Security effort to help businesses
The Business West Board of Directors, meeting Wednesday, Dec. 21 at The Dotte Spot Bar and Grill, approved the 2017 Program of Work. ?A top item of the program will be a project to enhance the security for businesses along the State Avenue Corridor. Dr. Jane Winkler Philbrook, President of Business West, has discussed a project that would give patrol officers immediate access to video surveillance of areas where there has been suspected criminal activity.? If successful, such an effort could be implemented in other parts of the city. A seminar that police officers would lead is also planned showing how to be safe and secure in a business.
Endowment effort to continue
The Business West Endowment Foundation, a non-profit corporation, will continue to raise money for a scholarship fund that will benefit students at Kansas City, Kansas, Community College. So far, more than $5,000 has been raised. A goal of $4,000 has been set for 2017.
Business West supports federal funds for Turner Diagonal
Murrel Bland, Executive Director of Business West, wrote a letter Dec. 6 to Anthony Foxx, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, requesting federal funds to reconfigure the interchange at I-70 and the Turner Diagonal and the adjacent truck staging area. This would complement the road construction that is already underway. Presently, construction is moving ahead in this area on a warehouse that Amazon will use starting in 2017.
Effort to continue on establishing benefit district
Business West will move ahead during 2017 with its project to establish a Community Improvement District along the State Avenue Corridor. This district requires obtaining 55 percent of the landowners, by acreage and assessed valuation. So far, Business West has nearly enough signatures by acreage and about half the necessary amount by assessed valuation. The district would have three core programs?security, appearance and marketing. Security personnel would be the eyes and ears of the Community, West Patrol and Community College police officers. A Clean Team would pick up debris in the right-of-way. A committee would determine how marketing funds would be spent that would enhance the district.
Banks to merge
Effective Jan. 1, all seven Bancability members will merge into Security Bank of Kansas City. This would affect 44 branches and a network of 47 automatic teller machines. The ownership of the banks will remain the same.
Welcome new members
Business West welcomes new members. They are Michelle Hereford, American Family Insurance; Steve Tran, Bubbleroom Laundry and Dry Cleaning; Bill Hutton, Attorney-at-Law; Eric Gentry, Victory Ford and Victory Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealerships; and Shawn McAllister, Farmers Insurance Group.
Members always welcome
All members of Business West are always welcome to attend the organizations board of directors meetings at 12:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at The Dotte Spot Bar and Grill, 8123 Parallel Pkwy., in the Arrowhead Center.
For questions or comments, telephone 913-766-4300 or 913-406-6266 (cell) or email [email protected].