Wes Rogers

Missouri notched big wins for entrepreneurs in 2026, but work remains, advocates report

Missouri is finally seeing renewed and sustained political momentum around entrepreneurship, Jason Wiens told town hall attendees gathered for an update on the Show-Me State’s recent wins around entrepreneur support.

Rep Urs: City of Entrepreneurs reframes KC hustle as open door to community-backed culture of wealth

City of Entrepreneurs is not a single program, but a framework connecting efforts across policy, capital access, and physical space, all aimed at making entrepreneurship easier to navigate and more likely to succeed.

Open Doors: Here’s how KCMO plans to turn empty storefronts into a World Cup stage for local talent

Applications are now open for grants of up to $10,000 for businesses and artists who want to activate underutilized or vacant commercial spaces in the downtown area during the coming FIFA World Cup to showcase Kansas City’s entrepreneurial spirit.  Funds awarded through the just-detailed Open Doors! Program — crafted through a partnership between the City…

KCMO slashes fees for outdoor dining permits, launches dining trail for grant winning projects

Kansas City has officially eliminated outdoor dining permit fees, reducing the cost from $850 to zero, thanks to the momentum created by a city-led initiative to encourage investment in outdoor dining experiences, city leaders announced this week, unveiling new plans to promote funded businesses and their projects.  Launched in 2024, the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Program…

World Cup will produce KC small biz millionaires in just weeks, leaders say, but it’s only the start

Kansas City can’t look at the World Cup in 2026 as one big event where businesses are going to make good money for a while, and then everything goes back to normal, said Wes Rogers.  “This has to be the beginning of the next chapter of our city,” the 2nd District Councilman for Kansas City,…