Emporia City Commissioner Tyler Curtis looks at requested changes to RDA board as an opportunity for growth and new perspective for local economic development

What some may perceive as an attempted takeover of economic development in Emporia is instead, in the opinion of one Emporia City Commissioner, an opportunity to further economic opportunities for the local community.

As KVOE News has reported over the past two weeks, city commissioners recently approved Mayor Erren Harter to send a letter to the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas requesting a change in the entity’s board structure. Specifically, the city is seeking to have a larger representation on the board on which it currently only has two representatives while providing the entirety of funding for the agency.

Tuesday, Commissioner Tyler Curtis issued a statement on the matter where he expressed his belief that rather than being a change for the sake of change, the reorganization could be a chance to explore new ideas for growing and expanding the city’s economic opportunities in the future. How would they achieve this? Curtis says it starts with appointments to the board including those who are involved in emerging and burgeoning industries as well as smaller business owners.

Curtis says he can understand why some may be hesitant to consider such a shift in the board’s structure. Still, he says it is important not to let pride blind individuals to negative trends that are very prevalent within the city. Some of the trends Curtis outlined included a better than eight percent dip in population since 2007 and a better than 13 percent decline in fully employed individuals in that same time frame.

Curtis added that there have been a lot of great efforts made in recent years to correct some of these trends but he says while we should applaud said efforts, we cannot ignore reality.

In the previously mentioned letter sent to the RDA board, the city set a deadline of January 21 for the RDA to make the changes requested before additional action is taken. There has been no indication thus far from the RDA on how it plans to proceed forward.

KVOE News will continue to update you on the situation as it unfolds.

Full statement from Emporia City Commissioner Tyler Curtis

Happy (almost) New Year! As we turn the page on 2024 and enter 2025, I am focused on economic growth and development for the City of Emporia. Over the past 30 years, the Regional Development Association (RDA) has achieved much. Thanks to partnerships with companies like Simmons, Michelin, Norfolk Iron & Metal, Hills, and Hostess, Emporia is better off than it might have been otherwise. Yet, it’s worth asking: Is merely “better off” good enough?

Here’s a rather stark reality: Emporia is smaller and poorer than it was three decades ago. Since 2007, our population has dropped from 26,300 to 24,109 (-8.4%), and fully employed individuals have declined from 18,910 to 16,400 (-13.3%). These numbers suggest an aging population and fewer opportunities for our working citizens. Additionally, wage growth has lagged behind national trends. In 2007, Emporia’s median household income was $34,000 compared to the national average of $50,000 (a 32% gap). Today, that gap has widened to 35%, with Emporia’s median income at $52,787 compared to $80,600 nationally. This disparity has real consequences, depriving families of income that could improve their quality of life.

The City as a whole is accountable for these trends. It is the City’s responsibility to create a vision for community growth. Through your tax dollars – tax dollars raised by a special sales tax voted on by the people – the City provides 100% of RDA’s funding. Yet, City appointees currently hold just two of the seven votes on the RDA board. To better represent the community, the City is seeking more representation on this critical board.

Our current representatives include a commissioner and a former CEO of Hopkins Manufacturing. By increasing representation, the City can appoint more community members with professional expertise in areas such as Management & Administration, Accounting or Finance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Economics, Logistics / Supply Chain Management, and Business Law. This would be achieved transparently through the same application and interview process already practiced and followed to fill current open positions on boards and commissions (see https://www.emporiaks.gov/1278/Boards-Commissions). Final action on all of these appointments is done in public by official City Commission action. This approach empowers the people, as City representatives are accountable to the people through the ballot box and a transparent appointment process.

Since September 2023, the City has been discussing restructuring its approach to economic development with local leaders. An initial task force led to a contract with VisionFirst, whose final report, presented in September 2024, offers insights to guide a new structure.

Using VisionFirst’s findings and other resources, I have outlined a way forward and presented it to RDA leaders. While not perfect, it’s a foundation for negotiation and progress.

This is a complex issue, but one we must address now. Before hiring the next RDA President and CEO, we should ensure the organization is structured for success. Emporia deserves a future where economic development is transparent, responsive, and results-oriented. When it comes to economic development, our community can and should expect accountability and collaboration as well as equity, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

I am deeply grateful for our local businesses and their contributions to the community. I will continue to support them as they work to sustain, grow, advance, and innovate their operations in Emporia. That’s a promise.

At the same time, we must focus on attracting new employers and nurturing local entrepreneurs. In 30 years, I want us to celebrate how far we’ve come, rather than simply reflecting on how bad things could have been.

A question we should all be asking is whether we continue with the status quo or strive for meaningful change. Should we accept further population decline and median-wage jobs, or should we aim for growth and attract industries offering higher-paying positions?

Economic development must be measurable and centered on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Progress will likely require changes in leadership and philosophy. I invite you to join me in driving that progress and reversing the current trends. Together, we can ensure a thriving future for Emporia.