The Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas is nearing the application portion of its search for a new president.
During the RDA Board of Directors meeting Friday morning, Board Chair Jon Geitz announced the Presidential Search Committee was making final adjustments to the official job posting for the president’s position with current President Kent Heerman set to retire in the first quarter of 2022. According to Geitz, the posting should go live by Monday of next week.
Geitz says the deadline for applications will be Wednesday, Oct. 6 which he feels is more than enough time to develop a wide pool of potential candidates.
Geitz says they are hoping to have a new president selected by mid to late November.
The job posting will be viewable on all RDA social media and its official website as well as www.Thenextmovegroup.com. Heerman has served as the RDA’s president for over the past 27 years after assuming the role back in February of 1994.
In other business, the board granted approval for the RDA to begin exploring a new potential partnership that could have significant economic impacts for the area. The proposed partnership between the RDA, Flint Hills Technical College and the Kansas State University Technology Development Institute would see the organizations apply for grant funding through the Economic Development Association’s Build Back Better program.
The ultimate goal is to develop a Great Plains Microfactories Network which would provide an equitable, cost-effective means of expanding new manufacturing operations including facilities and workforce. Heerman says this endeavor could be a great tool for both workforce recruitment and retention.
FHTC President Dr. Caron Daugherty says FHTC’s involvement in the effort could also have significant learning opportunities for their students.
Applying for the program is a two-step process with the first application due by Oct. 19. If the entities are approved for the second phase, the second application would be due by mid-March of next year.
Discussions on the endeavor are expected to continue during the board’s next regular meeting on Friday, Oct. 8 at 7 am inside the Trusler Business Center.
