The Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Board of Directors could officially start searching for a permanent president as part of a special meeting next week.
The board is gathering from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Tuesday at the Trusler Business Center, 719 Commercial. The selection search is featured with Jim Witt serving as interim president since the resignation of former president Chuck Scott in late January.
The discussion about a permanent president dovetails into the other agenda item: more conversation about the Vision First strategic economic study unveiled earlier this month. The study calls for an umbrella agency overseeing operations of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Main Street, RDA — which could possibly serve as that oversight agency — and Visit Emporia by late 2027 or early 2028, along with the dissolution of Emporia Enterprises and an increased emphasis on performance-based metrics for local economic development agencies.