Mid-Continent Public Library
Five-alarm to market: Vegan ice cream maker proves her treats can take the heat of competition
Fresh off a 24-hour shift at the fire station, Zoe Mays — founder of Scream Queens — rode a wave of adrenaline to victory at last week’s Food Biz Con pitch competition. Mays — a poet-turned-firefighter/paramedic-turned-entrepreneur — took home $5,000 for her vegan ice cream pop-up business, which she founded in 2024 after her girlfriend…
She’s getting the empanadas ready for World Cup hunger: Here’s why Chef Silvia Miguel isn’t biting off more than she can chew
Silvia Miguel plans to greet this summer’s visitors with a taste of home, the Argentine-born business owner said. As the FIFA World Cup arrives in the metro in the coming months, Miguel and her team at Pan Caliente are crafting new products and partnerships with an international crowd in mind. The moment carries special weight…
$250K node grant expected to fund AI upgrade at KCSourceLink, part-time navigators for PHKC, Square One, The Toolbox
A hefty new grant is expected to build upon a community collaboration’s framework to help small businesses start and grow over the next five to 10 years in the Kansas City area. The goal: better access to diverse resources for local entrepreneurs. The Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) earlier this month announced a $250,000 regional node…
Now serving foodpreneurs: KC conference dishes out 30+ sessions for new, growing food businesses
Launching a food business comes with unique challenges, Xander Winkel shared, and the Mid-Continent Public Library has partnered with several local organizations to help those specialized entrepreneurs find their recipe to success. The Food Business Conference — free workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for “foodpreneurs” that are offered in partnership with the library, Kansas…
New culinary center opens in the Northland, offering startup food businesses commercial kitchen space
Mid-Continent Public Library opened the doors to its much-anticipated Culinary Center — with public-facing food and nutrition-focused classes beginning in June, as well as commercial kitchen access for emerging food entrepreneurs. “We are thrilled to finally welcome the community into our space and can’t wait to get cooking!” said Xander Winkel, director for MCPL’s Culinary…
