KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There’s a new push from an existing group to make sure everyone around Kansas City, Missouri, wins.
KC Rising wants people to have a good job, solid housing and the same opportunities as everyone else.
The group revamped its strategy this year and says with the novel coronavirus impacting the economy, now is the opportune time to reexamine the landscape.
“One of the metrics we’re looking at right now is the gap between Black and white wealth,” explained John Murphy, one of KC Rising’s board chairs. “Obviously there is a gap. If we’re not careful, the gap following COVID is going to be worse than it was before COVID. So we have to be very intentional in what we’re doing in terms of inclusion.”
The group has a base to build on. Since it first got started in 2015, it says the Kansas City economy has climbed, but at a slower pace than the potential.
“We want to get a little ambitious about it and start to have us realize that potential and not just talk about it,” explained Sheri Gonzales, the director of KC Rising.
KC Rising 2.0 hopes to turn the potential into reality by 2030 so that everyone has a level playing field for success.
“I stay motivated because I see the good things we’re doing and I see the opportunity to do even better things as we move forward,” Murphy said.
Even as COVID-19 impacts the economy, Murphy remains hopeful for three reasons.
First, location. Kansas City is within driving distance from just about anywhere. He thinks tourists and conference-goers who don’t want to fly because of COVID-19 may drive here.
Second, a focus on health. From Manhattan, Kan., to Columbia, Mo., there’s an endless list of corporations focused on human and animal science, an industry Murphy predicts will only grow out of the pandemic.
Finally, Kansas City is home to some of the best engineering and design firms in the country. Murphy said they’ll be leading the way on redesigning stadiums, offices and schools in response to COVID-19.
“No one is better situation than Kansas City to answer those questions in the future,” Murphy put it plainly.
KC Rising and its partners have about 14 different initiatives in the works right now. They vary from offering job training to funding for startups.
