Columbia Seeks New Business at Midwest Trade Show

The City of Columbia participated in Kansas City this week in a trade show sponsored by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the global trade association for the retail industry.  The Heartland States Idea Exchange, which migrates each year between Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis, offers one of the Midwest's best opportunities to learn about trends in retailing and to meet national and regional retailers who may be looking to expand into new locations.

Paul Ellis, Columbia's Director of Community & Economic Development, attended the event for the second year running.  This year, he was prepared with display materials and virtual magazines (on attractive mini-CDs) offering economic and community information. About 250 businesspeople attended the event--roughly 20% retailers, 60% brokers (some of whom were representing retailers), and 20% representatives from cities like Columbia and Grain Valley, MO. The event included workshops, roundtable discussions and an afternoon deal-making session with about 60 exhibitors.

Columbia's results from the Kansas City event include leads from a number of restaurants, sporting goods stores, discount merchandisers and even a national bookstore.  Ellis will now be working with local real estate professionals and building owners to turn these leads into tenants.