Organization focuses on improving inner city KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Plans to rebuild Kansas City's urban core are moving forward, thanks to business and civic partners.

The Urban Neighborhood Initiative released a report on Thursday outlining their plans and reaffirming their commitment to focus on the inner city.

The UNI plans to focus on nine key areas in the urban core, and hope to add jobs and fill abandoned properties.

The organization is made up of a group of business and civic leaders who want to improve the city, and were formed by the Chamber of Commerce. They  released an 18-page report on Thursday that outlined three main goals.

The group hopes to boost prosperity by creating economic opportunities, promote health and safety by aggressively fighting crime and improve educational opportunities in specific areas.

The chamber and the United Way helped outline those target areas, between Troost and 71 Highway and 22nd and 52nd streets.

The Ivanhoe neighborhood, which has been working for years towards improvement, is also a part of the UNI's plan. 

"We've already shown we can do something, and we're hoping that will all of those additional efforts or initiatives we'll be able to move forward more quickly," said Margaret May, president of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council.

The UNI has not ironed out funding, but members are working to get charitable foundations to back the plans.