Chamber Vision September and October 2017 | Page 20

20 September & October 2017
Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau
RDA Happenings
Over the years there are certain dates that become important events in our area
economy.
For instance in June of 1994, we were first contacted by Menu Pet Food representatives,
who were conducting a site search in eastern Kansas, southwest Missouri, or northeastern
Oklahoma for a new nutrition plant. They identified this region as a “zone of indifference”
meaning that Menu could build a Pet Nutrition plant in that area and be successful.
Our objective continues to present the Emporia region as a community that can make a
Kent Heermann
President, Regional
Development Association
of East Central Kansas
difference for a prospective company that will be mutually beneficial to the Emporia region
and business.
Over the years we developed a cooperative relationship with Menu, then in the spring
1997 the decision was made for Menu Pet Food to locate in Emporia, which today is
Simmons Pet Food, which has grown steadily with numerous expansions in the last 20
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOC. of EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
The Regional Development
Association of East Central
Kansas (RDA) is the lead
economic development
organization for Lyon
County and the Emporia
area. The four members
of the RDA are the
Emporia Area Chamber
of Commerce, Emporia
Enterprises, the City
of Emporia, and Lyon
County. The RDA is located
with the Emporia Area
Chamber of Commerce
and the Convention and
Visitors Bureau at the
Trusler Business Center,
719 Commercial, Emporia,
KS 66801. Kent Heerman
RDA President, can be
contacted at 620-342-1600
ext. 16, or kheermann@
emporiarda.org.
years.
Simmons today has over 500 employees, and is one of our top ten major employers in
the region, for almost 20 years has had a significant economic impact on our region, with
job creation, purchasing agricultural products, and increasing the local property tax base.
The past July 20, 2017, we experienced the Emporia water outage. This impacted
everyone and every business in Emporia, and Lyon County. It was a wake-up call that the
city water system needs some upgrades to protect the water system from a total shut down.
The Emporia City Commission is committed to necessary improvements to make the
system will be much better, and more reliable.
In June 2013, we first met the developers Spencer Thompson, Mike Neighbors, and Rob
Herman, who wanted to invest in Emporia’s retail development. Over the last year or so,
the first phase of the Emporia Pavilions was completed with a ribbon cutting for the new
Hobby Lobby store on August 14th.
The community waits patiently for the next addition to the Emporia Pavilions. We
welcome their investment and faith in the Emporia retail market area.
We are hopeful that several new developments will occur in the Emporia market
area over the coming months. We have several of our existing businesses considering
reinvesting in Emporia, and a few new companies considering Emporia.