Interviews are complete and the results of a recent review of Emporia’s economic development efforts is expected possibly sometime next month.
That was the report delivered by Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Interim President Jim Witt during the RDA board’s monthly meeting Friday morning. Witt tells KVOE News Vision First, the agency hired to conduct an economic study by the city of Emporia earlier this year, concluded its series of in-person and online interviews with all economic development-related entities in Emporia last month.
Witt says he anticipates the results will be made available in September and notes that while the process has been somewhat controversial, he believes it could be highly beneficial to the entire community, especially from a marketing perspective.
Following the announcement of the city’s plans to conduct the review, there were initial concerns that the city was looking to do away with entities such as the RDA. However; city commissioners were adamant this process is only meant to help strengthen said entities.
It’s Witt’s opinion that once the results are made available they will need to be reviewed with an open mind and a willingness to “take it for what it’s worth.”
Witt will be joining KVOE’s Prime Time Newsmaker on Monday, August 26 to update the work of the RDA in greater depth.
In other business Friday, the board discussed appropriations requests from Flint Hills Technical College, received a financial review and considered the possibility of a new RDA logo.
