Laid-off workers can get job-search help
There’s an event Thursday to help laid off-workers.
It’s a five-hour career transition workshop and resource fair. It’s from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Metropolitan Community College-Business & Technology, 1775 Universal Ave., in Kansas City.
The event is for Missouri residents only and is limited to 100 attendees. Advance registration is required. Call 816-482-5200 or go to and mcckc.edu/visitBTC.
Sponsors of the event are the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, Missouri AFL-CIO Dislocated Worker Program, Missouri Career Options Project, Full Employment Council and Metropolitan Community Colleges.
State-of-the-city address at Blue Springs chamber
Mayor Carson Ross’s annual state-of-the-city address is the main focus of Thursday’s Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon. The event is at 11:30 Thursday at the Adams Point Conference Center, 1400 N.W. Coronado Drive.
Christian Brothers leads new-toy drive
Christian Brothers Automotive Independence and Calvary 88.5 Christian radio are collecting new toys for children – infants through about age 8 – at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
The radio station will be at Christain Brothers from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 15. New toys can be dropped off at any time through Dec. 15. The gifts will be delivered to the hospital on Dec. 21.
Christian Brothers is at 19600 East U.S. 40, Independence. Call 816-795-6811 or go to www.cbac.com/Independence.
Chamber luncheon
The Independence Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon is at noon Wednesday at Ophelia’s, 201 N. Main St. on the Independence Square. The speaker is Kenneth Lovesee of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Raytown hires economic development official
The city of Raytown has hired an economic development administrator.
Thomas Cole starts on the job next Monday. This is a new position, and Cole is to work with developers, business owners, the Chamber of Commerce and other local groups to market the city. Cole, who has an MBA from Northwestern Missouri State University, has previously worked for the Kansas City Economic Development Corporation, the Lenexa Economic Development Council, the Missouri Small Business Development Center, Barsto Construction, SM Wilson & Co., and Al J. Mueller Construction.
Talkin’ Mavericks at ICED luncheon
The Independence Council for Economic Development quarterly investors luncheon is at 11:30 a.m. today at the Independence Events Center. People from the Missouri Mavericks, the city, Global Entertainment and JE Dunn Construction are expected to speak.
Home construction figures move higher
Home construction in the area remains in a slump, but the industry says there are signs of a turnaround.
The number of construction permits taken out in September was 6 percent higher than in August, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas. The industry group said new-home listings fell by 146, to below 2,200, and that existing-home prices were 5 percent higher than in September 2008. The association has pointed out, however, that even improved figures are in comparison with the depressed numbers of 2008
Permits for single-family homes for the first nine months of 2009, compared with the first nine months of 2008, including:
- Blue Springs, 37, down 59 percent from 91 in 2008.
- Independence, 26, down 69 percent from 84.
- Lee’s Summit, 70, down 41 percent from 119.
- Grain Valley, 16, down 54 percent from 35.
- Oak Grove saw a 25 percent jump, from 8 to 10.
- All of Jackson County, 249, a 48 percent drop from 480.
The association looks at eight counties – Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass in Missouri and Miami, Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth in Kansas. Kansas City, Mo., leads the area with 391 permits issued so far this year, followed by Olathe (216) and Overland Park (84). Lee’s Summit is fourth on the list, and Blue Springs is ninth.
