ORDINANCE NO. 230395

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Sponsor:  Mayor Quinton Lucas; Councilmember Ryana Parks-Shaw

Establishing the Small Business Task Force in recognition of the Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week, April 30 2023-May 6, 2023; directing the Small Business Task Force to develop a comprehensive plan by October 2025 for the funding and development of small businesses within the City; and empowering the Small Business Task Force to engage with the community in order to develop said comprehensive development plan.

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WHEREAS, the United States Small Business Administration has celebrated National Small Business Week for over fifty (50) years for their economic and workforce contributions; and

                     WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, Missouri (“City”) recognizes the importance of small businesses and the critical impact of special events like Super Bowl Parades, the 2023 NFL Draft, and the upcoming 2026 World Cup on their businesses; and

                     WHEREAS, small businesses in the City are a critical part of our thriving community, and Kansas Citians can continue to support local small businesses by shopping small and investing in our entrepreneurs; and

                     WHEREAS, the City seeks to build an inclusive ecosystem that allows for the efficient development and flow of authentically diverse talent, information, and resources for entrepreneurs to find what they require at each stage of growth, and to build policies that aim to ensure such growth; and

WHEREAS, the City intends to build policies that aim to ensure that all people, regardless of their personal characteristics and background, have an opportunity to start and run their own business in Kansas City; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Code of Ordinances sections 2-721 through 2-723, the City intends to create a Small Business Task Force for the purpose of developing and retaining small business within the City as described herein; and

WHEREAS, one of the primary goals of the Small Business Task Force is to obtain an understanding of the small, diverse businesses that exist locally to provide the necessary funding, programming, technical assistance, and other support services to create an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kansas City; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

                     Section 1. That a Small Business Task Force is hereby established. The Small Business Task Force shall consist of no fewer than five (5) and no more than nine (9) members to be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and recommendation of the executive director of The Office of Small Business, KC BizCare, within ninety (90) days of this Ordinance’s effective date, in which membership shall consist of at least one person from each of the following categories:

a.                     Small business owner(s) within the City who employ fifty (50) or fewer employees;

b.                     Representative(s) from a minority/BIPOC led Entrepreneurial Support Organization (“ESO”) within the City;

c.                     Local or regional member(s) of the Business Chamber of Commerce;

d.                      Representative(s) of small business professional services organizations and providers;

e.                     Representative(s) of small business advocacy groups;

f.                     Local and regional policy makers and public administrators

Section 2. That, to accomplish its responsibilities for developing a strategic plan to guide the City in the equitable development, funding, and retention of small businesses within the City, the Small Business Task Force is empowered to establish sub-committees and engage others to assist with fulfilling the duties of the task force, which shall include:

a.                     Estimating revenue received by the City from small businesses with 50 or fewer employees;

b.                     Collecting and interpreting data from the small business census;

c.                     Evaluating the effectiveness of efforts of local agencies and ESOs in the development of small business within the City;

d.                     Reviewing the City’s code of ordinances, policies, and best practices, and recommending mutually beneficial amendments in conjunction with the City Council;

e.                     Reporting entrepreneurial initiatives to the City from outside interest groups, including the National League of Cities;

f.                     Making recommendations to the City Council regarding methods of support for small businesses.

Section 3. That the Small Business Task Force shall submit a preliminary report to the City Council no later than February 1, 2024, and a final report no later than October 31, 2025. The preliminary report shall include data from stakeholder input and small business census/surveys, and provide recommendations to the Council regarding the best methods for the City to support small business development; the final report shall be a comprehensive strategic plan which outlines the City’s long-term equitable development and funding plan for the development and retention of small businesses within the City.

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Approved as to form:

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Samuel E. Miller

Assistant City Attorney