Answers are still formulating and input is being sought as work continues to flesh out the details of the community’s new economic development umbrella agency, the Flint Hills Economic Alliance.
FHEA, as it is also known, was announced during a recent meeting of the Emporia City and Lyon County Commissions as a way to bring all economic agencies under a single roof. At that time, members of the FHEA development committee stated development of the agency was at 60 percent near completion; however, there appeared to still be several questions up in the air, namely, how certain entities such as Emporia Main Street, would continue to operate as an affiliate of Kansas Main Street if it were absorbed into the FHEA.
On that same track, KVOE News asked Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking. During the recent Q&A with Trey on KVOE Tuesday, if the FHEA moves forward as conceptualized, what would happen to major community events overseen by entities set to be absorbed by the FHEA? Cocking says when it comes to said activities and events, “Everything that is good, we want to see in the new organization.”
As previously mentioned, committee members have stated the agency, as of last month, was at the 60 percent mark of organization; but with many questions still unanswered, KVOE News asked if that was still the proper percentage. Cocking responded with an analogy comparing the agency to a cake, saying it is not fully baked, but the recipe is coming together.
With this in mind, KVOE News asked if the committee felt it may have announced plans for the entity too soon, to which Cocking says the idea behind announcing last month was to give the community and various economic entities enough time to digest the concept.
As the process continues to flesh out the final design of the agency, Cocking says community input is being sought and will be an important piece of the final product.
The announcement of the FHEA came as the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas president search surpassed the two and a half year mark with no candidates announced. RDA leadership has told KVOE News in recent weeks that the search has been put on hold as the attention will shift to finding a CEO/President for the FHEA that will oversee all departments and operations should the alliance be formulated as planned.
KVOE News will continue to provide updates on the FHEA as they develop.
