By Trish Svoboda

Today, July 18, Representative Sharice Davids hosted a conversation with several Kansas City-area BBQ restaurant owners at Jack Stack Barbecue in Lenexa. The discussion centered on addressing the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses in Kansas, including navigating the current economic landscape and leveraging federal resources. Following the event, Davids released an updated report on the current state of small businesses in Kansas’ Third Congressional District. Davids is a member of the U.S. House Small Business Committee.

“During today’s conversation with KC-area BBQ restaurant owners, we discussed important issues facing our small businesses, from navigating economic challenges to maximizing federal resources,” said Davids. “As a member of the House Small Business Committee, I’m committed to ensuring these entrepreneurs have the support needed to thrive and keep serving up Kansas City’s world-renowned BBQ in our community.”

In the updated report, which builds on her initial 2022 release, Representative Davids provides insights into the recent growth of local small businesses and outlines her efforts in Congress to support this growth. Her initiatives include voting to strengthen domestic supply chains and introducing legislation to support underrepresented business owners, such as women, veterans, and Native Americans.

The report found that in 2023, Kansas’ Third District saw 10,704 new business applications, marking a 12.6 percent increase since 2022 and a 42.7 percent rise since 2019. Johnson County led the state with 8,272 of Kansas’ 33,268 new small business applications in 2023. The Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) served 1,399 clients in 2023, resulting in $94 million in annual sales, 4,714 jobs created, and 52 new businesses. In addition, Kansas’ Third District had 16,374 small businesses employing 169,254 people, accounting for 92.4 percent of all district employers.