The Independence Council for Economic Development is a non-profit, public/private partnership, which was established in 1983 for the purpose of supporting and enhancing the economic growth of Independence. 

The Board of Directors oversees the establishment of policy for the organization with initiatives carried out by professional staff.  ICED contracts with the City of Independence and the Independence Chamber of Commerce to perform economic development services.  60+ private sector investors also provide financial support to allow ICED to carry out the mission statement of the organization.

 

Where We Need To Be

Achieving Our Potential

Competition for economic development projects in the metro and across the country has elevated to a point that Independence struggles to be competitive with the resources we currently have available for economic development. 

Independence is presented with an immense opportunity with the development of the Little Blue Valley and the redevelopment of Western Independence.  To reach the full potential that these opportunities present,  we must intensify our efforts and more effectively implement our economic development plan.  This effort will require $1.5 million dollars and will allow us to achieve our goals and compete with comparable cities across the nation.

Our Focus

Enhancing Our Program

· Recruit and expand higher wage job opportunities

· Promote and encourage private capital investment

· High level of support for existing core employers through business retention program

· Increase the growth and expansion of small business with support of entrepreneurial efforts

· Promote and leverage investment in economically distressed areas of Independence

Become an Investor in ICED

As part of the public/private partnership, our strength is in our private sector investors who support ICED.  Over 60 companies have partnered with ICED to support the economic growth of Independence and the surrounding area.  We have established a multi-level investor program which allows for various levels of participation based on the level of investment.  Complete details are availablein our Investor Prospectus

Download the 2008-2010 Investor Prospectus

All investors receive the following benefits:

· Weekly “For Your Information” e-newsletter from the President which highlights project activity and information on economic development activity in    Independence

· Free subscription to the “Independence Business Barometer” publication

· Investor luncheons and annual meeting registrations at reduced rate

· Networking events and receptions

· Recognition on ICED web site

· Access to information from various research and real estate databases

· Business referrals

· Advance project announcements

· Opportunity to serve on ICED committees

· Availability of speaker’s bureau on topics relating to Independence and          economic development

· Recognition in annual report

· Opportunity to make a difference in Independence by uniting efforts with other prominent business leaders

Platinum Level                                                          $5,000.00

                 4 attendees at quarterly luncheon at no cost with preferred seating

                 1st opportunity at event and luncheon sponsorships

                 Opportunity to participate in external corporate visitation program

                 Recognition at all ICED events

                  Logo & link on front page of ICED web site

Gold Level                                                                   $2,500.00

                2 attendees at quarterly luncheon at no cost with preferred seating

                2nd opportunity at event and luncheon sponsorships

Silver Level                                                                  $1,000.00

                3rd opportunity at event and luncheon sponsorships

Bronze Level                                                                 $500.00

Small Business & Not-for-Profit Organizations      $300.00

            (Small business defined as companies with 5 employees or less)

Regardless of the amount of investment, each investor makes a significant and positive impact through their commitment and leadership.

2008-09 ICED OFFICERS

Bill Moore - Chairman

Dr. Jim Hinson - Vice Chairman

Marcy Anderson - Secretary

Jim Schultz - Treasurer

Jim Harpool - Immediate Past Chairman

 

2008-2009 ICED BOARD OF DIRECTORS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE   Alliant Tech Systems (ATK) **Jack Figg PO Box 1000 Independence, MO 64051 (816) 796-5244 Jack.figg@atk.com   AT&T Mike Chambers 500 E. 8th St., Room 1324 Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 275-0111 mc6722@att.com   Barbour Concrete Company Jim Barbour 21421 E. Truman Road Independence, MO 64056 (816) 796-3344 jimandbettyeb@aol.com   Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Company **David Kyle 4200 Little Blue Parkway Independence, MO 64057 (816)795-4068 Dkyle@blueridgebank.net   Blue Springs R-IV School District Kim Brightwell 1801 W. Vesper Blue Springs, MO 64015 (816) 224-1487 kbrightwell@bssd.net   CEAH Realtors **David Edwards 3215 NE Carnegie Drive, Ste 200 Lee’s Summit, MO 64064 (816) 795-8100 dedwards@ceahrealtors.com Centerpoint Medical Center Carolyn Caldwell 19600 E. 39th Street Independence, MO 64057 (816) 698-7000 carolyn.caldwell@hcamidwest.com   City of Independence Robert Heacock 111 E. Maple Street Independence, MO 64050 (816) 325-7170 lcrook@indepmo.org   City of Independence **Jim Schultz 218 Maple Ave. Independence, MO 64050 (816) 252-1100 onelaw3@swbell.net   Community of Christ Larry Norris PO Box 1059 Independence, MO 64051 (816) 833-1000 lnorris@cofchrist.org   Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc. **T.J. Stastny 140 Walnut Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 221-3500 tstastny@emerysapp.com   Fogel-Anderson Construction Company Phil Bartolotta 1212 E. Eighth Street Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 842-6914 p-bartolotta@fogel-anderson.com   Fort Osage R-1 School District Dr. Larry Ewing 2101 N. Twyman Road Independence, MO 64058 (816) 650-7000 lewing@fortosage.net   HarenLaughlin Construction **Jan Kennedy 8035 Nieman Road Lenexa, KS 66214 (913) 495-9558 jkennedy@harenlaughlin.com   **Names with an asterisk serve on the Management Committee   EX-OFFICIO’S   City of Independence Jennifer Clark Director of Community Development 111 E. Maple Street Independence, MO 64050 (816) 325-7415 jclark@indepmo.org   City of Independence/IP&L Leon Daggett 21500 E. Truman Road Independence, MO 64051 (816) 325-7437 ldaggett@indepmo.org   City of Independence John Pinch 111 E. Maple Street Independence, MO 64050 (816) 325-7758 jpinch@indepmo.org

Harpool Morgan Haney, LLC **Jim Harpool 5201 Johnson Drive, Ste 250 Mission, KS 66205 (913) 339-6969 Jharpool@hmhdev.com   Heartland Business Capital **David Long 12345 W. 95th Street, Ste 200 Lenexa, KS 66215 (913) 599-1717 david@hbcloans.com   Independence Chamber of Commerce **Bill Esry – Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Co. 4200 Little Blue Parkway Independence, MO 64057 (816) 358-5000 wesry@blueridgebank.net   Independence Chamber of Commerce Bob Wayman – Unilever 13000 E. 35th Street Independence, MO 64055 (816) 833-1700 Robert.Wayman@unilever.com   Independence School District **Dr. Jim Hinson 3225 S. Noland Road Independence, MO 64055 (816) 521-2742 jhinson@indep.k12.mo.us   Independence School District Blake Roberson/Ira Anders 3225 S. Noland Road Independence, MO 64055 (816) 521-2742 blake.roberson.B51Y@statefarm.com aandersira@aol.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               J. E. Dunn Construction Company David Disney, Sr. 929 Holmes Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 391-2592 david.disney@jedunn.com   King Hershey, PC **William (Bill) Moore 2345 Grand Blvd., #2100 Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 842-3636 wmoore@kinghershey.com   M & I Bank Tammy Butler 18811 E. Valleyview Pkwy (Eastland) Independence, MO 64055 (816) 447-3114 tammy.butler@micorp.com   Munlake Contractors, Inc. **Brian Mundy 1551 N. Courtney Road Independence, MO 64050 (816) 254-5444 bmundy@munlake.com   Space Center of Kansas City Wes Cowan 1500 W. Geospace Drive Independence, MO 64056 (816) 257-7770 wcowan@spacecenterinc.com   Summit Bank of Kansas City Greg Singleton 1650 NE Grand, Ste 100 Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 (816) 251-9000 Greg.Singleton@summitbankofkc.com   TeamBank, N.A. **Steve Hunter 3485 NE Ralph Powell Road Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 (816) 347-9143 steve.hunter@teamfinancialinc.com Walton Construction Company **Marcy Anderson 3252 Roanoke Kansas City, MO 64111 (816) 753-2121 marcyanderson@waltonbuilt.com             City of Independence Ann Smith-Tate 111 E. Maple Street Independence, MO 64050 (816) 325-7796 asmithtate@indepmo.org     Independence Chamber of Commerce Rick Hemmingsen 210 W. Truman Road Independence, MO 64050 (816) 252-4745 rhemmingsen@independencechamber.org

Tom Lesnak, President

Tom Lesnak became president of ICED in January 2007. Lesnak is a highly qualified economic development professional with 15 years of experience and most recently served as Senior Vice President for economic development for the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce where he was responsible for business retention and community development. He also established the Northwest Regional Development Alliance, an economic development program, which serves an 18 county area. Lesnak also served as City Administrator for The City of Albany, Missouri and economic development director for the City of Bethany, Missouri. He is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and completed an economic development program at the Economic Development Institute, University of Oklahoma.  He was recognized as the Missouri Economic Development Council "Economic Development Professional" of the year in 2004.

Lesnak serves as a member of the Missouri Small Business Development Advisory Board, IBS Industries Board of Directors, Independence Tourism Advisory Board, and is a member of the Kansas City Commercial Real Estate Brokers committee of the Kansas City Area Development Council. Lesnak is a former board member of the Missouri Economic Development Council.

Lesnak resides in Independence with his wife Maggie and their son Kyle.

Jodi Krantz, Director of Business Development

Jodi Krantz joined ICED in February 2008 and coordinates the business retention program.  Jodi has 16 years of experience working as a project manager with the Missouri Department of Economic Development.  During that time, she coordinated programs for Missouri based companies to expand operations in the state.  She was also very involved in the development of marketing programs and aided communities throughout the state with their economic development efforts to attract new industry and create employment growth.  Jodi received her designation as a Certified Economic Developer in 2000. 

Jodi resides in Independence.  Her husband Mike is a project manager with the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Melody Smith, Administrative Assistant

Melody Smith is Office Manager/Administrative Assistant for ICED, and has been employed with the council since 2007.  Before coming to ICED Melody worked at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.  During her employment there she worked as administrative assistant in two departments: Membership Services, where she assisted with membership recruitment and retention along with the coordination of special events and; Economic Development, assisting with the marketing, recruitment and retention of businesses to the St. Joseph area.  She also served as staff liaison for the Agribusiness, Farm/City Breakfast, and the AFA Scholarship Committees.  Prior to that Melody worked for the City of Albany where she served as Deputy City Clerk and Deputy Court Clerk. 

 Melody and her husband Clarence reside in Independence and are the parents of two children, Nicole and Cody.

Jenni Hunt, Intern

Jenni Hunt has been an intern with the ICED since May 2007.  Jenni completed her Associate of Arts degree from the Metropolitan Community Colleges in July 2006 and is currently working towards her B.A. in Urban Planning and Design at the University of Missouri Kansas City.  Jenni is presently involved in several volunteer activities including the coordination of monthly food service to low-income and homeless families in Kansas City, Kansas; disaster relief efforts to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and Greensburg, Kansas; and an upcoming trip to New Orleans, Louisiana to aid in continued research for the planning and redevelopment of areas affected by hurricane Katrina.