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Independence officials, Chamber report dozens of prospective projects, urge workforce and infrastructure investments
Summary
City and Chamber presenters told the Independence City Council that 52 active projects could bring thousands of jobs and billions in private investment, and urged continued work on utilities, workforce training and marketing to capture the opportunities.
Independence City Council members heard on June 9 that the Independence Economic Development Partnership and Chamber of Commerce are tracking 52 active projects that together could produce an estimated 5,594 jobs and about $16.3 billion in potential private capital investment.
The update, delivered by Dan O'Neil, chair of the Independence Economic Development Partnership, and Jarvis Sackman, the partnership's lead on business attraction, summarized large projects in the pipeline — including an approximately $62 million mental-health facility by Universal Health Services, more than $50 million in hospital upgrades and a $1 billion Eastgate Commerce Center investment — and stressed the need for utility capacity and workforce preparation to realize those opportunities.
Why it matters: Council members and presenters described the work as long-term but consequential for tax base, neighborhood revitalization and job creation. Several speakers urged continued coordination among the city, utilities and workforce programs to prevent capacity or skills gaps from stalling projects already under consideration.
O'Neil led the presentation with a recap of 2024 results and the current pipeline. "In 02/2024, we had 24 successful projects that were completed, which entailed 244 new jobs created," O'Neil said, and he listed current major leads and the Partnership's focus on retention and attraction. Sackman told the council that site selectors increasingly use artificial intelligence to evaluate workforce and quality-of-life metrics and recommended using predictive analytics to proactively target suitable prospects.
Presenters emphasized three strategic priorities for 2025: business retention (goal: 150+ business visits), business attraction (quicker response to requests for information via KCADC and Missouri Partnership), and marketing/communications (familiarity tours and contracted PR). Sackman said the Partnership has engaged nearly 50 local businesses so far this year and that about 90 percent of job creation typically comes from existing businesses.
Speakers highlighted both opportunity and constraints. O'Neil and Sackman pointed to large potential projects — including one RFI that listed a possible 8,000 jobs and a cited $2.4 billion project — but noted that some projects remain multi‑year and contingent on infrastructure: "Power availability and capacity has become a limiting factor," O'Neil said, adding that Independence Power & Light has indicated it is working to meet those needs.
Council members asked for clarity about what "active" means in the Partnership's tracking. O'Neil said projects are in various stages — some dating to 2022 — and staff monitor permits and direct updates from project managers to move completed items to the finished list and add new leads.
Presenters also identified emerging sector trends: advanced manufacturing and data centers, health care expansion, and the conversion of traditional retail toward distribution uses. Sackman argued that AI can help identify transferable skills and inform upskilling efforts to prepare local workers for in-demand roles.
Background: The presenters said the Independence Economic Development Partnership was formed when the previous economic development corporation merged into the Chamber of Commerce. The council recently approved a contract with the Chamber to provide economic development services (three-year term with up to three one-year renewals), a process presenters said enabled the Partnership's current activities.
Council response and next steps: Councilors thanked the presenters and pressed the Partnership to keep tracking project stages, follow up on RFIs, and coordinate with utilities and workforce partners. No formal vote occurred at the June 9 meeting; presenters asked councilors to continue support and to sustain investments that enable follow‑through on the pipeline.
Ending: The Partnership said it will continue monthly reporting and sought council support for workforce development and utility upgrades that presenters and councilors identified as prerequisites for converting leads into realized projects.
