Create Job Opportunities

The 3rd District has the highest  percentage of residents living in poverty of all districts in the city.  The unemployment rate in the 3rd District remains high at 14 percent compared to 6 percent of the city.  We cannot be a great district in the face of such challenges.  Understandably, many of our residents feel frustrated and are looking to leadership for solutions.  Although, we cannot tackle these problems overnight, we can make serious strides in addressing them. I will work closely with State Legislators and businesses to ensure that we create incentives that will bring much needed funds into the 3rd District that would link market driven project job opportunities to the East of Troost Avenue.

I am committed to the health and continual growth of the small-business sector that runs throughout the entire 3rd district. I believe that a strong small-business community is a vital partner in the sustainability of the 3rd district and its residents. It is through the vitality of our small businesses and their ability to employ residents of the 3rd district that we will achieve true neighborhood sustainability.
 
Plan:
Work with small-business coalitions and individual small businesses to assist in allocating State and City resources such as TIFs and other small-business grants, which will increase business growth and success throughout the 3rd district and these commercial corridors: Troost, Independence, Prospect, Truman Road, 12th Street and 18th and Vine.
 
How:
Pursue partnerships with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, University of Missouri Small-Business Technology Development Center and Kauffman Foundation.
 
Plan:
Create a City neighborhood sustainability and job opportunity program to create job opportunities for 3rd-district residents and increase the customer base for 3rd-district businesses.
 
How:
Pursue tax-base incentives for small businesses that hire youth or in-district residents.