Prologis-Hunt Midwest Partnership to Accelerate Industrial Opportunities in KC
Hunt Midwest has announced a strategic build-to-suit joint venture with logistics real estate leader Prologis at two major industrial properties in Kansas City. The move leverages Hunt Midwest’s local expertise with Prologis’ global customer base and will position the region as a premier location for new investment.
“This new venture exemplifies the scale and certainty that the Kansas City region offers companies in today’s competitive environment,” said Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort. “As a top 15 U.S. industrial market, and with the positive reception of the KCI 29 site among site selectors and multiple Fortune 500 end users, Kansas City continues to reinforce its role as a critical gateway for companies’ global supply chains.”
KC Scores Four World Cup Base Camps
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, the Kansas City region continues to position itself as a top destination — hosting six matches and serving as base camp for four national teams, including reigning champ Argentina, England, the Netherlands and Algeria.
Register Now for the 2026 Annual Industry Briefing
Join us on April 8 at the Midwest’s premier industrial event to learn about the assets, infrastructure and strategies that have shaped KC’s rise to a top 15 U.S. industrial market.
Agreement establishes first ultra-low temperature cold chain in veterinary medicine ahead of anticipated potential first FDA-approved, off-the-shelf stem cell therapy
SAN DIEGO – (February 27, 2026) – Gallant, an animal health biotechnology company pioneering off-the-shelf stem cell therapies for pets, today announced a landmark fulfillment agreement with MWI Animal Health (MWI), part of global healthcare company Cencora, to create the first-ever ultra-low temperature cold chain for veterinary medicine. This comes as Gallant advances toward delivering the potential first-ever FDA-approved off-the-shelf veterinary stem cell therapy, pending conditional approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM).
Together, the companies are laying the foundation for a new category of veterinary care.
The first expected product from Gallant’s pipeline is sonruvetcel injectable suspension—a potential first-in-class, uterine-derived allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for cats with refractory feline chronic gingivostomatitis (rFCGS). Partnership with MWI will enable reliable delivery of veterinary stem cell therapies requiring storage at -80°C.
“Breakthrough science only matters if we can safely and reliably put it into the hands of veterinary professionals,” said Dr. Linda Black, DVM, Ph.D., CEO of Gallant. “With MWI, we are pairing regenerative medicine innovation with world class supply chain management. This partnership helps ensure that, once approved, veterinarians can conveniently access an FDA-regulated, off-the-shelf stem cell therapy with confidence in its quality and integrity.”
“This partnership demonstrates how distribution innovation can unlock clinical innovation,” said Julia Loew, CCO at MWI Animal Health. “Stem cell therapies require precision handling. By investing in ultra-low temperature logistics tailored to veterinary practice, we are ensuring that this category of innovation can be delivered to clinics in the exact state intended, ready for safe and effective use.”
Under the agreement, MWI will develop and deploy a scalable, ultra-low temperature fulfillment model. It will support nationwide availability through overnight shipping from MWI’s Edwardsville, Kansas, distribution center, helping to ensure access for clinics across the continental United States and in noncontiguous U.S. markets, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
The companies expect the partnership to serve as a model by establishing infrastructure that can support Gallant’s broader pipeline of disease-modifying therapies targeting inflammatory and degenerative conditions in companion animals.
Expanding the Spectrum of Care
Recent survey data conducted by Gallant, in collaboration with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), found that nearly 95% of veterinary professionals believe stem cell therapy will become a standard treatment option within the next decade. 79% say they are likely to use or recommend stem cell therapy in the future, and 93% report they would be more likely to offer regenerative therapies in-house if they were off-the-shelf and delivered through a simple IV protocol.
The Gallant–MWI partnership directly addresses veterinary professionals’ expectations and practice needs by pairing an anticipated FDA-regulated, donor-derived stem cell therapy with a clinic-friendly fulfillment model.
About Gallant
Gallant is an animal health biotechnology company creating a new category of veterinary medicine with a pipeline of off-the-shelf, ready-to-use stem cell therapies targeting the root causes of disease in pets. Led by pioneers in veterinary regenerative medicine with deep expertise in development, manufacturing and commercialization, Gallant is making regenerative medicine accessible to everyday practice. Learn more at www.gallant.com.
KC Animal Health Corridor seeks innovators in companion animal, ag tech and food animal sectors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – March 3, 2026 – The KC Animal Health Corridor is now accepting Emerging Company applications for the 2026 Animal Health Summit, taking place Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 in downtown Kansas City. The Summit provides a global stage for early-stage companies in companion animal health, ag tech and food animal production to present their technologies and business plans to investors, strategic partners and industry leaders.
To date, companies selected to present — representing pharmaceutical, vaccine, nutrition, diagnostic and technology startups from around the world — have collectively raised nearly $1 billion following their participation, in addition to securing licensing agreements, distribution contracts and acquisition offers.
Serve the companion animal health, ag tech and/or food animal production industries
Be seeking $500,000 to $20 million in funding or strategic partnerships
Project $20 million in revenue within five to seven years
Benefits for selected companies
Participants receive:
Access to industry experts
Assistance developing a company pitch deck
Individualized mentoring
Two practice pitch sessions with real-time industry feedback
Development of an investor profile
Promotion to qualified investors
Media promotion
Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. CDT on April 1, 2026. All applicants will be notified of their status by June 19, 2026. Additional details about the KC Animal Health Corridor and the Animal Health Summit are available at www.kcanimalhealth.com.
About the KC Animal Health Corridor Companies with a business location in the KC Animal Health Corridor account for more than half of the sales generated by the global animal health industry. The Corridor, anchored by Manhattan, Kansas, and Columbia, Missouri, is home to more than 300 animal health companies, representing the largest concentration in the world. For more information, visit www.kcanimalhealth.com.
400 talent leaders gather as TeamKC reinforces its long-standing role helping Kansas City employers attract and retain top talent
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Feb. 26, 2026 – TeamKC, the talent-focused initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC), convened hundreds of HR executives, recruiters and business leaders today at The Abbott for its annual Training Camp talent summit — unveiling new recruiting tools, sharing fresh workforce data and spotlighting a year of major economic momentum for the region.
The event reinforced TeamKC’s nearly two-decade legacy as Kansas City’s authority on attracting and retaining top talent, supporting more than 300 major employers and a network of 1,100+ talent leaders across industries in the region.
“Strong data and insights elevate our work and give us credibility — and that’s what talent leaders need to have a seat at the table alongside their business partners,” said Erin Roebuck, TeamKC co-chair and senior talent acquisition leader, global, at Hallmark Cards, Inc.
The program featured nationally recognized speakers, including best-selling author Diana Kander and sportscasting legend Joel Goldberg, alongside regional business leaders sharing insights on workforce trends and building trust in an evolving talent environment.
New and Expanded Tools to Strengthen Talent Growth
A central theme of Training Camp 2026 was a sharpened focus on clarity — in messaging, in data and in the candidate experience.
TeamKC highlighted four cornerstone resources designed to give Kansas City employers a competitive advantage:
TeamKC Scouting Report: A data-driven snapshot of national workforce trends, the Kansas City region’s talent landscape and actionable recruitment and engagement strategies.
KC Options: TeamKC’s award-winning lifestyle and career publication, showcasing the people, places and culture that define life in Kansas City. KC Options remains the most widely utilized resource among employers recruiting to the region.
New KC Hype Video: A high-energy, shareable video asset designed to help employers showcase Kansas City’s momentum, vibrancy and opportunity.
TeamKC Relocation Guide: A new 50-page guide for KCADC’s 300+ investor companies, delivering clear, practical information — from housing and taxes to neighborhoods and community resources — to help new hires transition seamlessly to life in Kansas City.
Together, these assets create a full-cycle recruiting toolkit, supporting employers from initial outreach through long-term retention.
“We know what works,” said Danielle Hilton, managing director of TeamKC. “Vibrant visuals. A confident story. And practical tools that make it easier for talent to say ‘yes’ to Kansas City.”
KC Streetcar Authority Honored with 2026 TeamKC MVP Award
At the event, TeamKC presented its 2026 TeamKC MVP Award to the KC Streetcar Authority for its transformative impact in connecting people and places across Kansas City.
Awarded annually at Training Camp, the TeamKC MVP Award recognizes an organization that has significantly advanced Kansas City as a top destination for talent. Through expanded access and mobility, the KC Streetcar continues to elevate Kansas City as a place where talent wants to live and work — strengthening urban vibrancy, accessibility and regional connectivity.
Business Growth and Talent Pipeline Move in Lockstep
Training Camp also reinforced the direct connection between business attraction and workforce strategy, celebrating marquee investments TeamKC helped to attract to the region in recent years:
Panasonic Energy’s EV battery manufacturing plant, which recently celebrated hiring 1,500 employees.
Fiserv’s strategic fintech hub — the largest office project announced in the United States in 2025 — projected to create more than 2,000 jobs in the region.
As a key component of KCADC’s mission, TeamKC supports companies as they expand and invest in the region. Over the past decade, KCADC — together with state, community and business partners — has helped attract projects resulting in more than 30,000 new jobs in the Kansas City region.
“These wins are about more than headlines,” Hilton said. “They strengthen our talent base, diversify our workforce and reinforce Kansas City’s reputation as a place companies — and people — choose.”
TeamKC also highlighted its support for KC employers as they invest in the next generation of talent. In 2025, the TeamKC summer intern program engaged more than 1,000 interns across industries, providing “KC 101” programming, peer networking and immersive experiences designed to connect young professionals to long-term careers in the region.
A Proven Partner for Kansas City Employers
As national competition for talent intensifies, the 2026 TeamKC Training Camp reinforced a clear takeaway: Kansas City’s workforce strategy is coordinated, data-driven and built for scale.
“People show up when they know the why, and feel proud to be part of it,” said Alicia Bacon, TeamKC board co-chair and director of talent acquisition at Netsmart. “Now, more than ever, it’s great to be in KC. We have a swagger. An energy. We are the place to be. You just have to be here.”
About TeamKC TeamKC, an initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council, is the regional authority in positioning KC as a premier talent destination. Working alongside regional partners, TeamKC serves as an extension of recruiting and HR teams at more than 300 major employers, supporting a network of 1,100+ talent leaders — providing the insights, tools and data needed to compete in a rapidly evolving talent market. As the region’s unified talent attraction initiative, TeamKC helps ensure top candidates say “yes” to growing their careers in KC. | teamkc.com
About the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) The Kansas City Area Development Council is an economic development nonprofit that promotes the OneKC region’s business and lifestyle assets to companies and talent around the world. Working closely with its two states and 50-plus county and community partners, the region has attracted more than 64,000 new jobs over its 45-year history. KCADC also leads the efforts behind the KC Animal Health Corridor, KC SmartPort, TeamKC and KC Global Design. | onekc.org
Beverly, Mass. & Kansas City (Feb. 18, 2026) – Akston, the biotech built for pets, announced today that Todd Zion, PhD, co-founder, president and CEO, has been appointed to the KC Animal Health Corridor Advisory Board in the Entrepreneur in Residence seat. The appointment recognizes Zion’s leadership in biotechnology and ensures the perspective of a growth-stage Animal Health company to the Corridor’s strategic work.
Established in 2017, the Entrepreneur in Residence board seat ensures emerging and growth-stage Animal Health companies have a meaningful voice alongside established industry leaders. The KC Animal Health Corridor, affiliated with the Kansas City Area Development Council, represents the world’s largest concentration of Animal Health assets and advances collaboration, workforce development, public policy and innovation across the ecosystem.
“Todd brings a powerful combination of scientific depth, entrepreneurial leadership and company-building experience to the KC Animal Health Corridor Advisory Board,” said Corridor president Kimberly Young. “His perspective as a pet biotech founder and CEO aligns closely with the intent of the Entrepreneur in Residence seat and supports the future of the Animal Health industry.”
Prior to Akston, Zion was co-founder, president and CEO of SmartCells, Inc., developer of SmartInsulin, the first clinically tested glucose-responsive insulin, which was acquired by Merck & Co., Inc. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University.
“The KC Animal Health Corridor plays an important role in connecting innovators, established leaders and the broader Animal Health ecosystem,” said Zion. “I’m honored to serve in the Entrepreneur in Residence seat and to contribute the perspective of a growth-stage company in support of collaboration, talent development and long-term sustainable industry impact.”
Zion will serve a three-year term on the advisory board, representing the perspective of entrepreneurs while supporting the Corridor’s strategic priorities and mission to reinforce the region’s position as the global hub for Animal Health.
About Akston Akston is a biotech company built for pets. Using its proprietary Ambifect® Fc-fusion protein platform, Akston develops immuno-enhancing and targeted protein treatments that aim to reduce treatment frequency while enhancing efficacy. Backed by a vertically integrated structure and state-of-the-art GMP biologics manufacturing, Akston accelerates development from discovery to commercial manufacturing to bring innovation to veterinarians and pets faster. Learn more at www.akstonbio.com.
