Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City Presents Congressman Cleaver with Community Impact Award During 47th Noche de Gala

(Kansas City, MO) - This weekend, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City surprised U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II by honoring the 10-term Missouri Congressman at their 47^th Noche de Gala. The Congressman, a United Methodist Minister, had been asked to deliver the invocation to open the program. However, President/CEO Carlos Gomez asked him to return to the stage and thanked him for securing a $4 million federal earmark grant to purchase a 15,000 square foot Minority Chambers Development Center that now houses the joint headquarters for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, presenting the Congressman with the Community Impact Award for his work.

"I am truly humbled to receive the Community Impact Award from such a prestigious and impactful organization as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, which works around the clock to support the success of entrepreneurs and small businesses across our great city," said Congressman Cleaver. "As the Hispanic Chamber and Heartland Black Chamber join forces through the Minority Chamber Development Center, let it serve as a reminder of all that we can accomplish when we join forces in pursuit of the greater good. Thanks to this collaboration, I believe we will see greater economic opportunity and technical assistance for Black and Brown businesses throughout Kansas City, thereby increasing prosperity for the entire region."

"On Behalf of the Board, Staff and members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, we want to Thank Congressman Emanuel Cleaver for his Leadership and Vision to invest in the Minority Small Business Community," said President/CEO Carlos Gomez. "The funding Congressman Cleaver was able to secure for us will allow us to amplify our resources to start up and build capacities of both Hispanic and Black owned businesses in the Kansas City Metro."

The Minority Chambers Development Center is one of fifteen projects Congressman Cleaver championed in Congress for Fiscal Year 2023, securing nearly $40 millionin federal funding directly benefitting constituents in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. The funding secured by Rep. Cleaver supported the purchase of 9100 Ward Parkway to create a combined Hispanic Chamber and Heartland Black Chamber headquarters, allowing the organizations to jointly serve an array of minority businesses throughout the region.

In June, Cleaver hosted Eric Morrissette, the head of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), for a tour of Kansas City to learn about the entrepreneurial ecosystem and discuss issues surrounding access to capital for minority entrepreneurs. Acting Under Secretary Morrissette joined the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for a listening session, where he also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a formal partnership with the two Chambers and the MBDA expressing a shared commitment towards advancing access to capital and equity for diverse communities.

The joint partnership is the first of its kind nationwide, as two of the largest minority chambers unite in their missions to advance business development, workforce development, and leadership development for the betterment of people of color throughout the Fifth District of Missouri.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.