Government Stories

Report: Kansas is more innovation-friendly than Missouri

The Sunflower State is more hospitable to innovation than its eastward neighbor, a recent study found. The Consumer Technology Association’s annual “Innovation Scorecard” ranked all 50 states in 10 different categories to determine which states best fostered innovation and economic growth. The study dished Kansas slightly higher innovation kudos than Missouri, comparing their friendliness to…

Another Uber fiasco? KCMO proposes $600 fee, regulations for Airbnb hosts

Recently proposed city regulations could throw Kansas City home-sharing in the doghouse. More than 100 area hosts and guests of services like Airbnb and VRBO fueled a discussion Monday on home-sharing regulations that the City of Kansas City, Mo., is proposing after  complaints of abuse. Led by assistant city manager Rick Usher, city officials met…

Blake Miller: Missouri should scrap its ‘Show Me’ slogan

Editor’s note: The following piece was inspired by recent news that Acre Designs, a startup that launched in Kansas City, will be relocating to San Francisco after facing a tepid, area investor market.    Cue the somber violin music. Another sad, all-too-familiar Kansas City story recently played out with news that Acre Designs will be leaving the…

LaunchCode kicks off Kansas City office with $250K boost

Fresh off its expansion to Kansas City, LaunchCode will tap additional capital from the Missouri Technology Corporation to boost its operations focused on tech workforce development. With a visit Thursday from Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon at the Sprint Accelerator, the MTC announced that it would inject an additional $250,000 into LaunchCode, which expanded from St….

Innovation officer confident KC can nab $50M transportation grant

The City of Fountains has a solid shot at landing a $50 million award that could transform its transportation system. At least that’s what Kansas City’s new chief innovation officer Bob Bennett believes. Bennett, who started his tenure as Kansas City’s second innovation officer in January, said that the city’s openness to new technology situates…