TopMag Winter 2023

Meeting challenges since 1892

For more than a century, we have met challenges such as epidemics, financial market disruptions, wars, natural disasters and more. Through them all, we remained committed to our strategic focus which is built on the belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to achieve financial security — despite the struggles the country may face. While we call Topeka home, our reach extends across the nation. We are a leader in the U.S. retirement market and continue our legacy of helping people To and Through Retirement®

ELT SPOTLIGHT

It's that time of year again! We've bid farewell to 2023 and find ourselves back at our desks, ready to embrace what lies ahead. The new year tends to be an exciting time full of possibility. As I drove into work one day this month, I couldn't help but sense the momentum surging in our community. Southwest Topeka Boulevard is a perfect example. This main artery, once symbolic of Topeka's stagnation, bustles with new investment thanks to the concerted efforts of many, including Bring Back the Boulevard.

Along “the boulevard,” in 2023 alone, the Kansas Turnpike Authority cut the ribbon on a new administrative building, offering an improved first impression upon exiting the interstate. The former White Lakes Mall property is now clear and ready for development, and new restaurants and retail are arriving nearby. Further north, Stormont Vail Event Center gleams next to Hotel Topeka, a convention hotel poised to fulfill its potential thanks to stewardship and investment by the City of Topeka. Finally, a new KDHE Laboratory is rising next to a reimagined Docking State Office Building, accentuating the entrance to our downtown.

And that's just what you can see along one thoroughfare! What's truly exciting about Topeka right now is that progress is occurring throughout our city and county, spurred by various entities. Our riverfront’s future shines brighter than ever, thanks to bold leadership from the Riverfront Advisory Council and their strategic partnership with consultant Bolton and Menk. GO Topeka continues to connect new businesses to our community, including through Plug and Play Topeka's inaugural Animal Health/ Ag Tech Summit in 2023. Our downtown came alive this year with vibrant cultural celebrations, including India Mela and For the Culture KS, and West Ridge Mall made headlines with the announcement it will soon transform into a corporate headquarters, lifestyle hub, and retail district under the guidance of Advisor's Excel.

Internationally, Topeka gained recognition when Telemundo showcased the impactful work of Topeka Public Schools, Washburn University, the City of Topeka, and GO Topeka, highlighting our pioneering efforts to welcome first-generation Latinos. This news piece resonated globally, amassing over 6 billion impressions and solidifying Topeka

as a dream destination where families prosper.

M eanwhile, our housing market again made headlines, with Topeka recognized by the Wall Street Journal as the NUMBER ONE emerging housing market in the U.S. Our education system remains a key advantage, with AuburnWashburn and Silver Lake named two of the top 10 school districts in Kansas, Topeka Public Schools acknowledged for its dual-language program, and Washburn offering innovative new scholarships. In addition to these wins, Topeka’s tourism sector saw a record year in 2023, boasting record attendance at local attractions and the highest number of hotel stays in our history.

While taking immense pride in these triumphs, we acknowledge there is still work to do. Growth in our unsheltered population is a shared concern, both nationally and in Topeka. We must stay the course when it comes to issues like community engagement, population growth, and poverty. The Partnership is also proud to collaborate on initiatives like the Clean and Safe Task Force and support lobbying efforts for the 2024 Topeka State Hospital project, aimed at providing essential care for those in crisis.

As we go into 2024, let’s get excited for the potential this year holds. Topeka is a city in motion, and progress is evident around every corner. Together, as we continue to reach for new heights, let’s give this community the best we have to offer. Here's to a year filled with momentum, collaboration, and the realization of big dreams!

Sincerely,

Bob Ross

Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications, Events & Analytics

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Bob Ross Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications

India Yarborough Director of Communications

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Carolyn Lang Brand Manager EDITOR & CONTENT MANAGER

WSJ/REALTOR.COM RANK TOPEKA THE NO. 1 HOUSING MARKET IN THE U.S.

Inlate October, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Realtor.com reported that Topeka has been recognized as the No. 1 housing market in the United States, according to their latest quarterly Emerging Housing Markets Index! Topeka has regularly appeared in the rankings since 2019. However, this is the first time our city has taken the top spot.

Topeka's housing market stands out with home prices significantly below the national median, drawing in new residents who are feeling the pinch of recordhigh home prices and mortgage costs that are at a two-decade high. The Wall Street Journal reported that people are flocking to Topeka from nearby Lawrence, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. It also noted Topeka’s continued success can be attributed to the strength of its local economy. To read the full report, click here.

UNIQUE INTERCITY VISIT TO BOISE PLANNED

TheGreater Topeka Partnership and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce are excited to announce a novel, collaborative intercity visit to Boise, Idaho, scheduled for July 2024. The unique trip aims to unite community leaders, business executives, and passionate stakeholders from both cities for exclusive opportunities to foster knowledge exchange, promote innovative ideas, and inspire learning of best practices for community advancement.

During the 2024 intercity visit taking place July 16-19, representatives from both Lincoln and Topeka will embark on a journey of discovery to learn from the vibrant and forwardthinking community of Boise, Idaho, while also collaborating and learning from one another. A capital city like Lincoln and Topeka, Boise was chosen for the visit because of its community partnership model, its riverfront development, its innovation and entrepreneurship acumen, and its distinct arts district. Boise has also seen rapid growth in recent years and been recognized nationally for its placemaking work, making it an ideal destination for learning and leisure. By seeing firsthand the accomplishments and effective strategies employed by Boise, leaders from Lincoln and Topeka hope to gain valuable insights that galvanize new opportunities in their local markets.

More information about the intercity visit agenda and what to expect will soon be available at TopekaLincoln.com. Once travel plans are finalized, tickets will also be made available there for purchase. Topeka and Lincoln look forward to welcoming a dynamic and diverse group of attendees in 2024.

TOPEKA PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES

KANSAS RIVERFRONT ACTIVATION PLAN

TheGreater Topeka Partnership and Riverfront Advisory Council, in cooperation with consultant Bolton & Menk, officially announced the launch in December of the Topeka Riverfront Activation Plan project. This campaign is designed to collect vital feedback from our community to help guide a strategic master plan for Topeka’s riverfront. A series of surveys and engagement opportunities will be available throughout 2024 and offered in several languages to ensure our entire community is given the opportunity to engage.

The goal of a river master plan is to establish the city’s riverfront as a vibrant district that supports growth and economic development, connections to nature, recreation, and reinvestment in surrounding neighborhoods. To work toward this vision, the Riverfront Advisory Council has launched the website MyTopekaRiverfront.com. On this site, the public can learn more about the project, stay up to date on the latest information, and use an interactive map to leave comments and ideas. As engagement and planning kicks off, local partners from the Riverfront Advisory Council, State of Kansas, and City of Topeka have begun discussing the probability of removing metal debris still in the river from the flood of 1951.

EXECUTIVE IMMERSION SERVICES

If your business has a new C-suite leader, contact the Greater Topeka Partnership, as we can help immerse them in the Topeka/Shawnee County community with professional and personal peer relationships that serve to benefit those leaders, your business, and the community. To learn more, contact SVP of Strategy Michelle Cuevas-Stubblefield at Michelle.Stubblefield@ TopekaPartnership.com.

GLENDA WASHINGTON

RETIRES AS SHE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS WITH GO TOPEKA

In October, The Partnership celebrated Glenda Washington’s 10-year anniversary with GO Topeka and the Greater Topeka Partnership. Glenda, who has served as SVP of Minority & Women Business Development and Chief Equity & Opportunity Officer, first announced to staff her decision to retire and informed family, friends and community members of that decision over the next couple of months. Glenda's official last day was Nov. 30 We celebrated her impact on our

organization and the Topeka community at a celebration for her that was held Dec. 5 at the GTP. We thank Glenda for all she has done for the community, and we congratulate her on her many accomplishments!

The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus is proud to be a part of a long legacy of high-quality, compassionate care. For more than 100 years, the hospital has combined compassionate care with lifesaving technological advancements to our patients and the communities we serve. St. Francis Campus has 378 licensed inpatient beds, 14 primary and specialty care clinic locations – including a cancer center location in partnership with The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

1700 SW 7th St.

Topeka, Kansas 66606

785-295-8000

KUTopeka.com

FEATURES TOPEKA

FOR NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, GENERATING MAJOR

INTEREST IN THE CITY TELEMUNDO

Telemundo, the world’s largest syndicator of Spanish-language television and news, with programming in more than 100 countries and 35 languages, recently visited Topeka and aired a segment on our community for National Hispanic Heritage Month. Along with shining a light on various local initiatives and community members, the Telemundo report highlighted the Choose Topeka talent attraction program, our small business incentives for minority-owned businesses, the city of Topeka’s welcoming approach to immigrants, and Washburn University’s support for first generation students. As a result, Topeka went viral on TikTok, and the GTP has been inundated with calls and emails from individuals and families interested in moving to the capital city. Some seek incentives, and some, including small business owners, want to move to

Topeka simply because of the positive Telemundo story.

This is exciting news for our community and great coverage for Topeka, spurred by a pitch the GTP communications team put together with our national public relations partner Violet PR. The story even resulted in a spinoff story featured on NBC News (for more notable earned media updates, look for the “media coverage update” section in this report). The spike in interest around Choose Topeka could be a great opportunity for local employers. If your company has not yet participated in the Choose Topeka program but either currently offers relocation incentives or is considering relocation incentives, please reach out to GO Topeka’s Trina Goss, director of business and talent initiatives, to learn more about Choose Topeka and how we can partner with you.

NEW-BUSINESSATTRACTION MARKETING MATERIALS

GO Topeka has created an Economic Development Guide to be used for new business attraction. This guide will offer an inside look at the demographics, workforce, industries and more at play in the Topeka/Shawnee County area. This guide will be a great resource to share with site selectors, corporate executives, and companies looking to grow or relocate their business in our community.

NEW BUSINESS ATTRACTION

GOTopeka reported 27 new-business attraction projects in the pipeline as of early December. The top industries represented include manufacturing and aviation.

CHILD CARE GRANTS SUPPORTING PROJECTS

Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grant funds are being utilized and facility expansions are underway, as we work to add quality child care slots to our community’s care inventory. GO Topeka and Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas have been collaborating closely to stand up a website centered around creating a strong talent pipeline of child care workers to support providers in Shawnee County. A community fund is also being established to provide scholarships to parents when the cost of child care is a struggle. There will be more information to come on the website and community fund, with an opportunity for your business to become a “Champion for Child Care”! Be on the lookout for a unique educational session about how your business can further support child care in Shawnee County.

WASHBURN TECH, GO TOPEKA PARTNER FOR NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY

Oct. 6 was National Manufacturing Day, and GO Topeka was thrilled to celebrate the area’s manufacturing community. A “Made for Manufacturing” event organized by GO Topeka was held at Washburn Institute of Technology, with HF Mixing Group, Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Washburn Tech serving as sponsors. At the event, local manufacturing companies had the opportunity to connect with more than 120 talented local high school students in a dynamic career-fair setting. A special shoutout goes to GTP member HF Mixing Group for their commitment to the future of manufacturing! They have partnered with Washburn Tech to introduce an apprenticeship program for CNC Machining, paving the way for new talent and growth in our local manufacturing industry.

[ VISITTOPEKA ]

HOTEL TOPEKA UPDATE

On June 7, the City of Topeka won the right to purchase Hotel Topeka at auction for $7.6 million. Since then, the City has appointed Braxton Copley, Director of Public Works, as project manager and named REVPAR International as the asset manager starting Oct. 10. On Oct. 18, the City Council voted to approve the purchase of the hotel, and the City was slated to financially close on the property Oct. 31. The Visit Topeka team has been supporting the City through this process and meets with the project manager every week.

VTI PRESIDENT RECOGNIZED AS AN ARTS CHAMPION

In December, at the 13th annual Arty Awards, Visit Topeka President Sean Dixon was awarded the 2023 Liz Stratton Arts Champion Award from ArtsConnect. Sean has done tremendous work to elevate and expand the arts in Topeka, and this recent recognition is a testament to his efforts.

PROJECT BROADWAY CAMPAIGN

Followingtwo years of work, the song and music video coming out of Visit Topeka's Project Broadway campaign officially debuted at the Kready Holiday Spectacular Dec. 23 at the Topeka Performing Arts Center! Visit Topeka had been working with Topeka-born Broadway performer Jeff Kready on Project Broadway, which will serve as a primary piece in Visit Topeka's 2024-2025 advertising campaign. Jeff helped Visit Topeka recruit the talented Steven Lutvak, the composer and lyricist behind "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," which won the Tony for Best Musical in 2015. Steven wrote a piece for Topeka titled "Free Yourself," and in early October, Mammoth Creative Co. filmed a promotional video for the campaign at locations around Topeka, culminating with a simulated parade in downtown Topeka. Unfotunately, Steven died suddenly just days after the shoot. While our team is heartbroken by his loss, we we are committed to elevating Steven's work and legacy and honoring his memory. We expect to release the full campaign in early 2024.

KANSAS TOURISM GRANTS AWARDED

TO SUPPORT THE ARTS IN TOPEKA

OnThursday, Aug. 31, representatives from Kansas Tourism presented separate checks to Visit Topeka/ ArtsConnect and the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District, as part of their 2023 Tourism Marketing Grant Program. Visit Topeka/ArtsConnect was awarded $5,000 to support arts programming commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education case. NOTO, meanwhile, was awarded $8,350 to support its work.

TOPEKA SWAG!!

Show your Topeka Pride with city-branded merchandise! Our new Welcome Center has a wide selection of gear, drinkware, pet items and various gifts. Visit Topeka is offering a 25% discount to all employees, investors, volunteers and board members. To get your official Topeka swag visit the Welcome Center and mention code LOVETOPEKA.

NYC2TOPEKA WINNER VISITS TOPEKA

Topeka hosted the winner of Visit Topeka’s NYC2Topeka sweepstakes Oct. 20-22. The winner, Vivian Tarn, brought a couple of close friends with her for the three-day, twonight stay in Kansas’ capital city. Visit Topeka staff worked closely with Vivian to plan her perfect itinerary, with stops in town including the Topeka Zoo, Brown v. Board, a Dierks Bentley concert at Stormont Vail Events Center, great restaurant spots, and more. Our guests reported

THE LATEST ON

The latest on Choose 2.0 — Choose Topeka 2.0 has been a huge success! In 2023, between the employer match and boomerang options, Choose Topeka helped 40 applicants and their families move to Topeka. The average annual salary of the recipients is just over $85,000, and more than half have made the decision to purchase a home in Shawnee County rather than rent. The program is getting more employer participation than ever before, with 18

2.0

different companies using the Choose initiative in 2023 alone to aid in their recruitment efforts. And that’s not all! Since Telemundo’s broadcasts about Topeka in October, GO Topeka has received thousands of calls, emails and visits from people interested in building their lives here, and more than 7,000 individuals from outside Shawnee County have utilized Choose Topeka’s SkillFit platform to create profiles that aid in their job search with Shawnee County employers.

FORGEFEST 2023 ROOFTOP PARTY

InSeptember, Forge hosted this year’s ForgeFest on the rooftop of downtown’s Crosby Place Parking Garage, where we had several hundred people in attendance throughout the night. ForgeFest attendees enjoyed live music by LYXE, entertainment by a DJ, food by Bus Barn Catering, mixed drinks by The Tee Box and Soliloquy, along with games and a selfie station with the Capitol building as a backdrop. In addition to the rooftop concert, Forge also hosted a talent attraction panel ahead of the concert. We invited engineering students from the University of Kansas and pre-engineering students from Washburn University to hear from a panel of local business leaders.

FORGE MAKES PROGRESS ON TOPEKA FLAG LICENSE PLATE INITIATIVE

Forge Young Talent has collected the signatures needed to move to the next phase of securing our own Topeka flag license plate. After collecting almost 300 signatures, the Topeka flag license plate will now go through a design and testing phase. The Kansas Department of Revenue is working to create several license plates so they can be tested to ensure they fit the legal requirements for an official state plate. Forge hopes to have the license plate live by the start of 2024.

TOPCITY

FORGE MEMBER UPDATE

Forge Young Talent gained 233 new members in 2023! This is the highest number on record for Forge new member recruitment, which has been a focus over the past two years. Forge achieved this record growth by implementing a couple of new strategies in markets it hadn’t targeted in the past.

After the success of new member marketing campaigns in 2022, Forge expanded its new member campaign in 2023 to include both spring and fall windows. The expansion included targeting nearby colleges, including Washburn University, University of Kansas, and Kansas State University, with digital marketing. In addition to digital marketing, Forge also put boots on the ground and tabled events at both Washburn and KU to get direct engagement with current students and soon-to-be members of the workforce.

A second strategy was to refocus efforts to engage with area interns participating in the TopCity Interns program. Even though it’s an official Forge initiative, we felt the TopCity Interns program and interns who participate had become siloed away from the larger Forge membership. Forge thought it would be beneficial for both groups to interact during events. We saw some initial success with this and want to continue that focus in 2024.

In addition to those strategies, Forge also continued its traditional efforts of working with local employers to engage their new hires and under-40 employees. All of this led to 233 new members in 2023, which was 34 new members than the previous year, and a total of 433 new members in the last two years.

Leadership

Greater Topeka

ANNOUNCES 2024 CLASS

• ALEX ADAME-BIPES –Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professional, FHLBank Topeka

• NADIA ARBELO – Interim Regional Director, Kansas SBDC @ Washburn

• LEANN BRUNGARDT – Youth Services Supervisor, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

• JOE BEASLEY – Assistant Vice President and Trust Officer, BOK Financial

• VIDAL CAMPOS – Sergeant, Topeka Police Department

• SHERYL DICK – SVP Member Services/Chief Retail Officer, Azura Credit Union

• JACKIE FOX – Project Manager, HTK Architects

• ZACH FRANK – Dean, School of Applied Studies, Washburn University

• JANICE GILMER-GENTRY –Manager of CMS Programs, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

• MAKAYLA GIRODAT – Realtor and Entrepreneur, Genesis Realtors LLC

• PHELICA GLASS – Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW, GCCA-C, FAAGC, CSOTP, SPARC), Phelicia Glass, LSCSW, LLC

• ROB GREGORY – AVP, CISO, Security Benefit

In December, The Partnership announced the names of community members chosen for the 2024 class of Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT), which is celebrating 40 years of developing local leaders!

Founded in 1984, LGT identifies aspiring and established leadership from the community to participate in a competitive annual leadership training course. Class members attend a retreat and nine day-long sessions that begin in January and continue through May. During these classes, participants increase their capacity to lead as they learn about challenges facing Topeka/ Shawnee County and how they can work to influence important community issues. The following 2024 class members were selected from more than 160 nominations:

• WRYLIE GUFFEY – Animal Curator & Elephant Manager, Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center

• CAITLYN HALSEY – Founder/ Employment Services Director, Dialogue Coffee House

• JADE KERR – Accounting Director/Controller, Capitol Federal Savings Bank

• PAYTON KOLLING – Senior, Washburn Rural High School

• SARAH LUCERO – Director of Title Services, USD 437

• JILL MARTIN – VP of Life Operations, Advisors Excel

• DANIELLE MARTIN – TV Host/ Producer, Advisors Excel

• STEPHANIE NORWOOD –Director of Entrepreneurship & Small Business, GO Topeka

• MICHAEL ODUPITAN – CEO & Founder, Omni Circle Group

• ERIC PATTERSON – Marketing Consultant, WIBW

• AMY PINGER – Sr. Community Engagement Manager, Harvesters - The Community Food Network

• CASSIE RICHARDSON –Senior Vice President-Marketing Manager, CoreFirst Bank & Trust

• CARMEN ROMERO-NICHOLS – Operations Manager, ECI Services

• LUCAS RYAN – Regulation and Policy Specialist, Kansas Department of Health & Environment

• PAULA SANDERS – Director Magnet & Clinical Excellence, Stormont Vail Health

• DAMON SHORE – Stock Room Lead, MARS Wrigley

• TROY SIMONEAU – Director of Operations, Kansas Gas Service

• JASON SMITH – Director of Volunteer Engagement and Events, Topeka Civic Theatre

• ANDREW TAGUE – Associate Attorney, Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, LLP

• JASON TRYON – Deputy Director of Public Works, City of Topeka

• STEVEN VICKERY – Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, MARS Wrigley

• SHANE WARTA – Director of Strategic Initiatives, Topeka Community Foundation

• COLA WHITE – Finance Manager, Cornerstone of Topeka

• ANDREW WRIGHT – Delivery Group Leader, Bartlett & West

NEXTGEN UNDER 30

ThePartnership is excited to recognize three of its staff members as honorees in the 2023 class of NextGen Under 30 Kansas! Ashlee Spring, director of investor relations; India Yarborough, director of communications; and Erin Young, marketing account manager, will be recognized alongside fellow honorees at an award ceremony in Wichita this October.

GTP WELCOMES NEW HIRES

TheGTP was excited to welcome new employees to our team recently. Claire Thomas joined our Events team in August as the GTP’s Events Coordinator. Claire has a bachelor’s degree from Emporia State University, where she gained event experience from her campus involvement and a variety of internships.

Alona Harrison joined the GTP in October as The Partnership’s Marketing Project Manager in

charge of the Topeka Chamber, LGT and Momentum accounts. Alona has a bachelor’s degree in business management, marketing, and fiancé, as well as an MBA, from Washburn University. She served as Director of Marketing for the inaugural For the Culture KS festival and previously interned for Glenda Washington and GO Topeka in 2018 and 2019. We’re excited to have Alona and her expertise in the mix!

Jessyca Moreno joined The

Partnership on Monday, Nov. 6 as Manager of Downtown Topeka & River Strategies. Jessyca, who also goes by Jessy, has a wealth of community involvement! She graduated from the Citizens Police Academy, the City of Topeka Public Works Academy, and volunteers with Boys and Girls Clubs of Topeka as a member of Club Blue. She is also bilingual, with fluency in both English and Spanish.

CLAIRE THOMAS ALONA HARRISON JESSYCA MORENO

2023 Financial Data

2023 REVENUE

JEDO INCENTIVES

SPONSORSHIPS & EVENTS

MO27 CONTRIBUTIONS

$1,741,388

$815,649 OTHER

$767,768

JEDO OPERATIONS

$2,974,183

$971,365 GRANTS

$589,138

MEMBERSHIP DUES

$770,517

TRANSIENT GUEST TAX

$2,062,331

2023 EXPENSES

$533,650

$508,720

$166,589

$1,072,629

$1,302,584

$2,966,823

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

$3,973,991

[ INNOVATIONINTHEHEARTLAND ]

PLUG AND PLAY, GO TOPEKA

DEMO DAY

Following GO Topeka travel to a Plug and Play Summit in Silicon Valley around the beginning of December, staff from GO Topeka and Plug and Play Topeka joined forces a week later to hold a special event here in the capital city. GO Topeka and Plug and Play Topeka invited special guest Ed Reggi to lead a pitch training session at the Sunflower Foundation for entrepreneurs, students, and small business owners. After the training session, recent graduates of the Plug and Play Topeka accelerator program pitched their innovative business concepts in front of venture capitalists and angel investors as part of a 2023 Demo Day.

PLUG AND PLAY ANNOUNCES FALL COHORT

Plug and Play Topeka recently announced 11 animal health startups and 13 agtech startups were selected for the sixth and eighth batches, respectively, of the Plug and Play Animal Health and AgTech Programs. These programs aim to bring global innovation to the heartland by facilitating opportunities for business development and mentorship, as well as pilots and proof of concepts, between the selected startups and founding partners of the Topeka program: Bimini Pet Health, Cargill, Evergy, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The latest startups, chosen by partners of the program, represent a broad range of new innovations in areas like automation, soil health, analytics, pet nutrition, alternative protein, and sustainable packaging. They also vary in terms of maturity, location, and experience with Plug and Play programming. A Kansas-based startup, Gaia Ag, is among the selected. Below is a full list of the chosen startups:

ANIMAL HEALTH

• 5 Element Food Therapy

• Bene Meat Technologies

• E-Livestock Global

• Ferma Farms

• Gaia Ag

• Moggie

• Nimble Science

• Offsetted

• Sylvester.ai

• Ten Lives

• Transfur

AGTECH

• American Edge Grain

• Amos Power

• Bankbarn

• Bovi

• Crop Intellect

• DigiFarmz Smart Agriculture

• finres

• Good Agriculture

• Kirkwall

• Nanotica

• Nitronic

• TierraSpec

• Yarta

BY THE NUMBERS

CELEBRATING

From new cultural festivals like For the Culture KS India Mela to Partnership-led functions like Annual Meeting and State of the Community, exciting and innovative events took the Topeka area by storm in 2023. As we gear up for more meaningful fun in 2024, we’re proud to look back on a vibrant year celebrating culture, progress, and community!

Rin September released their latest rankings of the best communities

2023, we shared some of Topeka’s story with world, landing features and mentions in outlets like Forbes, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Telemundo, Business Insider, and more! Covered topics ranged from talent attraction and economic development to real estate, Plug and Play, diversity efforts and beyond.

TOPEKA AREA SPORTS COMMISSION LAUNCHES TASC CARES

TheTopeka Area Sports Commission (TASC) in July officially announced the launch of TASC Cares, a new initiative dedicated to fulfilling the commission’s key goal of building a healthier community through equitable access to athletic competition. TASC Cares aims to bridge an oftenoverlooked gap in sports, ensuring that every child, regardless of financial standing, has the necessary equipment to pursue their sports dreams. TASC Cares plans to do that by providing micro-grants to local youths in need of assistance. Grants can be used for registration fees, equipment purchases, and other essential expenses related to athletic competition, and TASC has partnered with local sporting-goods store Play It Again Sports to supply qualified applicants with the equipment they need. TASC Cares will soon make its application process available on the TASC website, TopekaSports.org, which is currently being designed to accommodate this exciting new initiative. To ensure maximum reach, materials are being made available in both English and Spanish.

Proactive promotion of TASC Cares has begun, with TASC director Mike Bell appearing on the WIBW “red couch” at the end of July to talk about the program and spur interest in an inaugural TASC Cares fundraiser. That fundraiser took the form of a

mini-golf tournament on Aug. 14 at Topeka’s Sports Center and was considered a rousing success. A total of 44 participants, grouped into 11 different teams, showcased their putting skills and took part in yard games, adding a twist to the traditional minigolf format. Funding for TASC Cares will come from proceeds generated through events like this, as well as from private donations and community financial contributions. Grants will be administered through the Greater Topeka Partnership Foundation, ensuring program transparency and accountability. Donations to TASC Cares through the GTP Foundation are taxdeductible.

In October, TASC Cares commenced its first application process, with the application window lasting a month. This was followed by a month of careful deliberation in November, culminating with the first equipment distribution in December. Each application was reviewed carefully to ensure monetary support reached those who genuinely needed it. Ultimately, TASC Cares is more than just an initiative; it’s a testament to the power of community, compassion, and sports competition. We hope you’ll join us on the journey to make sports accessible to every budding athlete.

CARES CARES

TASC ECONOMIC IMPACT SURVEY

On Nov. 6, the Topeka Area Sports Commission (TASC) launched a survey to determine the outflow of sports-related economic activity from Topeka to other communities. TASC director Mike Bell set a lofty goal of having 2,000 respondents but was advised 500 would be good and statistically accurate. The survey remained open for about a month, garnering a total of more than 1,200 responses. TASC is now working with The Partnership’s economic advisor to build models that determine the outflow and should have a report ready by the end of the first quarter of 2024. From there, TASC will determine next steps for the data.

UNITED WAY-TASC FORCE

On Sept. 28, TASC director Mike Bell engaged in a productive meeting with representatives from United Way of Kaw Valley to discuss the potential inclusion of TASC in their agency listing. This initiative aims to leverage the United Way platform as a valuable resource for local sports organizations to post event volunteer opportunities. The overarching goal of this collaboration is to foster an increase in overall volunteerism for sporting events and the United Way. Additionally, we intend to compile and provide annual data regarding volunteerism within Topeka's sports sector, thereby contributing to informed decision making and strategy development in promoting community engagement.

Momentum

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

5YEARS

Iron Rail Brewing Devlin's Wine & Spirits

Shawnee County District Attorney's Office

2 Chefs Catering Society for Human Resource Mgmnt - Topeka Chapter

10YEARS

Briggs Subaru of Topeka

Matheson Gas

Jamie Lou Hornbaker - State Farm

Sprout Creative

TGW Wealth Management

McCownGordon Construction

Lower Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

Brad Noller - American Family Insurance

15YEARS

Hampton Inn

Qdoba Mexican Grill

20YEARS

Coldwell Banker American Home

Equity Bank

Kessinger/Hunter & Co. - Forbes Industrial Park LLC

Briggs Dodge

Valeo Behavioral Health Care

West Indian Hills Management, LLC

ServiceMaster Cleaning and Restoration by NEK

North Topeka Business Alliance, Inc

Garrison Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.

Breathe Oxygen & Medical Supply

25YEARS

David's Jewelers Alliance Bank

30YEARS

Meals On Wheels of Shawnee and Jefferson Counties, Inc.

THESE ARE THE ANNIVERSARY DATES FOR MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH THE CHAMBER

35YEARS

Topeka Performing Arts Center LindySpring Systems

Kansas Commercial Real Estate Services Inc

40YEARS

Jetz Service Co., Inc. Lincoln Center OB-GYN, PA Midwest Health

45YEARS

BNSF Railway Company

CoreFirst Bank & Trust

Cox Communications

50YEARS

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Of Kansas

Cable Dahmer of Topeka

Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority

MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS

PLEASE HELP US WELCOME THESE BUSINESSES THAT RECENTLY JOINED OUR MEMBER FAMILY

• Advantage Tech Inc.

• Alliance for a Healthy Kansas

• AO NOLO PRALINE CANDY

• Banner Mobility Resources Inc.

• Best Enterprises LLC

• Brancato’s Catering

• BREWpay Innovative Payment Services LLC (DBA: BREWpay)

• CBD American Shaman

• Clear View Inc.

• CoCo Cares

• Cake Topeka LLC DBA IHOP 3793

• Crunch Fitness

• CWC Electric LLC

• Dirty Dough Topeka

• Dohrn Transfer Company

• Eckerd Connects

• El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant

• Estevia Magic

• Family Eye Care of Topeka

• Fit Realty

• Forward Nutrition

• Foundations Commercial

• God’s Storehouse

• Hello Garage of Kansas City

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Topeka North

• Kansas Fencing Inc.

• Kansas State University Innovation Partners

• King Auto Glass

• KSHSAA - Kansas State High School Activities Association

• La Creperie Co.

• LeafFilter

• Levi Hamman Agency – Farm Bureau Financial Services

• Lena’s Learn and Play Daycare

• Love’s Moving Service

• M&M Golf Cars LLC

• Michael's Resurfacing

• Mission Church

*Norsemen Brewing Company, Lakeheim

• Once Upon a Party KS LLC

• Over the Top Sandwich and Deli LLC

• Oz Alliance

• Patterson Family Infant & Toddler Center

• Phoenix Home Care & Hospice

• Pulito Closets

• Sharp Plumbing LLC

• Technical Applications & Consulting

• The Hive LLC

• The Linen Tree

• The Mix

• The Mud Room

• The White Linen

• Tommy Leathers District Office of Farmers Insurance

• Topeka Pediatrics PA

• Torgeson Electric Company

• Turner Designs

• Unique Fitness and Beauty Studio LLC

• Vetco Total Care

• Whayne’s Herbs & Natural Products LLC

*Wildcat Construction

• 785 Beer Company

UNIQUE CULTURAL FESTIVALS

TAKE TOPEKA BY STORM

This past summer, Visit Topeka played a significant role in the funding and development of three major cultural festivals in Downtown Topeka. For the second year in a row, the Fiesta Topeka held a “mini Jamaica” on July 8, featuring Latin Grammy nominee Michael Salgado, who drew thousands of attendees.

On July 28, For the Culture KS kicked off an incredible three-day festival celebrating the beauty and resilience of the African American community in Kansas. Highlights included an amazing gala event and performances by Brandon Bizzy Evans and Jershika Maple.

On August 11, members of the Indian community launched the inaugural India Mela celebration at Evergy Plaza. This incredible event highlighted the vibrant culture of Indian communities across the state. Performers traveled from Kansas City, Wichita, and other locations around Kansas to participate.

MIRACLE ON KANSAS AVENUE TAKES DOWNTOWN BY STORM

OnDec. 2, downtown Topeka was transformed into the city’s hub for the holidays with the Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade! 2023 brought an upgraded parade experience with the addition of the Shawnee County Parks + Recreation mobile stage and a carpet donated by GTP member Carpet One for float entries to pause and show off their holiday cheer on the parade route. Spectators were also welcomed to Evergy Plaza that night to enjoy Cookies and Carols sponsored by Topeka First United Methodist Church; the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting; and a meet-and-greet with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and live reindeer!

CLEAN & SAFE TASK FORCE UPDATE

Downtown’s Clean & Safe Task Force launched its notify@downtowntopekainc.com initiative. This strategy is aimed at having a common source for reporting any incidents regarding cleanliness and safety downtown, from minor occurrences to criminal activity. Data collected will be used to identify patterns and issues that need the most attention, with an emphasis on solutions and advocation.

TOUCHA-TRUCK TAKES DOWNTOWN BY STORM

Downtown

Topeka’s 10th annual Toucha-Truck was held in early September at Evergy Plaza. The 2023 event offered new experiences, featuring a bubble machine, book giveaways, and appearances from characters like Bob the Builder. This year, we saw one of the largest turnouts ever for this particular event.

NEW CHAMBER PRESIDENT JOINS THE GTP RANKS

TopekaChamber President Juliet Abdel joined the GTP team in November, just days after helping emcee The Partnership’s 2023 State of the Community! During her first 60 days on the job, Juliet has taken the position in stride, connecting with nearly 200 of Topeka's finest through one-onone meetings. This has been part of her immersion into all those things that make the Topeka/Shawnee County community stand out. She has also engaged with local media partners, sharing her initial impressions of the community and hopes for the future on talk shows at KSNT and WIBW. Juliet looks forward to more community outreach over the next several months, as she continues to share what the Topeka Chamber is doing as your voice for business. We hope you’ll help us welcome Juliet to Team Topeka, as she gears up for a worthwhile 2024!

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Our

2024 Topeka Chamber legislative priorities can be found online at TopekaPartnership.com/topekachamber. After having removed successful policies that passed last year, our areas of interest continue to fall under the umbrella of "Kansans Work," with key issues including child care, workforce training, higher education, and housing.

SMALL BUSINESS INCENTIVES UPDATE

Following the close of our fall Small Business Incentives application window, the selection committee approved awarding almost $158,000 to 25 unique companies, funding 33 different incentive projects. The winter 2024 application window is open, and applicants can continue to use GO Topeka’s new online automated system for ease and convenience.

In the fall window, GO Topeka saw a few participants from Spanish translation information sessions apply and receive awards, marking the success of our bilingual programming. In November, the Small Business Incentives program was also part of a presentation at a Lenders Luncheon, allowing us to share the opportunity with our banking community so they can better serve their clients and pass along the opportunity when relevant.

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK GO TOPEKA TAKES PART IN

GOTopeka celebrated Global Entrepreneurship Week in November, with great events put on by us and our community partners. Kicking off the week, Washburn University held an “Ichabods of Industry” event featuring downtown business owner and entrepreneur Ken Schmanke. That evening, we invited our network to join us for Business Unwind, celebrating WIBW’s 70th anniversary. Mid-week, GO Topeka supported the Kansas Chamber’s Women in Business Conference, where we were able to fill a table with women who are aspiring business owners or currently on their entrepreneurship journeys. On Thursday, GO Topeka held an end-of-year celebration for Propeller, bringing back those who participated in the mentorship program throughout the year, alongside the small business council and those interested in participating in Propeller in the future. At the celebration, Mayor Padilla issued the city’s Small Business Saturday Proclamation, and attendees heard keynote speaker Tara Dimick talk about her entrepreneur journey full of mentorship and growth. Later that evening, GO Topeka held its 2023 Equity and Opportunity Business Pitch Competition.

Momentum

1) Housing for All

Active Core & Neighborhoods

Arts & Recreation

A PLACE TO LIVE A PLACE TO LEARN

Retain & Expand

Launch & Develop

A PLACE TO PROSPER

EQUITY

1) Cradle Through Career

2) Access to Opportunity

Promote & Attract 1) Engaged & Empowered

A PLACE TO BELONG

Proud & Aware

Recruit & Retain Talent

MOMENTUM IN ACTION

Topeka/Shawnee

County's Momentum 2027 community strategy, now a quarter of the way through, is being measured by the GTP and Momentum 2027 Executive Committee. Our Momentum 2027 Strategic Metric Tracker shows notable progress in key areas and room for improvement in others. It's important to note that Population Growth, GDP, Higher Education, and Poverty Rate indicators have a one-year lag.

Currently, four of the tracker's 10 indicators are on target, significantly surpassing expectations. These include Jobs in Shawnee County, Household Income, GDP, and Poverty Rate, all of which are trending in the right direction. Three of the 10 indicators are under caution, with Net Promoter Score suggesting a potential shortfall, wages in Shawnee County growing just over 3% but falling slightly short of the 4% target, and capital investment showing growth but at lower levels than desired. The remaining three indicator areas need improvement. While we aren't yet achieving a perfect 10/10 when it comes to metrics, the ambitious targets reflect high expectations, emphasizing our commitment to excellence and specific numerical measurements.

Click here for video update https://vimeo.com/882546726/ e0b539e895?share=copy.

ISRAEL SANCHEZ NAMED DIRECTOR OF EQUITY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Following the retirement decision of Glenda Washington—who continued to serve as Chief Equity & Opportunity Officer through Nov. 30—GO Topeka was proud to announce that the GTP’s own Israel Sanchez was promoted to Director of Equity and Business Development.

Israel expressed his excitement for the opportunity, saying, “I am truly honored to step into this role. My experience coming to the United States as a refugee from Cuba as a child has given me a unique perspective. I have seen what the American Dream can be, and I firmly believe that this dream is alive and well in Topeka. I am eager to continue the work of ensuring that all businesses feel represented, heard, and have access to the resources they need to achieve their dreams.”

Israel assumed his new role on Nov. 6, giving him time to learn from Washington prior to her departure. Please help us congratulate him on this new, well-deserved role!

BROWN COALITION HOLDS 70TH ANNIVERSARY PRAYER BREAKFAST

The 70th Anniversary Brown v. Board Coalition, co-chaired by Beryl New, Glenda Washington, and Cheryl Brown Henderson, began its yearlong celebration of the 70th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation in the country’s public schools. The coalition has hosted two community conversations, with panel discussions covering cultural norms and more. On Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m., an interfaith community prayer breakfast was held at the Maner Conference Center’s Sunflower Ballroom at Hotel

Topeka. The event featured a powerful keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, performances by the Love & Justice Community Choir, and more. The prayer breakfast was held in October because it marks the month in 1952 when the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear all five school desegregation cases collectively. Be on the lookout for more events organized by the Brown Coalition ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision coming up in May 2024.

GTP HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL DEI SUMMIT

Ourthird-annual DEI Summit was held Aug. 31 at Prairie Band Casino and Resort. The Summit featured keynote speaker Dr. Shirley Davis, a nationally renowned speaker and best-selling author. Dr. Davis’ presentation reflected the theme of the summit: Cultivating Cultures of Inclusion, Belonging and High Performance. The second keynote speaker, Joey Aviles, delivered a strong message about The Power of Human Connection: Changing Mindsets, Shifting Cultures. The audience was made up of around 200 attendees. These individuals participated in breakout sessions, interactive polls, and a DEI Town Hall discussion.

GO TOPEKA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2023 E&O BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION

The Greater Topeka Partnership and GO Topeka were excited to announce four winners of our 2023 Equity and Opportunity Business Pitch Competition held Thursday, Nov. 16 in downtown Topeka. The pitch contest offered a chance for aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups to present their innovative ideas to some of the area’s business decision makers, competing for a portion of the $38,000 prize pool. Eleven entrepreneurs and new business owners participated, with the following winners being recognized:

• 1st place – Chef Lamona Scroggins for her expansion into grocery stores ($15,000)

• 2nd place – The Grind Coaching & Consulting/Fatima Luthi for a new mobile app ($10,000)

• 3rd place – Paletas Royale ice cream/Estaban Polanco ($8,000)

• 4th place – Topeka Treat Company/Jaime Davis ($5,000)

THANK YOU TO OUR AD ASTRA MEMBERS

Scott Gendersen Edward Jones

PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTERS

• The Home Depot RDC

• Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, LLP

• The Kansas Rehabilitation Hospital

• Sloan, Eisenbarth, Glassman, McEntire & Jarboe LLC

• Alpha Media (AM 580, 94.5 Country, Country Legends 106.9)

• United Rentals

• Community Care Network

• Nine Bridge Painters, LP

• Rasmussen College

• United Rentals

• Stone & Story Real Estate Group, LLC

INFLUENCERS

• Denali Home Design

• Del-Metrius Herron Realtor

• Two Men and A Truck

• Meadowlark Home Health

• Endeavor Private Wealth

• Cumulus Media, Inc. Topeka

• Haus Property Partners

• Wells Fargo Advisors

• KBS Constructors, Inc

• Intrepid Companies LLC KQRB-FM

96.9 The Beat

• Culligan Water of Topeka

• Kansas Gas Service-A Division of ONE Gas Inc.

• THM, LLC

• Lincoln Center OB-GYN, PA

• Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home

• Shopper's Kitchen

• The Sweet Tee

• The Tee Box

• Wheatfield Village Apartments

• Taco Bell

• ppB Enviro-Solutions

• Mercury Broadband

Greater Topeka Partnership

719 S Kansas Ave.

Topeka, Kansas 66603-3515

TOP MAG (USPS 576520) is published twice a year for members of the Greater Topeka Partnership, 719 S Kansas Ave.

Topeka, Kansas 66603-3515, 785.234.2644.