KC program to fill downtown storefronts gets $100K from Airbnb
By Abbey Higginbotham
Published on April 28, 2026.
Airbnb has donated $100,000 to Kansas City's Open Doors program to move local entrepreneurs into vacant downtown storefronts before the World Cup. The program places small businesses into high-profile vacant spaces along the downtown streetcar corridor on three-to-six-month leases. The city subsidizes part of the rent and offers grants up to $10,000 for build-out and inventory. The donation is part of Airbnb's $5 million Host City Impact Program across the 16 World Cup host cities. The study by Deloitte predicts $105 million in total economic output across KC and surrounding areas during the tournament.
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