Emporia and downtowns across Kansas are rising thanks to governor’s leadership, local partnerships
Many communities share the goal of revitalizing their core districts to drive economic success and enhance quality of life. Downtowns are the heart of regional entrepreneurship. They preserve community history, and they represent walkable neighborhoods that are enhanced by a mix of uses necessary to sustain and grow our local economies.
Achieving community success requires passion, focus, investment and partnerships, such as the Kansas Main Street program, a powerful tool for improving vitality in communities of all sizes. Connecting resources and sharing best practices with the expectation of measurable results has been a hallmark of the Kelly administration.
Emporia Main Street implements the “4 Point Approach”: a program created by Main Street America to foster economic and community development. This practice, when coupled with volunteers, members and investors has created a busy and inviting downtown.
Our partnership with the state of Kansas through Kansas Main Street and the Department of Commerce have provided resources, training and emergency support necessary to generate the foundation for community success.
We appreciate Gov. Laura Kelly’s leadership in re-establishing the Kansas Main Street program after its shutdown in 2012 by a previous administration. The abrupt cancellation of the program left many entrepreneurial businesses struggling to identify support mechanisms and the lack of state coordinating support contributed to the decline of business density and jobs in many Main Street communities.
Entrepreneurs and community cores are often referred to as the backbone of America. Governmental partnerships that strengthen our downtowns, assist our entrepreneurs, and enhance a “grow our own” strategy is critical to diversifying and enhancing our state’s economic prospects.
The Kelly administration made providing our communities the tools they need to grow a priority. The re-establishment of our state Main Street program provides our small businesses and entrepreneurs the ability to tap into a network of peers and support throughout the United States to help replicate best practices that result in sustainable growth.
Emporia Main Street’s commitment to the Main Street approach for the past 30 years has enabled our community to transform from a downtown with a 40% vacancy rate and limited investment, to an entrepreneurial center that hosts international events, promotes historic preservation and provides our region with its identity.
Most recently, Emporia Main Street was named the 2021 National Main Street Forward Award winner for our support of small businesses during the COVID pandemic. In 2020, Emporia was one of three Main Street communities selected and studied by the Brookings Institute as a model for strengthening rural communities.
Through the difficulty of the pandemic, our communities have found allies at the state level that have enabled growth. Gov. Kelly’s resurrection of Kansas Main Street has been a vital tool in the state’s historic economic improvement.
Small Businesses and entrepreneurs are absolutely key to any sustainable economic advancement strategy, and the Kelly administration has wholeheartedly embraced support for our local businesses and community cores by supporting Kansas Main Street.
It’s been exciting to hear from communities throughout Kansas that are eager to join the Main Street movement. Together, with an administration hyper focused on Economic Development, our Main Street governor can help our local Main Street programs develop diverse community cores with future focused jobs, housing, and lifestyle businesses.
It’s an exciting time to be a community advocate and entrepreneurial support agency in Kansas. Together, with support and advocacy on the state level, we are fully committed to making our communities and downtown districts the best places in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.
Casey Woods is the executive director of Emporia Main Street.