Four startups were tapped to receive project funding from the successful Digital Sandbox KC program, two in partnership with Innovation Stockyard in St. Joseph. “We continue to see a high volume of quality applicants with a wide range of concepts,” says Jeff Shackelford, director of Digital Sandbox KC. “This quarter’s companies range from a virtual learning platform for kids on the autism spectrum that was developed at the University of…

North Kansas City construction firm Mega Industries Corp. announced this month that it is now 100 percent employee-owned. Founded in 1992, the construction company became a 56 percent Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 2006, beginning its approach to total employee investment. Until June, CEO Brian Gordon and COO Craig Bridgeman were majority owners. “We wanted to send a clear signal to all of our employee-owners that Craig and I…

Two area law firms have announced that they will combine forces. Rouse Frets Gentile Rhodes LLC and White Goss PC merged effective Sept. 30. The new legal name of the firm is Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes PC. Chuck Rouse and Harold Goss will serve as managing officers of the combined firm, which will maintain the White Goss office near the Country Club Plaza and the Rouse Frets locations…

LaunchKC, Kansas City’s innovative funding program for entrepreneurs, was awarded a Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award in the entrepreneurship category by the International Economic Development Council. The award was given Oct. 2 during the IEDC’s annual conference in Atlanta. As one of the largest organizations for economic development professionals, IEDC supports economic developers to create, retain and expand economic opportunities that encourage growth and a stable tax base within…