October 20-21, 2022
Kansas City, MO 64105

2022 Conference Presentations Coming Soon!

2022 Conference Agenda

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. –  Board of Directors Meeting (The Library Room)

11:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. – Conference Registration/Check-In

12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. – Opening General Session & Lunch (Tudor Ballroom)

  • Opening Remarks – Russell Runge, MEDFA President
  • Recognition of Sponsors & Conference Host Committee
  • Missouri Legislative Update & Forecast for 2023

Guest Speaker: Sen. Greg Razer, Missouri State Senate

Panelists:

  • Doug Stone, Attorney – Lewis Rice LLC, Chair – MEDFA Legislative Committee
  • Randy Scherr, MEDFA Legislative Relations Consultant, RJ Scherr & Associates

1:00 P.M. – 1:15 P.M. BREAK

1:15 P.M. – 2:15 P.M. – General Session – Incentive Solutions: Public Infrastructure Supporting Private Investment

This session explores various incentives available to leverage public infrastructure investment to secure private development. Representatives from Springfield, Joplin and Sedalia will showcase large-scale projects made possible by infrastructure expansion and community partnerships.

Highlighted Projects

  • Buc-ee’s – Springfield
  • Hammons Boulevard Project – Joplin
  • Neighborhood Redevelopment – Sedalia

Moderator: Erick Creach, Attorney, Gilmore & Bell

Panelists:

  • Amanda Ohlensehlen, Director of Economic Vitality, City of Springfield, MO
  • Troy Bolander, Director – Planning, Development & Neighborhood Services, City of Joplin, MO
  • John Simmons, Community Development Director, City of Sedalia, MO

2:15 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. BREAK

2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. – General Session – Brentwood Bound – How a City of 8,000 Leveraged $120 Million in Infrastructure Investment for $400 Million in Private Investment.

A City investment of $80 million coupled with MoDOT, Metropolitan Sewer District, and Great Rivers Greenway investments of another $40 million will cure 50 years of recurrent flooding, improve the arterial roadway, create trails and a park with a lake. This investment has attracted $400 million in private investment for a 36-acre mixed use development that will transform an aging and antiquated commercial and industrial area.

Moderator: John Brancaglione, Senior Director, PGAV Planners

Panelists:

  • Bola Akande, City Administrator, City of Brentwood, MO
  • Craig Schluter, Principal, Navigate Building Solutions
  • Whittney Kelly, Director of Planning & Development, City of Brentwood
  • Joel Oliver, Managing Director & Senior VP, Green Street Real Estate Ventures

3:30 P.M. – 3:45 P.M. BREAK / BOARD TOUR BUS

3:45 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.

  • Bus Tour of Kansas City Riverfront Development – Hosted by Port KC
    • Tour Director: Jon Stephens, President & CEO, Port KC

Join us for a tour of Kansas City’s Riverfront hosted by Port KC. The tour will include completed and planned projects, a brief history of the Riverfront, and a review of the various incentive tools and funding sources utilized, as well as how infrastructure investment kick-started development of the area.

5:30 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. – Networking Reception

  • Richard A. King Award Presentation (Starlight Ballroom – Hotel Kansas City)

7:00 P.M. – Dinner on your own

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2022

7:30 A.M. – 9:15 A.M. – Breakfast Buffet & General Session
(Breakfast Buffet opens at 7:30 a.m. Session begins at 8:00 a.m.)

  • General Membership Meeting and Nominating Committee Report
  • General Session – Securing State & Federal Funding for Public Infrastructure Projects & Planning for Large-Scale Development

Panel will discuss the status of state and federal funding opportunities for public infrastructure projects. The panel will also make a presentation on how the City of Lee’s Summit is working with a single landowner that owns over 4,200 acres in two large tracts in the city to plan for development and the associated public infrastructure to serve the properties.

Moderator: David Bushek, Chief Counsel of Economic Development & Planning, City of Lee’s Summit, MO

Panelists:

  • Tom Kaleko, Principal, Baker Tilly
  • Mayor Bill Baird, City Manager Mark Dunning, City of Lee’s Summit, MO

9:00 A.M. – 9:15 A.M. – Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kansas City, MO

9:15 A.M. – 9:30 A.M. BREAK

9:30 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. General Session – Sports Based Economic Development – Impact of Youth Sports

  • Case Study – Paragon Star Project, Lee’s Summit, MO (Panel Discussion following presentation)

The US youth sports industry is a $19 billion market annually and the annual tourism impact from youth sports is estimated at $9 billion. After hearing a case study on the Paragon Star project, a new state of the art multi-sports complex and entertainment center currently under construction in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, this session will explore the economic impact and economic development potential of youth sports anchored development.

Moderator: Kerrie Tyndall, Assistant City Manager, City of KC, MO

Panelists:

  • Kyle Vena, Vice President, Community Impact, Kansas City Royals
  • Councilwoman Teresa Loar, 2nd District, Kansas City, MO City Council
  • William H. Brown, President, Spectrum Strategies LLC
  • Nathan Hermiston, Sr. VP of Convention Sales and Services, Visit KC

10:30 A.M. – 10:45 A.M. BREAK

10:45 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. General Session – Kansas City South Loop Link Project & St. Louis 7th Street Connecter Project

This session examines the newest major infrastructure investments planned for the downtown areas of St. Louis and Kansas City. The Kansas City project is led by the Downtown Council and has obtained an initial grant from Loews Hotel & Co.

The $185M project will link a four-block section of I-670 with Loews Hotel, the Power and Light District, and the Kansas City Convention Center. This major improvement will open a substantial area for redevelopment expected to exceed $1 billion as well as create new park and convention areas.

The substantial improvements throughout St. Louis have encouraged the $1.7B NGA West Headquarters (Federal mapping facility) project in St. Louis, which is currently under construction. The session will also examine the new MLS stadium and training facility adjoined to Union Station in downtown St. Louis.

Moderator: Jerry Riffel, Attorney, Lathrop GPM

Panelists:

  • Brian Platt, City Manager, City of Kansas City, MO
  • Bill Dietrich, President/CEO, Downtown Council of Kansas City, MO
  • John Moncke, President – KC Power & Light District, The Cordish Companies
  • Rob Orr, Deputy Executive Director, St. Louis Development Corporation

12:00 P.M. – Closing Remarks & Adjourn, Russell Runge, MEDFA President

  • Drawing for the Grand Prize (must be present to win)
  • CLE Credits are available for this conference