KANSAS CITY, Mo — A move toward collaboration and economic development, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Heartland Chamber of Commerce have received a generous grant to expand their outreach.
The $4 million dollar grant, secured by Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, is a major milestone for the chambers, signifying not only a step toward new opportunities, but also a historic achievement for both organizations.
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“This is like historic. We're the first in the nation. It'll be the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Greater Kansas City housed under one roof to own our own building. I mean, this is not 'we're coming together and we're being together; we're leasing a building.' We actually own 9100 Ward Parkway," said Kim Randolph, president of the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce.
The money, in which half will go toward the purchase of a new building, will allow both chambers to unite and combine their mission.
Both chambers serve as a backbone to many businesses in the Kansas City area, offering a variety of services, but Randolph said this joint partnership is the first of its kind in the nation.
“That's game-changing in two communities," Randolph said. "Our communities, are people in our community are only as strong as the people that lead. And so we have a collective responsibility to be accountable and to do the work that we said we're going to do.”
The joint headquarters will serve as a hub for networking, mentorship programs and business support services catering to the needs of the diverse businesses represented by both chambers.
Carlos Gomez, president of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said this collaboration will open endless opportunities for new and upcoming entrepreneurs.
"When you collaborate and you bring resources together, they amplify," Gomez said. "This is just the beginning of more initiatives that are going to amplify resources for our small business community.”
Both Chambers are hosting an event on Saturday morning where Cleaver will be presenting them with a check.
The event will be held at their new Development Center located on 9100 Ward Pkwy.
Make sure to check out the Hispanic and the Heartland Chamber of Commerce's website to learn more about their services.
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