6AM City In-house

KC is leveling up 📈

KC area developers highlight record-breaking year of regional growth
KCADC
Let’s talk numbers. | Photo via KCADC
The Kansas City Area Development Council’s 2022 Annual Meeting took place at the KC Convention Center yesterday — and you guessed it, City Editors Bella and Travis were in attendance.

The event welcomed 2,000 of the region’s business, civic, academic, and elected leaders. The theme, “Level Up,” captured how KC continues to rise to a new level and celebrated the record-breaking year for the region.

Crunch the numbers 💰

  • $5.6 billion in capital investment
  • $354 million in payroll
  • Nearly 6,000 new jobs
  • 7 million sqft of development
The standout year is six times more than KCADC’s historical annual investment success as the council attracted 13 new companies to the region. Over the last decade, the influx of business is nearly an equal split across the two-state, 18-county region.

In addition to remarks from KCADC leadership, executives from Meta and Panasonic discussed both companies’ transformational projects currently underway.

KC Convention Center KCADC Annual Meeting

Lights, camera, annual meeting.

Photo by KCtoday

Choosing KC 🔎

Meta announced its $800 million project earlier this year, detailing a nearly 1 million-sqft data center that will provide up to 100 long-term jobs. In about eight months, they’ve moved 2 million cubic yards of dirt, 42,000 linear ft of electrical, and crews will start building vertical steel this month.

“KCMO truly had it all with virtually every desirable factor we were looking for,” Meta Community Development Manager Matt Sexton said. “It had great infrastructure, access to renewable energy [...] we have a world-class workforce here [...] and a high quality of life to attract and retain the best talent here in Kansas City.”

Panasonic announced its $4 billion project this summer + officially broke ground on a new electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto, KS, on Wednesday, Nov. 2. This is the largest private investment in Kansas history — kind of a big deal.

“We chose this KC area because of the people that are here,” Panasonic Energy North America President Allan Swan said.

Swan told us that De Soto was chosen out of 12 other states and 100+ prospected sites. The build is expected to take two years to complete.

The program also included a keynote presentation from Omar Johnson, former chief marketing officer at Beats by Dre and founder of innovative marketing agency, ØPUS United.
6AM City In-house

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Today, November 10
  • Family Series: Annie | Thursday, Nov. 10-Sunday, Nov. 13 | 7 p.m. | Bell Center at MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2030 E. College Way, Overland Park, KS | $10-$15 | Consider it a “Hard Knock Life” if you are missing this show. 🎟️
  • SoDown | Thursday, Nov. 10 | 8 p.m. | recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO | $20 | Enjoy hits from the electronic artist like “Cliffs” and “With You.”
Friday, November 11
  • 8th Annual Artisans Show & Sale | Friday, Nov. 11-Saturday, Nov. 12 | Times vary | First City Photo and Frames, 406 Shawnee St., Leavenworth, KS | Free admission | Support local creators at this art show.
  • Kansas City - EMO NIGHT II | Friday, Nov. 11 | 7 p.m. | Vivo, 7300 W. 119th St., Overland Park, KS | $10 | Join the cover band KCeMO and listen to them play a special Blink-182 set. 🤘
Saturday, November 12
  • Wilderness Run | Saturday, Nov. 12 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Shoal Creek Living History Museum, 7000 NE Barry Rd., Kansas City, MO | $35-$50 | Participate in a 2 or 5 mile course that will take you through the woods, across fields, and through the village.
  • Rockstar Championships - KC Classic | Saturday, Nov. 12 | 8 a.m.-10 p.m. | Hy-Vee Arena, 1800 Genessee St., Kansas City, MO | $0-$15 | Cheer on these cheer + dance competitors in a high-flying regional showdown. 📣
Sunday, November 13
  • Carrie Underwood w/ Jimmie Allen | Sunday, Nov. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | T-Mobile Center | $66+ | Jam out to this country star’s hits like “Before He Cheats” and “Last Name.”
  • Tarot Card Readings | Sunday, Nov. 13 | 12-5 p.m. | Weston Wine Company, 540 Main St., Weston, MO | $20 | Get a deeper look into your future while sipping on a glass of wine. 🍷
Monday, November 14
  • Manic Mondays | Monday, Nov. 14 | 8 p.m. | Tin Roof, 424 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO | Free | Show the neighborhood what you’re made of at this open mic. 🎤

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather
  • 69º | Thunderstorms | 68% chance of rain
Environment
  • The KC Zoo is putting up a green thumb on America Recycles Day — Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — with an electronics collection event. Bring your old monitors, TVs, or anything with a plug and circuit board to properly recycle. Cost varies per item. ♻️
Holiday
  • Union Station’s “Holiday Reflections” returns Monday, Nov. 21. This walk-through themed experience fills Union Station’s massive Grand Plaza with sky-reaching lights, dozens of decorated trees, and a holiday model train layout. Buy tickets here. 🎄
Community
  • Café Corazón is celebrating Indigenous Heritage Month with an After Hours event on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy live performances, special menus, and local vendors. Admission starts at $16.
Development
  • Construction on the next West Bottoms apartments will likely begin in early 2023 after a KCK committee unanimously recommended its financing plan. Flaherty & Collins Properties would save $51.8 million in sales tax to build The Yards II, a 224-unit complex. 🏗 (Kansas City Business Journal)
  • A new 14-story apartment project is proposed for the Crossroads — at 1818 Main St., KCMO. Developer Copaken Brooks plans to build 112 units, including some marked as affordabe. Leaders plan to receive incentives from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. (CityScene KC)
Ranked
  • Kansas City was ranked No. 15 on Wallethub’s “2022 Best Sports Cities” list. The ranking was based off 50 key metrics, five sports, and compared to 392 US cities. After crunching the numbers, it was ranked No. 5 in “Top 10 Cities for Soccer Fans.” Not too shabby. 🏆
Announced
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Listen
  • We already know that you love Kansas City, so you might love this too. Home Where You Belong is a weekly podcast that explores how to feel more at home in your living space and city, provides tools for deepening your relationships + connections with your community, and more. Listen online or wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧 *

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Welcome back, Skies KC ❄️

Skies KC returns to Sheraton at Crown Center
SKies KC
Heart eyes for Skies. | Photo via the Sheraton Hotel in Crown Center
It’s baaack. The historic Skies restaurant is opening back up for the holiday season after an 11-year closure.

The re-opening will transform the 42nd floor of the Sheraton at Crown Center (you know, the circle thing) into a winter wonderland-themed pop-up bar — made perfect by the night time views of downtown KC.

The pop-up is open Thursday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 2. Future dates will be announced on the opening day.

The details

  1. Reservation slots are from 5-7 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.
  2. Reservations are $35 — with $5 going to Children’s Miracle Network.
  3. Enjoy a small food menu + try the three J. Rieger specialty cocktails.
  4. The space will be available to rent for private parties.
We know what you’re thinking — did this restaurant once spin, or am I dreaming? You’re not crazy. It no longer rotates, but the sparkling lights + city views make it just as magical as it was a decade ago.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Bella.

Editor’s pick: Remember when I asked about the Westport phone booths? Our inbox was mostly hearing crickets, but a few of you said there is one at the William Jewell campus too. If this jogs your memory, it’s not too late to hit me up with any phone booth related insight.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Pop-up and pop out at these holiday bars.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Bella Rainey, Travis Meier, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea, Victoria Bardega | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Amanda Munsey | Advertise with us.

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