This is setting up to be a busy year for Ignite Emporia.
Ignite, as it’s now commonly called, is designed to enhance local efforts in workforce development, housing development and revitalization, community development, community marketing and business retention over five years — and it developed after numerous discussions with business leaders and other stakeholders. On KVOE’s Talk of Emporia on Thursday, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeanine McKenna says that input was vital in setting the plan as it now stands.
Fundraising continues at this time. McKenna says close to $1.2 million is on hand, and there are several one-year commitments that would put the campaign at the $1.6 million goal.
Also continuing at this time is groundwork on a major housing study. RDG will conduct targeted listening sessions with elected officials, school district officials, bankers, business owners and others Tuesday and Wednesday. The consulting firm will also have an open public meeting at 3 pm Tuesday at the Trusler Business Center. Several other meetings have now been announced:
*Tuesday: USD 251 North Lyon County board office and Reading Community Building. Both meetings start at 6 pm
*Wednesday: Hartford Community Center. The meeting will start at 5:30 pm. Olpe will have a separate meeting at 5:30 pm with a location to be announced Monday
For more information, call the Chamber at 342-1600 or go online to www.emporiakschamber.org.
