Business Environment

Photo of downtown Play BannerNestled among the beautiful valleys and hills of Clay County lies a community that offers a getaway to tourist from the region looking to relax close to home as well as those coming from faraway places wanting to visit our beautiful community. Excelsior Springs was once a bustling tourist site welcoming hundreds of visitors daily who had come to partake in the healthy waters found only in our community. While the waters may not be readily available today, the community continues to be known as a respite for those looking for an enjoyable, relaxing time away from their busy lifestyles.

Tourism continues to be a major industry within the community and community partners continue searching for new programs and events to offer that will attract individuals and families from outside our community to visit. We are looking at ways we can make our community some place versus any place. Any place is the town you may recognize but it looks like multiple other town you may be driving through. Some place is the community that looks and feels different than the cookie cutter town you often find along major highways. When you arrive, you know you are in a special place that is worthy of your time to explore and get to know the town.

Expansion of Miller’s Cabinets allowed the City of Excelsior Springs to invest in its street infrastructure with road extension with cul-de-sac, road widening, new curbs and gutters, and stormwater improvements. The public project received a $500,000 EDA grant, a $400,000 CDBG grant and $100,000 from Capital Improvements.

The Community is thriving today through an increase in investment. More than $12 million has been invested in the community during 2018 in construction projects. These investment dollars reflect new shopping opportunities, a new restaurant, an improved public library and improved recreational facilities such as a new dog park and new golf clubhouse.

In the past year, the community has seen an increase in new homes being built and the City is beginning a new subdivision at the Excelsior Spring Golf Course that will include 29 new lots for new homes located on or adjacent to the golf course.

The Historic Preservation Commission recently received word that the City has been approved for it’s fourth National Register Designation. The Boarding House District has been recognized recently. This allows home owners to be eligible for tax credits. The City has also began accepting applications for a 353 Incentive Program that allows tax forgiveness to businesses and individuals that are removing blight from their property. This program is currently available in our downtown area.

As we work to improve our processes in Community and Economic Development, we are requesting feedback that will help us improve our customer service and streamline our efforts to help growth happen quicker in our community. The City is working with our partners, the school district and the local hospital to become a Community of Excellence.

Photo of Fishing River Market facade improvements
Taking advantage of the 353 Tax Incentive program in the historic district, Fishing River Market renovated a circa 1919 commercial building, which began life as an automotive dealership.