Grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation will support increased coverage of education and entrepreneurship

A grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation will give public radio station KCUR-FM resources for another major investment in its local news staff.

Station General Manager Nico Leone said the $100,000 grant will allow increased coverage of education and entrepreneurship.

“We are working hard to expand our local news coverage in areas that are most relevant to KCUR listeners,” Leone said. “This generous grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation gives us the capacity to vastly increase the number of in-depth stories we produce on two important topics, which touch the majority of Kansas City-area residents: education and entrepreneurship.”

KCUR in recent months has expanded its coverage of health care, the arts and launched a community engagement team, which is working to foster dialogue about important issues.

“Education and entrepreneurship significantly impact the vibrancy of our metropolitan community,” said Barbara Pruitt, director of communications for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. “Through this grant, KCUR will be able to provide a better understanding about how these issues affect their daily lives.”

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, based in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the country’s largest private foundations. Its grant making and operations are focused in the areas of education and entrepreneurship.

KCUR is the NPR affiliate member station in Kansas City, Mo., and is a service of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Since its creation, KCUR has provided programming that informs, entertains and enriches the community. The grant will help enhance that mission.