'Big 5' will need money, good plans
No doubt about it: The “Big 5” will thrive with solid planning and lots of money to turn the initiatives into reality.
So it’s encouraging to see that officials in charge of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Big 5 program are spending time to develop detailed proposals.
The chamber also is keeping the public informed about the progress made and the challenges ahead. That should build confidence in the future of the initiatives with business leaders and other residents.
For instance, the chamber last week reported that 13 community meetings had been held to discuss the priority of making Kansas City “America’s most entrepreneurial city.”
One of the positive results is that local so-called angel investors said they were interested in pooling their money to support entrepreneurs. But the community gatherings also included the sobering fact that entrepreneurs say this area needs more funding to support their efforts.
The ability to generate millions of dollars will be at the heart of another priority — moving UMKC’s arts programs downtown.
The chamber reports that three studies are being completed on the feasibility of that action. One of the most important elements concerns how it could affect the existing UMKC campus south of the Country Club Plaza. The results of that study will deserve close scrutiny.
The Big 5 initiatives are crucial to a better future for this region. They should not be rushed.
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