News Stories
Back-to-basics innovation: How two former vegetarians revived a 5,000-year-old pig breed in the hills of Platte County
First comes a sudden rustling of leaves, followed by soft grunting and the patter of dozens of unseen hoofed feet hitting the Platte County earth. A stampede of 30 pubescent Meishan piglets darts out of a wooded area at the base of a rolling hill covered in native plants, legumes and organic maize. “They look…
Kauffman-backed Skilled KC launching trio of tech training pilots as KC sees unfilled jobs
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Opportunity to jump into the tech workforce isn’t capped at age 18, said Jeff Barratt — nor does it require a two- or four-year degree. And the careers are waiting, added…
‘Laser-focused’ microgrant investments aim to curb KCMO violence without law enforcement
Starting a small business can be key to lowering individuals’ risk for involvement in violent activities, as well as increasing household income and financial stability, according to a debut microgrant program that targets new and aspiring entrepreneurs. “We need to find new ways of providing hope and pathways forward in our city where there have…
UMKC, Kauffman launch $100K resiliency grant fund for minority-owned businesses hit by COVID
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. A new $100,000 fund is expected to help minority-owned Kansas City businesses — left out of initial rounds of COVID-19 relief — to build resiliency and come back stronger as the…
Behind the scenes of Topeka’s innovation district: Why leaders think a new startup hub is rising west of KC
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. Silicon…
