The recent visit by Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Department Secretary David Toland points up Emporia’s economic attributes, but it also draws attention to Emporia’s economic development efforts “getting back on track.”
Lyle Butler, the interim president and CEO for the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas, says Monday’s visit by the lieutenant governor reflects his interest in seeing Emporia succeed.
Toland highlighted Emporia’s assets, including highway access, railway access, property availability and higher education during his visit with local leaders and lawmakers representing Lyon County — all of which Butler has been mentioning since he became the RDA’s interim leader around 15 months ago. After Toland said Emporia is well-suited to development through advanced manufacturing, food processing and logistics, Butler said food processing will likely be a continued strength.
Butler says local leaders are analyzing the local workforce with the help of Kansas WorkforceONE to determine local skill sets, as well as how far Emporia can pull potential workers for local jobs.
Toland’s visit to Emporia came almost right after the RDA Board of Directors announced a retention and expansion effort where the RDA and other city leaders have sit-down conversations with different local employers. Butler admits this push wasn’t a major point of emphasis for months until recently, with Butler, Interim RDA Vice President Brad Kraft, City Manager Trey Cocking and others all involved.
Butler says Toland has indicated Emporia will be a focal point for the Kansas Department of Commerce going forward. Toland will lead a trade mission trip to Asia next week and another one to Europe in July.
Butler, a guest on KVOE’s Morning Show on Wednesday, closed out his interview by saying the next few months could lead to “some very positive developments” when it comes to economic development locally.
