ORDINANCE NO. 220980

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Sponsor: Councilmember Melissa Robinson

Authorizing an application to the Missouri Development Finance Board for the authorization of state tax credits in the amount not to exceed $500,000.00 to support Thank You Walt Disney, Inc.; and authorizing the City Manager's Office to execute a tax credit agreement with the Missouri Development Finance Board in connection with the tax credits.

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WHEREAS, McConahay Building is located at 1121 E. 31st Street, Kansas City, Missouri, in the 3rd Council District; and

WHEREAS, in 1922, an ambitious animator by the name of Walt Disney started his first professional studio named Laugh-O-Gram Studios in the McConahay Building; and

WHEREAS, some of the world's most renowned animators including Ub Iwerks, Walt Disney, Rudy Ising, and others honed their animation skills and learned to be entrepreneurs at this building; and

WHEREAS, the McConahay Building has fallen into disrepair and has been acquired by Thank You Walt Disney, Inc., a non-profit corporation, which has patiently and painstakingly restored the structure and advocated for its preservation; and

WHEREAS, Thank You Walt Disney, Inc., has made plans to restore the building to provide a state-of-the art facility for training and instruction in the fast growing sector of digital media, to create coworking space, to provide a theater for film development, exhibition of films and lectures, and to celebrate Kansas City, Missouri's role as the cradle of Hollywood animation; and

WHEREAS, the facility is located in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Kansas City; and

WHEREAS, Thank You Walt Disney has secured over $1.1 million and support provided by the Tax Credit for Cash Contribution program administered by the Missouri Development Finance Board will allow for the completion of this project; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL...

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