Business: Emporia is entrepreneur friendly

Emporia has a rich history of entrepreneurship that has helped shape our community into what it is today. From car care products to engraving tools to disc golf gear and fiber internet, Emporians are problem solvers who’ve built solutions for our community and the world.

HOPKINS MANUFACTURING was founded by E.L. (Bud) Hopkins and R.E. (Gene) Hopkins(hopkinsmfg.com) in 1953. Today it is a global company focusing in the automotive and recreational vehicle aftermarket. Hopkins SubZero brand snow and ice tools are the #1 selling winter care brand in the U.S.

Founded in 1977, GLENDO CORPORATION (glendo.com) leads the engraving industry in tools designed for jewelry and engraving arts, as well as equipment for industrial and business use. Don Glaser developed Glendo’s GRS product line.

DYNAMIC DISCS (dynamicdiscs.com) was founded in 2005 by then Emporia State University student Jeremy Rusco. Today Dynamic Discs serves as home to over 70 employees between the retail store and Dynamic Distribution, and the company sponsors over 100 disc golf players. Emporia is now known as the Disc Golf Capital of the World!

VALUNET FIBER (myvalunet.com) was built for Emporians by Emporians. The ValuNet FIBER team consists of over 30 local people who have proudly built Emporia’s only all fiber internet network with speeds up to 1 Gig. The ValuNet network provides the community with 21st century technology and allows them to deliver the highest broadband speed, bandwidth, reliability, and quality found anywhere in the United States to their customers right here in Emporia.

Emporia is strategically located at the nexus of I-35 and I-335 and U.S. Highway 50. Emporia is a regional manufacturing, educational, transportation, medical and agricultural center. Its centralized location and economic diversity make it a wonderful place to create, grow, and locate your business. Emporia is full of great job opportunities in a variety of areas.