Not quite one year ago, the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) launched KC Heartland at our 2019 Annual Meeting. At that time, we had no idea what 2020 had in store -but despite the highs and lows -the KC Heart symbol has showcased Kansas City to the world and become an emblem to unite all of us that call KC home.
This year, you’re invited to the party! We’re welcoming the entire community to join us for a free, digital broadcast of our 2020 Annual Meeting. You’ll gain an inside scoop on KC Heartland’s next phase, our ongoing business recruitment efforts and may even be surprised by a couple of very special guests.
You can get even more involved as a KC Heartland Ambassador. By signing up, you’ll help us build upon the KC Heart’s momentum gained in 2020.
Early on, we watched our KC Chiefs bring home the ultimate trophy and the big game presented the perfect opportunity to elevate the region. Through strategic media placements, a robust social strategy and the help of our KC Heartland Ambassadors, the KC Heartland campaign amassed nearly 4 million pairs of eyes on the KC region.
Since then, we’ve continued to execute activations surrounding key moments in sports. Right now, we know the Toronto Raptors are looking for a temporary home in 2021 and KCADC is supporting the efforts of Mayor Lucas and our partners in (the City of) KCMO to bring it home! #WeTheNorth
This past summer, in a game against the Chicago Cubs, the KC Heart was featured behind home plate at Kauffman Stadium, once again driving significant Chicagoland traffic to KC.org.
But as we all know, our celebratory start to the year was put on hold, interrupted by an obstacle we hadn’t faced before. As offices closed and lockdowns set in, the KC Heart was put to work in a different way.
Utilized by civic and community organizations across the region, the symbol began to carry an internal message of unity. Campaigns including #StayHomeKC and Comeback KC have used the KC Heart to spread a simple message far and wide: We’re all in this together.
2020 has been a crazy year, but the KC region continues to move forward, consistently garnering the attention of national media outlets. Both Business Insider and FinanceBuzz tout KC as the No. 1 city for remote workers, attributing affordability, WiFi speeds, ease of living and more.
And while those amenities certainly play into a community, we know what really makes KC great are the people who call this place home. That’s precisely why the heart icon has surfaced as the most encompassing mark to tell the KC story; it symbolizes our collaborative nature, generosity and philanthropic spirit.
There are many ways our community can play a role in the KC Heartland campaign. In fact, spreading the love to friends and family outside of the market is the best way to share the message.
You can follow KC Heartland on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to learn about and share the cool things happening around the metro. Sign up to be a KC Heartland Ambassador to help spread our message to your networks.
Lastly, don’t miss your chance to sign up for KCADC’s 2020 Annual Meeting. See you there!
Tim Cowden is the president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC). The organization serves the 18-county, two-state Kansas City area by marketing the region's business and lifestyle assets to companies around the world. Working closely with its two states, and 50-plus county and community partners, the region has attracted more than 60,000 new jobs over its 40-year history. KCADC also leads the efforts behind the KC Animal Health Corridor, KC SmartPort and TeamKC. | thinkKC.com