Category: Business

Chamber examines election results, looks to 2023

Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The Public Policy Committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce met Friday, Nov. 11 to assess the recent general election results and worked on its Legislative Agenda for 2023.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the incumbent Democratic Congresswoman for the 3rd District, was successful in winning a third term. She was able to defeat Republican challenger Amanda Adkins for a second time. Rep. Davids won despite Republicans who gerrymandered the 3rd District by stripping out traditionally Democratic areas of Wyandotte County and putting it in the 2nd Congressional District.

Wyandotte County will be represented by two Congress members. U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a conservative Republican incumbent, defeated Democratic newcomer Patrick Schmidt by more than 35,000 votes.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, the Republican incumbent, had little trouble defeating Mark Holland, a Democratic former Kansas City, Kansas, mayor, who lost by more than 200,000 votes statewide.

Third party candidates played an important role in the race for governor and lieutenant governor. The incumbent, Democrat Laura Kelly and her running mate, Democrat David Toland, were able to edge by, defeating Republicans, Attorney General Derek Schmidt and his running mate, Katie Sawyer. State Sen. Dennis Pyle, an independent candidate, and Seth Cordell, a Libertarian, attracted more than 30,000 votes. Had they not been in the race, most political observers believe Schmidt would have won. Pyle was upset that his Kansas Senate District had been gerrymandered.

Democratic legislative candidates were successful in Wyandotte County except for Bill Hutton, who lost to Republican Mike Thompson.

In reviewing its Legislative Agenda, the Chamber probably will keep many of its existing agenda items as its looks to 2023. The Chamber has traditionally supported STAR bonds, a finance method that uses sales tax to pay for infrastructure, the efforts of the district attorney to enforce business licenses, expanded Medicaid, origin-based sales tax, early child education, workforce development, sports book gaming and affordable child care.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is a member of Business West.

Ribbon-cutting held for new $400 million URBN distribution center

Gov. Laura Kelly and other dignitaries cut the ribbon for the new $400 million URBN distribution center in Kansas City, Kansas, on Wednesday. (Photo from Gov. Kelly’s office)
Gov. Laura Kelly, second from left, visited at the ribbon-cutting for the new URBN distribution center in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo from Gov. Kelly’s office)

Gov. Laura Kelly cut the ribbon for URBN’s new 1.5-million-square-foot omni-channel fulfillment center in Kansas City, Kansas, on Wednesday.

Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie are among those who will be using the $403 million facility bringing 2,000 new jobs in Kansas City, Kansas, by June 2023. The new facility is located near the Kansas Speedway.

“There’s no doubt: This is a transformational project for our state, bringing a brand recognized worldwide and 2,000 good-paying jobs to our doorstep,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “URBN’s decision to partner with us further shows that we are successfully making Kansas the most pro-business state in the country.”

In addition to Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, other brands in the URBN portfolio include Free People, Nuuly, FP Movement, Terrain, BHLDN, and Menus & Venues. The collection of unique retail brands moving through the Kansas City market will provide good jobs for Kansans, according to the governor.

The fulfillment center, which services wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels, is the company’s first in the United States. It also is URBN’s largest and most automated facility and will be considered the company’s “North Star Showcase for North America.”

“We thought Kansas City was the best position for reaching customers in the shortest amount of time,” URBN Chief Development Officer Dave Ziel said. “The state, including Governor Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Toland, really put their best foot forward. The relationship got off to a great start because of their pro-business perspective.”

“URBN is a company that strives to put people first and that always stays on the cutting edge of not only style trends, but also logistics and distribution best practices,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “They are exactly the type of partner and employer the Kelly administration envisioned recruiting when we prioritized logistics and distribution in the Kansas Framework for Growth.”

URBN appreciated the easy cooperation found among all local organizations and level of government.

“We are fortunate to have Urban Outfitters in Wyandotte County,” said Greg Kindle, president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. “Their interest from the outset to be a part of the community from their focus on providing transit, a commitment to hiring local, to working with local firms, and their socially conscious efforts are to be commended.”

Ziel said they were able to subcontract almost exclusively with local vendors, adding that “building this during COVID was incredible.”

“I have never worked with so many collaborative individuals to bring a project of this size to fruition,” he said.

“As the world’s demand on the supply chain continues, companies like URBN are making strategic investments to meet their customers’ current and future needs. URBN’s selection of Kansas City, Kansas, for its flagship facility reinforces the KC region’s position as a top logistics hub,” said Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort, an economic development nonprofit. “It’s great to see the URBN facility operational, and the company is making a lasting impact in KCK as it already created – and will continue to provide – resources to support the community.”

  • Story and photos from Gov. Kelly’s office

‘Purses with a Purpose’ returns on Thursday

“Purses with a Purpose,” a fundraiser by the KCK Women’s Chamber Foundation, will return from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the KCKCC Tech Center, 6565 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

Proceeds from the event will benefit scholarships for non-traditional women students.

Tickets are $30, and seating is limited. It is both an in-person event and an online auction. Advance registration is necessary for in-person tickets.

For registration and more information, visit https://charityauction.bid/kckwcf.