KCK Chamber’s annual meeting to celebrate 20th year of UG consolidation

The 2017 KCK Chamber Annual Meeting, entitled “WyCo Wins,” will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the Reardon Convention Center, located at 530 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

The event – which kicks off the 20th anniversary celebration of KCK/Wyandotte County consolidation – is one of Kansas City’s most noteworthy business events, and the KCK Chamber’s largest event of the year.

“We are excited to showcase ‘WyCo Wins’ and celebrate the success of our partners,” said KCK Chamber President and CEO Daniel Silva. “The Chamber played a vital role 20 years ago in the consolidation effort, and our organization is proud to highlight this momentous piece of KCK/WyCo history.”

The Unified Government was created by Wyandotte County voters in 1997, when they agreed to consolidate the county government and city of Kansas City, Kansas, government. The community was suffering from years of economic hardships and decline.

“Consolidation of the city-county government was a grassroots effort led by citizens who wanted to improve their community,” said Mike Taylor, public relations director for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County – Kansas City, Kansas. “The creation of the UG is the landmark event which has led to a remarkable re-birth of KCK and WyCo.”

Twenty years later, the population has stabilized, new single family housing permits have increased, retail sales have increased and assessed valuation for the county has exceeded $1.1 billion.

The program will feature fireside chats with area leaders including Wyandotte Economic Development Council Board Chair and BHC Rhodes President Kevin Honomichl; Kansas City, Kansas, Convention and Vistors’ Bureau President and CEO Bridgette Jobe; Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools Superintendent Cindy Lane; and, former Mayor of KCK and Wyandotte County and leading advocate for city-county consolidation, Carol Marinovich. The emcee for the event is Mary Sanchez, editorial page columnist for The Kansas City Star.

Doors open at 11:15 a.m., followed by the annual meeting lunch at 11:30 a.m., board chair comments, an Ambassador Award ceremony and the panel discussion starting at noon.

The event is open to the public, KCK Chamber members, chamber guests, and members of the news media.

Those who wish to register or need more information may call the KCK Chamber at 913-748-3070 or email Katelyn McInerney at [email protected]. Register online at www.KCKChamber.com.

The mission of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce is to enhance and create opportunities in Wyandotte County which build a quality community to live, work and conduct business. A vital part of the community since 1898, the chamber works in four core areas – legislative, information, networking and community.

For more information, visit the KCK Chamber’s website at www.KCKChamber.com.

– Information from Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce