Independence Economic Development Partnership

08/20/2026

We were pleased to be invited to Mayor King’s first Small Business Committee meeting and to hear from Independence small business owners.

The committee is open to the public and meets the Third Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at City of Independence, MO, Government.

08/18/2026

Thank you, Three Trails Behavioral Hospital for the opportunity to tour your state-of-the-art facility. We look forward to working together and supporting your work in the healthcare field.

We were thrilled to welcome Valerie Byrnes, President of the Independence Chamber of Commerce, and Jarvis Sackman, Director of Business Retention and Expansion, for a tour of our brand-new inpatient hospital today!

It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our brand-new facility and discuss how we are expanding access to high-quality healthcare in the Independence community. We had a fantastic conversation about local economic development, job creation, and the Chamber's vital support for growing healthcare infrastructure.

Thank you, Valerie and Jarvis, for your leadership and dedication to our region's growth. We are proud to partner with the Chamber as we open our doors to serve our patients and neighbors!

08/14/2026

We were honored to join with Truman Library Institute and Harry S. Truman Library & Museum for the official groundbreaking on the Truman Library Landscape Transformation.

We look forward to celebrating the project completion in July 2027.

08/04/2026

Small businesses are the backbone of economic development, generating jobs, driving local innovation, and retaining capital within communities. With 99.9% of all U.S. companies and nearly half of the private-sector workforce, their impact is undeniable. (USAFacts)

So, what constitutes a small business? The Small Business Association (SBA) defines any business with 500 or fewer employees is a "small business".

Core Economic Impacts of a Small Business
* Job Creation: Small firms generate roughly two-thirds of net new jobs and provide vital entry points into the workforce for local residents.

* Local Multiplier Effect: Spending at local shops keeps money inside the neighborhood, supporting other nearby services, suppliers, and public tax bases.

* Innovation and Competition: Smaller businesses drive innovation and competition by forcing older, larger companies to adapt, improve, and lower their prices. Small firms can rapidly experiement with new ideas and bring them to market faster.

Small businesses rock!

07/27/2026

The Noland Road Multimodal Corridor Project open house takes place at the Independence Uptown Market (211 W. Truman Road) on Tuesday, July 28, from 5–7 p.m.

Project Details
✅ Location Span: 1.7-mile stretch from U.S. 24 Highway to Fair Street.

✅ Anticipated Start: Construction begins in Summer 2027.

Key Improvements
✅ ADA-Compliant Sidewalks: Miles of new walkways installed along the corridor.

✅ Multi-Use Trail & Bikes: Construction of a new multi-use trail and dedicated bike lanes.

✅ Infrastructure Fixes: Pavement replacement and storm sewer updates.

✅ Lighting & Signals: Upgraded traffic signals and new streetlights with pedestrian push buttons.

07/23/2026

📣 Transportation and Manufacturing Career Fair TODAY hosted by Community Services League 📣

You may have seen it on the news this morning. Here are the details of the CSL Career Fair.

🗓️ Date: Thursday, July 23
⏰ Time: 11AM - 2PM
📍 Location: 2500 Little Blue Parkway, Building A2, Suite 100, Independence, MO 64057
Walk-ins welcomed

List of participating employers:

20 Twenty Trucking
Weidenhammer New Packaging
Melaleuca
Cargo Largo
Winland Foods
Jackson County Development Disability Services
Ronson Manufacturing

Manufacturing and transportation are two of the fastest-growing industries in the region. This is an opportunity to meet businesses located in and close to Independence and learn how you can take the next step forward in your career.

07/20/2026

We agree with Ward Development and Investment Co., last week’s chamber luncheon was informative and insightful. We too are proud to be a part of a community that is working towards the future of our city.

Thank you to the Independence Chamber of Commerce for a great meeting today! We are proud to be part of a community that is so invested in its future. Today's panel presentation was incredibly informative, providing valuable insight into tourism in Independence and the exciting initiatives taking shape around the Downtown Square. We appreciate the opportunity to learn, connect, and be involved in such a vibrant community.

07/18/2026

Kansas City's FIFA transport plan, ConnectKC26, boosted Independence’s economic development by driving international tourism to local businesses, establishing the city as a regional transit hub, and shifting local perception to attract long-term commercial investment after the tournament.

Kansas City transportation CEO reflects on company's World Cup experience with the Kansas City Business Journal.

“CEO Bill George said it was gratifying to help move fans around town to matches, hotels, watch parties and Fan Festival activities during the nearly monthlong tournament.

“Travel is my favorite pastime, and I love exploring other countries and cultures. It was fun to see it the other way around — to look at your city through international eyes,” George said.

Kansas City-based WHC is the parent company of ZTrip, Kansas City Transportation Group, Execucar and SuperShuttle Express. The company operates ride services ranging from daily taxis to premium black car services in 39 cities across the country, including Dallas and Houston, which also hosted World Cup matches.

“Everybody loves to be able to show off their respective city, so there was a lot of enjoyable conversations on that," George said. "Everybody was in a good mood. A majority of the games were fantastic. Even when a team lost, the fans were all respectful. I think it was just a great experience."

Locally, the demand was similar to a Kansas City Chiefs playoff game, with a few more out-of-town visitors.
“The attendance at all the games in all the cities we operate in matched expectations. The international visitor counts did not. There was a lot of regional travel versus international,” George said.”

You can read the entire article on the Kansas City Business Journal. 👇

A Kansas City transportation executive shares what his company learned from moving fans during the World Cup.

07/15/2026

07/10/2026

We’re joining the Chamber for the July Chamber Luncheon: Destination Independence on July 15 at Uptown Market!

This month’s panel will focus on how tourism, events, and the continued growth of the Independence Square are creating real opportunities for local businesses.

Hear from representatives of Visit Independence, the Independence Square Association, and local business leaders as they share updates, visitor trends, upcoming initiatives, and ways businesses can connect with the energy bringing people into our community.

Whether you’re a business owner, community partner, or simply invested in Independence’s growth, this is a luncheon you won’t want to miss.

Register today! https://members.ichamber.biz/ap/Events/Register/G9FK3e0uNCxCK