Burns & McDonnell honored associates and its small, minority and women-owned partners this morning at its fourth annual Community of Inclusion Awards breakfast. The awards recognize outstanding diversity partnerships that strengthen local businesses and empower communities. During opening remarks, Burns & McDonnell vice president Matt Ralston noted that 25.3 percent of the company’s total 2015 expenditures—approximately $400 million—was with small and diverse firms. The keynote speaker, Dr. Fred McKinney, managing…

Three Trails Cottages of Independence has launched an Indiegogo campaign to help restore the Independence home where Hollywood legend Ginger Rogers was born. The company, owned by Marge and Gene Padgitt of Independence, will take ownership of the old house located at 100 W. Moore St. on Feb. 29. Three Trails Cottages plans to improve the site and turn it into a museum. The home was designated as a Historic…

The U.S. Small Business Administration will award another $18 million through the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program to help individual states promote small business exporting. “Last year, the SBA surpassed our record for trade finance, supporting $3.3 billion in export sales,” SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet said. “I believe we can do even more to help our small businesses reach the 95 percent of consumers who live outside our…