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Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City

The Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City is a not-for-profit community development corporation located in the historic Lincoln Building at the 18th and Vine neighborhood in Kansas City Missouri. BEU, originated by Jim Brown and Curtis McClinton, helped to pioneer the community development movement. BEU is one of the oldest economic development corporation’s in the country.

About

The mission of the Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City is to enhance the quality of life of low- and-moderate income citizens by promoting economic, social and physical redevelopment and revitalization of distressed blighted communities within Greater Kansas City, Missouri.

BEU works as a consummate partner, leveraging city, state, federal and private resources to ensure that our communities are strengthened and the investments made will support future generations. Over the years, the strategies employed by BEU have changed to meet the needs of the targeted population, but the resounding framework for encouraging and nurturing empowerment (to develop the willingness and ability of people to take charge of the development process within their own community) has never faltered.

BEU’s mission driven developments have resulted in over 1,040 units of affordable and market-rate housing that continue to stabilize communities; over 801,623 sf of commercial activity developed to restore jobs in distressed areas that continue to stabilize communities; and job training and development augmented by entrepreneurial opportunities that help maintain the community’s employment base.