February 15 and 16, 2020
THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS
Page 9
PROGRESS Our Business V
V
V
RDA TOUTS GROWTH, PREPARES FOR MORE By Melissa Lowery
Special to The Gazette
According to a report from Garner Economics, the State of Kansas saw net employment growth of 3.5 percent during the five years from 2013-2018. During that same period, Lyon County’s net employment growth was 7.2 percent. At the end of 2019, capital investment in the Emporia area since 1995 totaled $977 million. That number is expected to top $1 billion soon. The Regional Development Association of East-Central Kansas has been leading the area’s economic growth for 25 years. This collaborative effort includes the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, Emporia Enterprises, the City of Emporia, Lyon County, Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia State University and Emporia Main Street.
“We’ve had a lot of good things happen this past year,” RDA President Kent Heermann said. “Most of it was related to the growth of companies we already have. Our bread and butter is business
“Success follows success — if everyone works hard, we can get a lot done.” KENT HEERMANN, RDA President
retention and expansion. You want to keep what you have, grow what you have.”
Keep and Grow What You Have RDA saw the completion of several projects in 2019, a mixture of new projects, expansions and infrastructure. The largest project was the Simmons Pet Food expan-
V
V
V
Left to right: Wes Morris Simmons Foods CFO, Russell Tooley Simmons Foods CAO, Jason Godsey Simmons Pet Food President/COO, Mark Simmons Chair Simmons Foods, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Kansas Department of Commerce
sion in both manufacturing and warehousing. Simmons Secretary David Toland, Emporia Mayor Jon Geitz, Emporia RDA President Kent added 125,000 square feet Heermann, Emporia Chamber President/CEO of warehouse space on its Jeanine McKenna, Kansas Senator Jeff Longbine. east building and renovated the west building into the Simmons Pet Food Medical Clinic. The company also constructed a new, 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility, increasing production capacity for flexible wet pet food packaging. This expansion project represents a $60 million capital investment in Emporia. “All three of the Simmons projects utilized local contractors, which created significant economic impact during the construction phase,” Heermann said. Simmons’ economic impact in Emporia is projected to increase with the Nov. 2019 announcement that the company plans to optimize their operations by closing Please see RDA, Page 12
Page 10
V
V
V
THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS
V
V
V
February 15 and 16, 2020
GILLIGAN SETS FUSE ON IGNITE EMPORIA
By Ryann Brooks
would also help Ignite Emporia decide where to direct its resources and energy Rob Gilligan is ready turn moving forward. up the heat on Ignite Empo“The housing study is ria. about a six-month study, so Recently named director sometime in June or July we of the community-wide ini- should get that report back,” tiative by the Emporia Area Gilligan said. “There’s alChamber of Commerce, Gil- ways more need than there ligan officially took on the is resources, but that will be role Feb. 10. the start of the conversation. But that did not stop him If we have a lot of good infrom plotting out his strat- formation and knowledge, egies for d o es that success the free up more moment he re s o u rc e s ? was offered That’s the the job. hope.” Ignite W h i l e Emporia is the housa five-year ing study is strategic u n d e r w a y, plan deGilligan said signed to conversafocus on tions with workforce businesses developand indusment, houstries along ing developwith local ment and re- “If there’s a barrier that’s schools will vitalization, identikeeping you from growing start business fying ways r e t e n t i o n and we can help take down t o b e t t e r and comarthat barrier, that’s the role connect munity deea students velopment. with careers that Ignite can play.” The plan is t h a t ke e p ROB GILLIGAN, being spearthem in EmIgnite Emporia Director headed by poria long a campaign after they c o m m i tt e e graduate. of more than Part of that 50 business and community process includes becoming leaders from different sec- a certified ACT Work Ready tors, all with a common goal Community — a two-year of strengthening Emporia process involving the ACT and the surrounding com- WorkKeys skills curriculum. munity. To date, more than “We need to educate the $1.1 million of a $1.6 million whole community — not fundraising goal has been just the students on what opraised for the project. portunities are here, but the “These are not problems parents as well,” Chamber that are unique to our com- President Jeanine McKenna munity, but each community said. “We need to educate is unique in how they have the businesses and individuto tackle them,” Gilligan als, as well. It’s about bringsaid. “What the Ignite dis- ing everyone together and cussion really brought to the educating that there are protable was, ‘We know it’s an grams at Emporia State Uniissue, we know it’s an issue versity and Flint Hills Techelsewhere, there’s no pro- nical College that will help gram you can purchase to fix the businesses, and educatthis, so let’s start doing the ing the parents and the stuwork.’” dents about the career path Gilligan, who is finish- that will keep you here and ing out his role as a govern- the opportunity for growth. ment relations specialist This is a big puzzle, and it’s with the Kansas Association putting the right pieces into of School Boards and has place in putting this puzzle worked with a number of together.” clients over the years to deGilligan said the goal to velop successful marketing retain and expand existing campaigns with measurable businesses will be an ongooutcomes, will now spear- ing conversation. Having head Ignite Emporia’s five- just finished a term as presyear strategic plan. ident of the Regional Devel“These four goals we opment Association in 2019, have laid out before us — Gilligan said he believes they are really big goals,” Ignite Emporia will be able he said. “The initiatives and to work alongside the RDA, the goals that we are talking the Chamber of Commerce about are so intertwined in a and Emporia Main Street to way that no one can progress reach a common goal. without the other.” In fact, he said, it will And work toward meet- take every organization ing those goals has already working together to solve begun. A private investor Ignite Emporia’s four goals. stepped up to fund a housing “The problems are just study — the results of which too big,” Gilligan said. “But, will be shared with the City every other organization has of Emporia — and the study felt those issues as restricis already underway. The tions, as well.” housing study would help By connecting the pieces bring more grant opportu- together and working tonities for housing develop- gether, he said Ignite Empoment to the community. It ria’s strategic plan will gain brooks@emporia.com
FILE PHOTO
Rob Gilligan speaks at the Hostess Brands ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2013.
FILE PHOTO
Rob Gilligan speaks at a forum on Emporia economic development.
momentum. “The continued conversation of business retention and expansion is really an ongoing relationship-building conversation,” Gilligan said. “We’ve had great success in Main Street and what they do in the core district. We’ve had great success with the RDA and the focus we do in industry and manufacturing, but we also know there’s a gap with small businesses, entrepreneurs and other employers who may not fit in those other areas. That’s where Ignite Emporia comes in, is to work with them and see what we need to do to help them succeed.” Gilligan said he believed there were a number of employers in Emporia today who were ready to expand their businesses, but were holding back due to concerns about capital assets, workforce as- Rob Gilligan speaks with Christian Keisler at the Lyon County Courthouse. sets and market instability. “Those are the conversations we want to start having,” he said. “If there’s a barrier that’s keeping you from growing and we can help take down that barrier, that’s the role that Ignite can play.”
FILE PHOTO
Pictured from left to right, City Commissioner Rob Gilligan, Emporia City Attorney Christina Montgomery, City Commissioner Becky Smith and Emporia Public Library board member Barb Ehr were among those who attended the joint luncheon.
FILE PHOTO
February 15 and 16, 2020
V
V
V
THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS
V
V
Page 11
V
Mock ready to get on Trox Emporia Main Street Incubator Space to support new business, entrepreneurs
around when Main Street was ready to start accepting applications for the space.” Mock said she spent more than a month on her application, fine-tuning her business plan. She turned it in by Nov. 1, 2019 and waited. When she found out her business was chosen for the space, Mock said it was a feelBy Ryann Brooks ing of excitement and nerves. brooks@emporia.com Mock, who spent nearly Things are already coming six years as the gallery managtogether inside of downtown er and education coordinator for the Emporia Arts Center Emporia’s newest business. Trox Gallery and Gifts and founded Emporia First Owner Kaila Mock could not Fridays with Joel Smith three years ago, envisions Trox Galbe more excited. Located at 729 Commer- lery as a space to help emergcial St., Trox Gallery and Gifts ing artists gain valuable expeis the first incubated business rience through professional to be hosted in Emporia Main development opportunities. Street’s Incubator Space. Al- Between her education at though Trox Gallery is an Emporia State University, her varied idea she has been devel- “I want to elevate the arts experiences at the arts oping for quite some in Emporia any way that I center, and time, Mock can. I feel that everything c o m p l e t i n g Main Street’s said she is I’ve done in the last 10 Start Your not sure she Busiwould have years has led me to this Own ness course, been able Mock said she point.” to take the knows she has leap without KAILA MOCK, the skills to the supports Trox Gallery and Gifts owner help other artMain Street ists flourish. was providTrox will ing. also feature a “I don’t know that I would have done this at all if it wasn’t website where Mock will asfor the incubator space,” sist artists in marketing themMock said. “That was really selves online, teaching them a big factor in me pulling the how to photograph their art in order to appeal to potentrigger on this.” And she didn’t do it blind- tial buyers. The pieces will be available for sale through ly. Mock took advantage Trox’s website, with the monof Main Street’s Start Your ey going back to the artist on Own Business course, offered a consignment basis. Mock is also starting an through Flint Hills Technical College last year. It was art leasing program for local during that time that Main businesses that want to supStreet Executive Director port local artists but are not Casey Woods approached her able to be a part of Emporia with an application for Incu- First Fridays due to locations bator Space and urged her to in the community. “They’re not downtown apply. “It’s like a big, built-in sup- — like the Flint Hills Comport system,” Mock said. “I munity Health Center — had taken the Start Your Own they really want to take down Business class that they offer the art they have had forever through Flint Hills Techni- and showcase the local arts,” cal College, because even if I Mock said. “The person who weren’t going to do Trox Gal- leases the art would have an lery, that’s just good informa- opportunity to buy the art or tion to have. That was right have the opportunity to swap
RYANN BROOKS/GAZETTE
Kaila Mock stands in her final gallery exhibit at the Emporia Arts Center’s Trusler Gallery Feb. 5.
it out after six months. It’s just another way to get local artists some more visibility out in the community.”
What is incubation? Woods said the Incubator Space is a concept Main Street had been researching using data from other communities, looking at what was working and what was not. Variables such as business visibility and proximity to other entrepreneurs important elements for success, he said. That’s why housing the incubated businesses downtown in the Main Street office was the way to go. “Entrepreneurs create something that we call ‘entrepreneurial friction,’” Woods said. “As entrepreneurs are talking to other entrepreneurs, they can share ideas, they can share resources, they can share events and activities. They all kind of buoy each other, so the more entrepreneurs you have packed into a location, the better off everybody is.” The space is designed as
a temporary location for new businesses as they start out. They receive a number of supports, including free rent that increases incrementally, High Speed Fiber internet connections and Voice over IP Phones from ValuNet and a variety of professional support services. Woods said the only key to a successful incubation is the incremental approach to rental space. “It’s extremely important because a lot of entrepreneurs, there’s a shock to their system when they walk into a place and they are paying first month’s and last month’s rent and they’re not going to be open for a while so they’re not making any income,” he said. “Then, they have to figure all of this out on a shoestring budget. If you can relax some of that from the start, you’ll have a solid, long-term tenant. Or, in our case, we’re creating a solid, long-term tenant for someone else, whether it’s renting or purchasing a building.” There were two applications for the space for this first round, Woods said. Ul-
timately, Mock’s plan was chosen by a committee after three rounds of discussions. “One of the major considerations is, she has impacted so many artists,” Woods said. “Giving artists better conduits, both online and in store and being able to use other businesses as galleries, means you’re not just impacting one business. You’re impacting the producers’ artwork throughout the region.” Through Mock’s work with Emporia First Friday, Woods said she has made an even greater impact. Mock has been approached by people around the Midwest asking for assistance in building a similar program in their communities. “It makes Emporia an art hub, where if you want to figure out where you want to do some of these things, you come to Emporia, Kansas,” Woods said. “Then, we become the place in the region for art producers. That’s important to draw people in.” Woods said the incubation term is 18 months, but Mock won’t be penalized if she feels
ready to jump off on her own early. In fact, Main Street will encourage her to do so. When that happens, Woods said applications for the next round of incubators will open. Information about that and the Start Your Own Business class is available at www.emporiamainstreet. com. For now, Mock is getting things ready at Trox. The gallery is set to open March 6, and although Mock is nervous about this next step, she’s also excited to continue building the arts community in Emporia. “I want to elevate the arts in Emporia any way that I can,” Mock said. “I feel that everything I’ve done in the last 10 years has led me to this point. I worked in the gallery at ESU and I learned a lot from Roberta Eichenberg. There was a transition in executive directors at the arts center and in that gap time I was helping with a lot of the bookkeeping. There’s just all of these little pieces that I’ve taken from First Friday and the arts center and ESU, and it’s all coming together. It’s exciting, and I’m ready.”
Page 12
RDA From PAGE 9 their New Jersey facility and relocating most of that production to Emporia. “The number of new jobs hasn’t been discussed publicly yet, but it could be significant,” Heermann said. Other significant projects include the completion of a new, million-gallon water tower in Industrial Park III. The project, jointly funded by the City of Emporia and a U.S Department of Commerce EDA Infrastructure Grant, supported the Simmons expansion and provided more overhead water storage, pressure and volume for the entire City of Emporia water system. Last year also saw the completion of Cargill Pet Food’s new, 50,000 square foot warehouse and the Bunge Rail Spur project. Construction began on the Reading Wind Farm project with several wind turbines functional by the end of 2019. Construction on additional wind turbines continues in 2020 for Southern Power, which has contracted to sell the electric power to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. The wind farm is expected to generate roughly 760,000 megawatt hours of clean, renewable energy annually.
Developing the Location Heermann identified projects either crossing the finish line or starting off the block in 2020, but he also identified areas where Emporia and Lyon County need to gear up for future economic growth. Glendo is expanding its current facility by 40,765 square feet and adding six full-time jobs this year. The project represents a capital investment of $4.3 million. Later this year, the City of Emporia is expected to be-
V
V
V
THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS
V
gin work on paving improvements and traffic control on Road F from US Highway 50 to Road 180. A grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation will fund most of the project’s estimated $1.7 million cost. This infrastructure improvement is part of the overall plan to develop Industrial Park IV. Land development is crucial to attracting businesses to the area, Heermann said. Cargill Warehouse after construction. Companies looking to move or expand are looking for land with infrastructure in place. “We need to have available real estate that’s ready to go,” he said. “RDA has developed more than 383 acres over the past 25 years, but it takes time to acquire and develop that land. We’re currently looking for suitable property for 5, 10, 15, 20 years out.”
Developing a Workforce Heermann said an available workforce is another crucial factor for companies searching for new locations. There is a nationwide shortage of skilled workers, but he thinks Emporia is “ideally situated” to train a modern workforce thanks to Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College. “We have ESU with its top-notch Teachers College, its liberal arts and sciences programs and its business school, which is teaching students to think more entrepreneurially,” he said. “Existing businesses, new and start-up businesses — they all have to have entrepreneurial mindset, and ESU is preparing students for that need.” Heermann noted that FHTC offers programs training students for the jobs of the future, such as programmable logical control, power plant technology and health sciences. “FHTC has evolved with the needs of business and industry in our region,” he said. “They’re developing future
V
V
February 15 and 16, 2020
Glendo before construction.
Glendo following construction of its addition.
Blue Beacon Truck Wash is on the western edge of Emporia.
The water tower for Industrial Park III starts to go up.
Reading Wind Farm
workers to be more techniHeermann is encourcally savvy and creating pro- aged not just by these recent grams that lead to promising achievements, but also by the and bright careers.” buzz around town. “Things are pretty good Success Follows right now,” he said. “There’s a lot of excitement in the comSuccess munity. We see what other Economic growth and groups in town are doing, the prosperity is a long game. annual events that build enThe successes of the past sev- thusiasm, and it’s encourageral years are the culmination ing. Success follows success of long-term planning and — if everyone works hard, we strategizing, the completion can get a lot done.” of many multi-year projects For more information and a shared vision for the fu- about RDA, visit www.em- The land where Blue Beacon Truck Wash is now located ture of the area. poriarda.org. before construction.