Independence Economic Development Partnership

10/22/2026

The Chamber’s monthly luncheon featured representatives from Independence’s historic sites who informed local business leaders and community members about a potential funding initiative.

Historic sites are a key draw for visitors, supporting hotels, restaurants, and local retail. Maintaining historic landmarks preserves the city’s identity, which can attract investment, events, and cultural tourism — all of which contribute to job creation and local business vitality.

By hosting the discussion, the Chamber fostered transparency and helped to build support for initiatives that can enhance both cultural heritage and economic opportunities. At the luncheon Chamber members and other stakeholders had an opportunity to:
✅ Learn directly from site operators and planners about long-term goals and potential impacts.
✅ Explore how historic site preservation can integrate with broader economic development strategies.
✅ Network with peers, potential partners, and decision-makers.

We look forward to seeing you at the November luncheon.

10/21/2026

The residents of the City of Independence are invited to attend the Swearing-In Ceremony of the new Chief of Police, Ed Turner.

Join us Friday, Oct. 23, as Ed Turner is sworn in as Independence’s new Chief of Police.

The Swearing-In Ceremony begins at 1 p.m. at the Uptown Market, followed by a reception. During the ceremony, hear from the newly sworn-in Chief Turner, Mayor, and City Manager as they look ahead to this next chapter for IPD and the community.

Later that evening, local clergy and faith leaders will host a Community Welcome from 5–6 p.m., focused on unity, prayer, and support for the community.

Both events are free and open to the public.

We hope to see you there.

10/15/2026

U.S.Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II recently spoke with the Examiner and expressed strong optimism regarding the future of the new visitor center project for the Harry S Truman National Historic Site in Independence, Missouri.

The National Park Service (NPS) originally planned a new, fully ADA-accessible visitor center and administrative headquarters along Truman Road on the Independence Square. The land for the project was officially donated by the city. As recently as 2025, the federal government allocated $12 million for the project. However, funding for the construction was omitted from the proposed fiscal year 2027 federal budget as priorities shifted toward construction and beautification projects in Washington, D.C..

The current visitor center remains operating out of a temporary, historic 1928 fire station on Main Street—a location it has occupied for decades.
Despite the federal delay, Congressman Cleaver and incoming park superintendent James Raftery remain hopeful that the pause is temporary. Because the project has not been formally dismissed by the National Park Service, Cleaver believes there is a clear path forward for Congress to successfully restore the necessary appropriations in upcoming legislative cycles to get construction back on track.

Read the entire article at https://www.examiner.net/2026/10/13/news/h1-cleaver-sees-hope-for-truman-site-project-h1/

09/24/2026

📣 Small Business Big Impact

Kansas City Comets defender Guerrero Pino is the founder and owner of NextLevel SoccerTraining located in Independence. He launched the program to provide elite-level skill, technical, and tactical development for youth and adult soccer players throughout the community. ⚽️

Next Level Soccer Training significantly drives the local, grassroots economy of the city. As a privately owned indoor athletic training center, its economic impact generates steady, year-round micro-economic activity by transforming the local youth and adult sports landscape. 🥅

The facility hosts sports programming, including winter youth and adult 5v5 indoor leagues, technical camps, and private training. This consistant foot traffice from local and regional families creates a direct economic ripple effect for surrounding businesses.

Prior to the rise of specialized independent training hubs like Next Level Soccer Training, local athletes often traveled across the metro to Kansas-side facilities or Northland complexes for elite winter training. Facilities like this keep regional household recreation budgets localized within our area. 🏟️

And that's why Next Level Soccer Training makes a big impact in Independence.

09/21/2026

To mark its 90th anniversary milestone, Speaks Chapel partnered with the Independence Chamber of Commerce to host a major "Business After Hours" celebration.

We join the chamber in celebrating Speaks Chapel long-term presence in Independence as a generational community institution. Here’s to 90 more years!

08/20/2026

We were pleased to be invited to Mayor King’s first Small Business Committee meeting and to hear from Independence small business owners.

The committee is open to the public and meets the Third Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at City of Independence, MO, Government.

08/18/2026

Thank you, Three Trails Behavioral Hospital for the opportunity to tour your state-of-the-art facility. We look forward to working together and supporting your work in the healthcare field.

We were thrilled to welcome Valerie Byrnes, President of the Independence Chamber of Commerce, and Jarvis Sackman, Director of Business Retention and Expansion, for a tour of our brand-new inpatient hospital today!

It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our brand-new facility and discuss how we are expanding access to high-quality healthcare in the Independence community. We had a fantastic conversation about local economic development, job creation, and the Chamber's vital support for growing healthcare infrastructure.

Thank you, Valerie and Jarvis, for your leadership and dedication to our region's growth. We are proud to partner with the Chamber as we open our doors to serve our patients and neighbors!

08/14/2026

We were honored to join with Truman Library Institute and Harry S. Truman Library & Museum for the official groundbreaking on the Truman Library Landscape Transformation.

We look forward to celebrating the project completion in July 2027.

08/04/2026

Small businesses are the backbone of economic development, generating jobs, driving local innovation, and retaining capital within communities. With 99.9% of all U.S. companies and nearly half of the private-sector workforce, their impact is undeniable. (USAFacts)

So, what constitutes a small business? The Small Business Association (SBA) defines any business with 500 or fewer employees is a "small business".

Core Economic Impacts of a Small Business
* Job Creation: Small firms generate roughly two-thirds of net new jobs and provide vital entry points into the workforce for local residents.

* Local Multiplier Effect: Spending at local shops keeps money inside the neighborhood, supporting other nearby services, suppliers, and public tax bases.

* Innovation and Competition: Smaller businesses drive innovation and competition by forcing older, larger companies to adapt, improve, and lower their prices. Small firms can rapidly experiement with new ideas and bring them to market faster.

Small businesses rock!

07/27/2026

The Noland Road Multimodal Corridor Project open house takes place at the Independence Uptown Market (211 W. Truman Road) on Tuesday, July 28, from 5–7 p.m.

Project Details
✅ Location Span: 1.7-mile stretch from U.S. 24 Highway to Fair Street.

✅ Anticipated Start: Construction begins in Summer 2027.

Key Improvements
✅ ADA-Compliant Sidewalks: Miles of new walkways installed along the corridor.

✅ Multi-Use Trail & Bikes: Construction of a new multi-use trail and dedicated bike lanes.

✅ Infrastructure Fixes: Pavement replacement and storm sewer updates.

✅ Lighting & Signals: Upgraded traffic signals and new streetlights with pedestrian push buttons.