The Independence Avenue Community Improvement District (CID) project will take a major step forward this weekend with a series of petition signing ceremonies scheduled for Saturday, June 9, and Monday, June 11. The ceremonies represent the culmination of more than 10 years of work by the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in bringing a new economic development engine to the area’s busiest business thoroughfare.

Chamber President Bobbi Baker Hughes is encouraging chamber members to be a part of the festivities.

“This is a major step forward for the chamber and the Northeast business community,” Baker Hughes said.

In order to become reality, more than 51 percent of the businesses along the Independence Avenue corridor must consent to becoming a CID. The ceremonies this weekend are scheduled so that Avenue businesses can officially sign off on becoming a taxing entity that will contribute to the CID.

Ceremonies will kick off this Saturday at Central Bank of Kansas City, 2301 Independence Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon. Petition signings will then continue at Pho Hoa Restaurant, Independence Boulevard and The Paseo, from noon to 2 p.m. Cherrito’s Restaurant, 3831 Independence Ave., will be the next stop for signings from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Signing ceremonies will wrap up on Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at UMB Bank, 6400 Independence Ave.