LUNCHEON SPONSOR
Each month, our members are invited to a FREE networking luncheon on the third Wednesday of each month (except April). The luncheons are from 12 to 1:00 p.m. and are held at the Montgomery Event Venue, except in December when we meet at the Elms Hotel and Spa for our holiday luncheon. The luncheons are sponsored by various businesses and organizations in our community. Dollar donations are accepted at the door to benefit a local non-profit. An average of 100-125 people attend, so it’s a great opportunity to meet other business people in our community!
The November meeting was opened by Brian Rice, Chamber Director. He thanked the City of Excelsior Springs for sponsoring the event and introduced City Manager Molly McGovern. She opened with reminding those present that it is the season of giving. The luncheon $1 donation will benefit the Community Foundation. There are local opportunities for giving to help the Parks Foundation, Community Center MustachES, and Excelsior Springs Fire Department participation in the Season of Hope Toy Drive.
Molly emphasized the importance of citizen engagement in past projects, such as the Fishing River Watershed Study and RAISE grant application.
“In the coming year, our big ask is to create interest around updating the city’s comprehensive plan with the benefit of widespread citizen’s participation. Plus, right now, we are embarking on a partnership with DEP, Chamber and Thrive to improve support for entrepreneurship in our community,” Molly said.
Molly talked about the importance of planning. “Planning is setting a map for where we want to go and how we get there,” she said. “We want to build a community that people not only want to live in, but want to visit, as well. Most important, we can not plan a community without the residents.”
The City of Excelsior Springs provides Listening Sessions for residents to participate in. Past sessions include medical marijuana, airport, Wyman School reuse, Hall of Waters future, watershed, and developing the Boarding House Historic District Plan.
“Surveys were critical to us receiving the RAISE grant. Thrive does an annual community survey,” Molly said.
The City is also looking at becoming a more entrepreneurial attractive community. In September, Downtown Excelsior Partnership Directory Lyndsey Baxter and City Economic Director Melinda Mehaffy attended a Main Street program on Factors of an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. In November, Chamber Director Brian Rice and Melinda attended Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities.
Melinda invited those present to file out entrepreneurial community evaluation survey for the city. The surveys were made available on the luncheon tables while she talked about entrepreneurs in Excelsior Springs and encouraged discussions at each table.
“We have a lot of entrepreneurship in our community,” she said. She pointed out the opportunity that youth have been given this past year when Holistic Springs Herb Co. launched a “Kids as Vendors” event. The event offered a platform to eight young, aspiring business owners to showcase their talents and wares.
Melinda shared that the city is preparing a proposal to host a Missouri Department of Economic Development Entrepreneurial Conference to be held in 2026. The event would bring over 200 participants to Excelsior Springs.
Before closing, Melinda gave a shout out to Gary Zaborac, Director of Clay County Health Department, on his retirement after 38 years of service in public health, with 20 of those being with the Clay County Health Department.
Brian provided Chamber and community announcements, then conducted the raffle before thanking everyone for attending and closing the luncheon.
