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Kansas City, Hitting the “Hipness Quotient”

by Jessica Palm | Jun 30, 2015

Recently, TeamKC and the Economic Development Alliance hosted nearly 100 community leaders and talent acquisition executives from around the region. The group heard a dynamic panel discussion highlighting lifestyle developments that make KC a “hip” place to be.  

Panelists included: Beth Johnson, senior vice president of economic development, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce; Rick McDowell, president and CEO, Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council; Sean O’Byrne, vice president of business development, Downtown Council of Kansas City; Blake Schreck, president and economic development director, Lenexa Chamber of Commerce; and moderator, Kyri Gorges, college relations manager, Black & Veatch and TeamKC Advisory Board co-chair

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Check out what we learned:

  • There are 21,000 residents in downtown Kansas City, and the area is experiencing $1.5 billion of new development this year.
     
  • In Overland Park there are three nationally ranked school districts.
     
  • Lee’s Summit has an amazing craft beer scene. In a seven-block area there are more than 500 craft beers available.
     
  • In the 1930s Lenexa was the spinach capital of the country, but today its home to the Lenexa BBQ Battle and Food Truck Frenzy among many other festivals and events.
  • According to a recent study by the National Association of Home Builders, 60 percent of millennials want to live in the suburbs.
  • There are 2,700 apartments being built in Overland Park today, with a concentration near Prairiefire. 
  • Downtown Kansas City is a “melting pot” offering a variety of diverse lifestyle options, and the streetcar is helping drive this. 
  • In 2008, Lee’s Summit created one of the region’s first arts councils with its key priority to incorporate arts and culture throughout the community.

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