

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO (March 20, 2008) — On March 14, the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) — in conjunction with Townsend Capital, Carrow Real Estate Services and t...read more >

Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council Backs R-7 School District Bond Issue - Encourages Citizens to Vote April 8

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO (March 5, 2008) — The Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) Board of Directors announces its support for the April 8, 2008 R-7 School District No-Tax Inc...read more >

R-7 High School earns National Ranking: LSN receives 'America's Best High Schools' recognition through 'U.S. News and World Report'

Lee’s Summit North High School was among just 29 high schools in Missouri to be included in U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best High Schools” ranking. Lee&...read more >

Company brings world headquarters to LS

Kokam America has made the final decision to make its permanent world headquarters in Lee’s Summit. The company has had its share of setbacks, but thanks to negotiations with the city of Lee&rsq...read more >

Lee's Summit manufactures more industrial development

Almost 700 men and women leave their Lee's Summit beds every morning to commute to industrial jobs elsewhere in the Kansas City metropolitan area. That's about to change, said Jim Devine, CEO of the ...read more >

LSEDC Investors Receive Top Local and National Honors

Lee's Summit, MO - Three Lee's Summit businesses received Top 10 Small Business of the Year honors from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce recently. And, the Founder of another Lee's Summit f...read more >

Saint Luke's named one of "America's Best Hospitals"

U. S. News and World Report today announced its list of "America's Best Hospitals", in which Saint Luke's Hospital ranks among the best in the nation in three separate specialties - Heart and Heart Su...read more >

Money Magazine's Best Places to Live - Lee's Summit moves up to number 44 from 76 in one year!

Renowned for its state and national award winning schools and community college, comprehensive parks, lakes and recreation amenities, diverse housing choices, attention to and preservation of its hist...read more >

Capgemini will move from near KCI to Lee’s Summit

Technology outsourcer and consulting firm Capgemini LLC will move 275 employees in January from subleased space at a Cerner Corp. building to the Summit Technology Campus in Lee's Summit. The five-ye...read more >

New Lee's Summit Hospital scheduled for 2006 opening

The record-breaking early December snowstorm did nothing to cool the enthusiasm of HCA Inc. executives for their newest project. Indeed, more than 100 people huddled in a tent on Dec. 8 for the ground...read more >

Cerner plans big build out for storage

Cerner Corp. will build a data center on its Northland campus and double the size of its existing data center in Lee's Summit. The projects continue an expansion kick that has made the health care in...read more >

Two school districts earn distinction

State education leaders have once again recognized two area school districts for continuing efforts in increasing student achievement. The Blue Springs and Lee's Summit school districts are among 178...read more >

Council approves HCA plan: Construction to start as soon as permits go through

HCA Midwest can now move ahead with an $88.4 million replacement hospital in Lee's Summit. At a hearing Thursday night, the Lee's Summit City Council unanimously approved a site plan and a special-us...read more >

New planned interchange would open land

Lee's Summit's plan to add an interchange on Interstate 470 at Strother Road includes new lanes to make merging easier for motorists at Woods Chapel and Colbern roads.A proposed design for the corrido...read more >

State Street Banks at Summit - Firm Signs 25,000-SF Lease at Tech Center

State Street Bank & Trust leased 25,000 square feet of Class B office space at 777 NW Blue Parkway in Lee's Summit, MO. State Street Bank & Trust will occupy the space during the fourth quarte...read more >

Lee's Summit claims processing center will close

The shift toward a paperless health care industry has prompted PPO USA Inc. to pull the plug on its pharmacy claims processing center -- a decision that will mean the loss of 88 jobs. The claims cente...read more >

Summit Tech adds American Century as a tenant

Townsend Capital, owners of the Summit Technology Campus in Lee's Summit, recently announced it signed a lease with American Century Investments for 30, 000 square feet of space inside the campus. The...read more >

HCA Selects Lee’s Summit Hospital Site

HCA Midwest wants to build a new hospital at Todd George Road and U. S. Highway 50, five miles southeast of its current Lee's Summit site. Spokesman Rob Dyer said HCA hopes to acquire an option to bu...read more >

Toronto-based company to expand Lee's Summit plant

That plastic cup holding this morning's yogurt or that tub of margarine for toast could easily be from a Lee's Summit plant. If not, maybe it soon will be. Polytainers Inc., based in Toronto, on Wed...read more >

Caremark to Add Workers at Call Center

Caremark Rx Inc., a pharmaceutical services company, plans to add about 200 employees at its Lee's Summit call center over the next six months.The additional hires will boost Caremark's employment at ...read more >

City Council Approves Second Hospital

Saint Luke's Hospital moved one step closer to building a hospital in Lee's Summit when the Lee's Summit City Council unanimously approved the project Thursday night. Following the public hearing on t...read more >

LabOne Brings 100 Jobs to Tech Campus

LabOne, Inc. announced on December 22 that it would establish a call center in the high-tech campus. In early January 2002, the Lenexa-based laboratory-testing and information services firm will move...read more >

Jim Devine 2004 recipient of the International Economic Development Council's (IEDC) Edward deLuca Lifetime Acheivement Award for Professional Excellence

It is my distinct honor and pleasure to inform you that Jim Devine, President of the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council, has been selected as the 2004 recipient of the International Economic De...read more >

NMC Recognizes Longview Community College in Worldwide Search for Excellence

Longview Community College has been recognized as a world leader in its innovative approaches to the use of technology by the New Media Consortium (NMC). In early 2003, in recognition of the tenth ann...read more >

Strength in Numbers - Work force consortium brings companies together to pool training resources

Jennifer Yazell isn't looking for a government handout to give job seekers a hand up with the new Eastern Jackson County Workforce Training Consortium. "Everyone is in for their own success," Yazell ...read more >

Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council received 2002 Marketer of the Year Award at the 44th Annual Governor’s Economic Development Conference

The Economic Development Marketer of the Year Award recognizes the community with the most successful economic development-marketing program. The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council has impleme...read more >

EDC's Guest Panelists Discuss Local Assets

The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council's quarterly meeting on Wednesday featured four keynote speakers discussing the industrial, commercial and retail assets of Lee's Summit in context with th...read more >

Sharing The Cost For Training - LSEDC Helps form New Workforce Consortium

Training for both management and quality control is important to any business. With help from the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce Manufacturer's Council and the Lee's Summit Economic Development Cou...read more >

R-7 District Wins State's New Distinction in Performance

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District is among just 10 school districts in the Kansas City metropolitan area to receive Missouri's new "Distinction In Performance" Award. The awards are being given for...read more >

Saint Luke’s Brings High-Tech Jobs to LS

Things are moving along quickly at the Summit Technology Campus with Wednesday's announcement of Saint Luke's-Shawnee Mission Health System's consolidation at the campus. Saint Luke's announced it wil...read more >

Summit Tech to House New INS Office - Office To Employ Nearly 500 in LS

The Immigration and Naturalization Service likes Lee's Summit. So much that it recently announced its second location in the city, inside the Summit Technology Campus at Chipman and Blue Parkway. Th...read more >

Local School Receives Gold Star Award

Lee's Summit North High School is one of only nine schools in Missouri to be named a "God Star School" by the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It was one of only four high schoo...read more >

INS To Open Service Center in Lee's Summit

The U. S. General Services Administration announced Friday that a new Immigration and Naturalization Service center will locate at Summit Technology Campus in Lee's Summit. About 550 people will work...read more >

Web Watch/Rating Cities

Is There Such a thing as the perfect town? Maybe not, but if you narrow your definition, there's an easy way on the Web to compare cities' vital statistics. On HomeAdvisor.com, hit the "compare cities...read more >

City Puts Out Development Guide - Officials Hope Book Will Make Expectations Clear

Property development in Lee's Summit involves several city departments and numerous fees and requirements. Now the city has a guide that can be of use to developers and residents alike.Builders can co...read more >

Sprint Plans Lee's Summit Site

A tax break is helping lure Sprint to Lee's Summit. The company plans to put a billing support system and archives in the 142,000-square-foot Colt Technology building at Interstate 470 and Blue Parkw...read more >

Longview Community College Named "College of the Year"

TIME Magazine/The Princeton Review announced today that Longview Community College is one of four institutions named as "College of the Year" in The Best College for You Guide, a co-publication of TIM...read more >