Kansas City is turning to influencers and content creators to help spotlight small businesses ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.City leaders hosted a networking event Wednesday aimed at connecting social media influencers with businesses involved in Kansas City’s Open Door grant program, an initiative designed to support local entrepreneurs as the metro prepares to welcome visitors from around the world.The event focused on helping influencers learn more about the Open Door program and encouraging them to promote participating businesses online.Kansas City is branding itself as the “City of Entrepreneurs,” and a new project called “Rep URS” will showcase more than 90 small businesses for six weeks at Union Station during the World Cup.“I think that Kansas City is probably one of the most prepared host cities,” said Jess Rogers, producer of City of Entrepreneurs at Union Station.Rogers, who is also a small business owner, said the city wants to support as many businesses as possible ahead of the tournament.Not every business that applied for an Open Door grant received funding. Rogers said the city is now using Union Station as a way to give more entrepreneurs visibility during the World Cup.“Yes we’re using this event to launch the catalyst for even more business expansion in our city,” Rogers said.Business owners at Wednesday’s event said they hope the World Cup leaves a lasting impact long after the matches end.“It’s the sustainability of our local businesses. So they had the opportunity to get the audience of FIFA and then ultimately as being able to say, hey, can they sustain longer?” said Rita Strickland of Elevated Experiences with Rita. “So we want them to be able to make the money, build their legacy and then stay longer and be able to rent those vacant spaces out.”City leaders said they hope visitors, and locals, discover businesses they continue supporting after the tournament ends.“What we’re doing right now is changing Kansas City,” Strickland said. “And it’s really, really important to make sure you get back, especially to black and brown businesses.”Airbnb donated $100,000 to support the Open Doors initiative. IKEA is also sponsoring the effort.
Kansas City is turning to influencers and content creators to help spotlight small businesses ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
City leaders hosted a networking event Wednesday aimed at connecting social media influencers with businesses involved in Kansas City’s Open Door grant program, an initiative designed to support local entrepreneurs as the metro prepares to welcome visitors from around the world.
The event focused on helping influencers learn more about the Open Door program and encouraging them to promote participating businesses online.
Kansas City is branding itself as the “City of Entrepreneurs,” and a new project called “Rep URS” will showcase more than 90 small businesses for six weeks at Union Station during the World Cup.
“I think that Kansas City is probably one of the most prepared host cities,” said Jess Rogers, producer of City of Entrepreneurs at Union Station.
Rogers, who is also a small business owner, said the city wants to support as many businesses as possible ahead of the tournament.
Not every business that applied for an Open Door grant received funding. Rogers said the city is now using Union Station as a way to give more entrepreneurs visibility during the World Cup.
“Yes we’re using this event to launch the catalyst for even more business expansion in our city,” Rogers said.
Business owners at Wednesday’s event said they hope the World Cup leaves a lasting impact long after the matches end.
“It’s the sustainability of our local businesses. So they had the opportunity to get the audience of FIFA and then ultimately as being able to say, hey, can they sustain longer?” said Rita Strickland of Elevated Experiences with Rita. “So we want them to be able to make the money, build their legacy and then stay longer and be able to rent those vacant spaces out.”
City leaders said they hope visitors, and locals, discover businesses they continue supporting after the tournament ends.
“What we’re doing right now is changing Kansas City,” Strickland said. “And it’s really, really important to make sure you get back, especially to black and brown businesses.”
Airbnb donated $100,000 to support the Open Doors initiative. IKEA is also sponsoring the effort.
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