Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas City is stepping up its support for local businesses in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring a lot of attention to the city. The City Council has approved the start of the Small Business Storefront Vacancy Revitalization Pilot Program, which aims to turn empty storefronts into lively commercial and creative areas. The goal of this project is to bring life back to empty retail spaces in the city center by putting small businesses and artists in the center of the city’s economic activation zones.
The city proposes to spend $1.4 million—$1 million from the Development Services Fund and $400,000 from the Economic Development Fund—to provide entrepreneurs both money and guidance to make empty shops useful again. The concept will provide pop-up stores lower or free rentals, subsidized long-term leasing options, and help with marketing, planning, and lease negotiations.
Mayor Quinton Lucas emphasized the importance of putting Kansas City’s small businesses front and center.
“As Kansas City prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, we’re investing in our legacy small businesses and entrepreneurs to ensure all can succeed during the summer of 2026 and long after,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas.
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The Small Business Task Force in the city spent months designing the initiative. In February, the Task Force held in-depth roundtables with local partners and the KC2026 organizing team to talk about the best ways to get local companies ready for the surge of tourists from around the world. A town hall meeting for small company owners in April showed that a lot of people in the neighborhood were interested in projects like these.
Second District Councilman Wes Rogers said the pilot program is about more than just appearances.
“The World Cup is just the beginning of Kansas City’s time on the world stage,” said Rogers. “When visitors from all over the world visit next year, we need to be open for business, so they come back to Kansas City again and again. To do that we need vibrant storefronts, and the Small Business Storefront Vacancy Revitalization Pilot Program will help make that a reality.”
The bigger plan includes replacing empty spaces as well as language access services, regulatory education, policy changes, new access-to-capital programs like Kiva KC and outdoor dining grants, and more. The city is also pushing for things like public art and programs to get people to shop locally to make downtown more enjoyable.
The program, which will start later this summer, has gotten interest from both businesses and property owners. People who are interested should monitor the KC BizCare Office online for updates and start getting the permits they need early. Kansas City is making sure its stores are open, ready, and full of life since people all over the world will be watching soon.
