Local leaders from across the Flint Hills attended a regional economic summit at Emporia State University last week.
Attendees, including current Osage City Clerk and soon-to-be City Manager Katie Hodge, discussed their current approaches to economic development, as well as ways to regionalize and thus enhance their standing with lawmakers.
Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods says the meeting was a way to start a much-needed conversation, including best practices and shared resources. He says a regional approach makes a lot of sense when it comes to economic development in rural areas.
Woods also says rural cities often miss out on federal funding for projects because they don’t take a regional approach to gain more clout with lawmakers.
Another meeting is tentatively set for June, and quarterly meetings may become commonplace as this discussion continues.
