KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new website aims to connect Kansas City-area businesses with suppliers of personal protective equipment, or PPE, in the metropolitan area.
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Friday the new website, which was created through a partnership between the city and Made in KC, will highlight local makers of reusable face masks, hand sanitizer and other protective items.
“We’re going to need masks for a while," Lucas said. "We’re going to need gloves for awhile. We’re going to need sanitizer for awhile, and this is a great way to make sure we’ll have it."
Earlier this week, Lucas announced that reopening plans for KCMO businesses will require them to provide masks for employees and allow them to refuse entry to customers who do not wear protective face masks or coverings.
“We’re making all these rules in Kansas City and throughout the region that require people to have masks and gloves, and they want more sanitizer and they want all types of stuff," Lucas said. "How is it that we can acutely make sure that they buy it in Kansas City, so it’s actually something that we’ve talked about for weeks.”
Lucas has also recommended that all Kansas City residents wear masks when going out in public.
“This is a way for us to link people who are producing right now, pretty actively from here in Kansas City, to all of the supplies that are needed,” Lucas told 41 Action News on Friday.
Made in KC co-founder Tyler Enders told 41 Action News the business was “happy to jump to fill this need” by partnering with the city on the resource.
“The intent was really how can we make it easy for a business owner to quickly see who are the people that I should be calling, what are the prices, what are the materials, who are the people in Kansas City who can get me something with a quick turnaround time," Enders said.
Enders said he expects more businesses to be added to the website as more businesses step up to fill the need.
“None of these companies that are listed on the site or will be listed on Monday were doing this three months ago," Enders said.
Enders described the website as simple and easy to use. He said the idea came from Danielle Lehman, who created CurbsideKC.
Find more details about purchasing or supplying PPE at kcppe.com.
