The Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas is continuing to explore opportunities for more economic development in the local community.
Earlier this year the RDA had a target industry snapshot conducted by Research On Investment (ROI) that revalidated the types of companies that best suit the Emporia area. To no surprise, one of the targeted areas was food manufacturing and distribution along with precision manufacturing and outdoor sports.
During their monthly meeting Friday, the RDA Board of Directors approved a motion to sign a six-month agreement with ROI to continue work on targeting industries. The work will include generating potential leads on new businesses.
RDA President Kent Heerman explains these leads will include businesses that may have an appetite for expanding in the Emporia area.
The total cost of the work comes out to $28,000. Details on when the work is scheduled to begin are currently pending.
In other business, the board also took a look at the RDA succession plan which has been in development since the start of the year. The board now has a plan template developed with much of Friday’s conversations focusing on what individual would fill the seat of the RDA President for a short-term or long-term incapacitation or a planned or unplanned departure.
RDA Chairman Jim Kessler, and other board members, felt the natural choice to temporarily fill the vacant president’s position given any of these circumstances would be the President’s Executive Assistant.
Kessler says work on the succession plan began after the board’s planning session this past winter where it was discovered no plan had ever been developed. Kessler says it is a necessary plan to have in place referring to the document as “good business.”
Kessler is hopeful the plan may be finalized and ready for approval by September or October of this year.
The RDA Board of Directors will reconvene for their monthly meeting in September.
