Thank You
Board of Directors
Kristin Brighton, New Boston Creative
Lanny Bosse, Kaw Valley State Bank
Casey Butler, Champion Teamwear
Dr. David Cancelada, Flint Hills Dentistry
Peter Clark, Bayer Construction
Amanda Childress, Green Dot Bioplastics
Chris Eichman, Midwest Concrete Materials
Chad Kinsley, Pottawatomie County
Terry Force, Force Land Surveying
Korey Klingenberg, ICON Structures
Josh Marquardt, Bennington State Bank
Dave Perry, Perry Electric
Pete Reilly, Sidekick Solutions
Patrick Schutter, BHS Construction
Mike Solida, Evergy
Jason Smith, Manhattan Area Chamber
Investors
4th & Elm Bar & Grill
Alternative Air
Anderson Knight Architects
Axiota/ MS Biotec
Bank of the Flint Hills
Bartlett & West
Bayer Construction
BBN Architects
Benesch
Bennington State Bank
BG Consultants
BHS Construction
Blue Valley Technologies
Bluestem Electric
Blueville Nursery
Bruce McMillan AIA Architects
Capital City Oil
City of Wamego
Community HealthCare System, Inc.
CRs Tire
Custom Wood Products
Drippe’ Homes
Ebert Construction
ESB Financial
Evergy
Farmers State Bank
Flint Hills Dental
Flint Hills Fitness
Foundation Realty
Fox Home Innovations
Friendship House
Green Dot Bioplastics
Hi-Tech Interiors
Howie’s Recycling
Hutton
Icon Structures
Kansas Commercial Real Estate
Kaw Valley State Bank
KS State Bank
Landmark Bank
Larson Construction
Manhattan Surgical Hospital
Manko Window Systems
McCown Gordon
McKee Farm
Midwest Concrete Materials
Nelson’s Ridge LLC
New Boston Creative
Olsson
Pepsi Cola of Manhattan
Perry Electrical Systems
Pugh & Pugh
Reed Company, LLC
Riley Construction Company
Shilling Construction Co. Inc.
Sidekick Solutions
Sink Gordon & Associates
SMH Consultants
Spirits of ‘76
SPS Companies
Stormont-Vail HealthCare
Sugar Creek Country Store
T&M Concrete
The Trust Company
Wamego Drug Store
Wamego Health Center
Wamego Inn
Wamego Self Storage
Wildcat Fitness & Fun
WTC
Connected Community in Challenging Times
Caterpillar Facility Closure Announced
Caterpillar announced the facility closure to employees on June 6, 2024. Unsure whether the company would transition the facility and workforce to a new buyer or leave the building vacant, we immediately engaged city and county officials and the Lt. Governor’s office to ensure state-level attention. Our top priority was to retain the workforce and connect workers with regional opportunities to keep them in the area.
Moving quickly, we led a local working group to identify critical priorities and bring key stakeholders together. We worked closely with public officials, Caterpillar executives, and partners to advocate for workforce retention. A local task force of business and community leaders was also formed, with one member aptly stating, “Nothing would be an overreaction.”
To attract potential buyers, we maintained regular communication with listing agents and actively promoted the facility. Since then, we have consistently engaged with interested prospects and remain optimistic that the facility will be filled quickly, creating opportunities for the existing workforce.
Westmoreland Tornado Recovery
On the evening of April 30th, a tornado struck Westmoreland creating EF-3 damage with hail 1-2″ in diameter and wind gusts exceeding 80 mph. By 8 a.m. the next morning, we were at the city office, assisting with phone calls and coordinating resources.
We collaborated with local organizations to organize and promote fundraising efforts and worked with government officials to secure access to state and federal recovery programs. The tornado destroyed 35 homes, making rebuilding a significant challenge.
We remain committed to supporting and advocating for Westmoreland throughout its recovery process.
Fostered Community Collaboration
In the summer of 2024, we collaborated with communities across the county and co-hosted six candidate forums, providing a platform for county commissioner candidates to share their vision for Pottawatomie County. They were well attended with a total of 422 attendees. These forums also included candidates for sheriff, county attorney, (and where applicable) state House and Senate seats. The PCEDC website became known as a central hub for county candidates as we shared Q&A submissions from candidates and routinely shared key dates, links, locations, and maps.
PCEDC played a key role in regional discussions on housing and childcare, leading task forces to set strategic direction and prioritize actions for maximum impact on these complex issues.
Following Caterpillar’s announcement to close, in addition to engaging a regional taskforce, we collaborated with local employers and KansasWorks to host a Community Career Fair in August. This career fair featured 39 local employers, in partnership with the Wamego and Kaw Valley Chambers.
Promoted Business Opportunity and Growth
We supported business growth by helping existing companies expand and attracting new ones to Pottawatomie County. We meet with business leaders and collaborate with partners like the Kansas Department of Commerce to connect with potential businesses. Through the Greater Manhattan Economic Partnership (GMEP), we promote the region to new industries. Our partners highlight success stories like HydroGraph Clean Power, recognized by the state for innovation this year.
Connected Entrepreneurs With E-Community Loans
Our organization partners with Network Kansas to promote and administer E-Community loans, providing crucial financial support to local entrepreneurs and small businesses. Since 2010, we have helped facilitate 61 loans, empowering businesses with the capital needed to start, expand, and thrive. Through this program, we connect applicants with funding opportunities, guide them through the application process, and ensure they have access to valuable resources for long-term success. By fostering local economic growth and supporting business development, our E-Community loan efforts align with our mission to enhance county-wide prosperity through strategic partnerships.
Fostered Business Expansion and Retention
Through conversations with local businesses, stakeholders, and partners, we connect leaders to vital resources, such as real estate, financial support, workforce development, and research tools. This included facilitating headquarters expansion discussions for two Wamego-based employers. In partnership with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, we co-hosted an Exporter Roundtable with the Department of Commerce in December to help local businesses expand their exports, with several Pottawatomie County businesses participating.
At any given time throughout the year, we managed 6-8 business retention and expansion projects, addressing issues like facilities, workforce pipelines, and more.
Strengthened the Story
Building upon what already existed, we pulled together elements to improve our story telling and how we interact, engage with, and provide value to the community. This allowed us to get really clear on the message and the calls to action to create maximum impact. This encompassed solidifying PCEDC as a recognizable brand and being able to clearly communicate the objectives of the organization.
In order to do this, we updated our logo to incorporate our vision-based tagline, “Prosperity Through Partnerships”, and developed a set of brand guidelines, including specific fonts and a brand color palette, to build a uniform style for our communications. Additionally, we developed a new strategic plan, Advance Pottawatomie 2030, to define our goals and actions for the coming years. We also launched a format for regular quarterly reports on county economic data, and refreshed our website. The updated website is now fully equipped with analytics tools, and frequently updated with new news posts to help us understand and attract our audience.
Gathered Input from Stakeholders
We interviewed and surveyed a comprehensive group of partners, stakeholders, and investors to get ongoing perspectives on county-wide development, and help connect these groups with relevant new and existing resources. Using much of this feedback, we also conducted a county-wide SWOT analysis, which was integral within our new strategic plan.
Developed New Strategic Plan
Utilizing resources at hand and expertise in strategic planning, the PCEDC developed a new 5-year strategic plan, which was presented and adopted in November of 2024. This plan, Advance Pottawatomie 20230, includes a full SWOT analysis for the county, and outlines our strategic objectives, including:
- Business Attraction and Retention
- Infrastructure Enhancement
- Regional and Organizational Cooperation
- Small Business and Entrepreneur Support
- Workforce Development
The full strategic plan includes activities and performance objectives aligned to each of these objectives, and integrates insights from key partner documents, such as Plan Pottawatomie 2040 and the regional Economic Growth Plan recently completed by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
Developed Quarterly Economic Reports
In order to provide consistent updates on the Pottawatomie County economy, our team now publishes quarterly economic updates on our website. These reports gather and synthesize data regarding key economic indicators such as home sales, building permits, sales tax revenue, and workforce data in an easy to digest format. Reports are provided alongside regular news and informative posts with PDF/printer-friendly versions available.
Published Annual Economic & Housing Reports
Along with quarterly economic data updates, our team posted an annual economic review recapping data trends and major news for the county in 2024. Additionally, we are posting regular data-driven articles on crucial development topics, particularly housing, to help inform the community and stakeholders on needs and ongoing development activity within Pottawatomie County.
Shared Regular News & Events
In order to help share news, resources, and opportunities relevant to Pottawatomie County residents and businesses, we’ve been active on social media, and regularly post on the community updates section of our website. These platforms help us share about the PCEDC’s mission and activities, and promote events and news from our partners throughout the region.
Compiled Monthly Newsletters
To help promote our work and relevant economic development news, we now publish two monthly email newsletters. Our community newsletter provides general updates on events, news, and business/community resources, while our investor-only newsletter provides additional insights into economic data and business and leadership development topics. Our newsletter open rates averaged around 40% with a 10% click through rate, high above industry standards, indicating highly valuable content for a targeted audience.
What’s Next: Job Creation
We’re excited to welcome Eck Auto Group to Pottawatomie County! The Eck Auto Group Project, formerly called “Project SUV” is anticipated to create 58 direct jobs, and 15 spin-off jobs, and generate around $10.7 million in new capital investment. Total jobs created by this move-in are anticipated to have average salaries of over $56,000/year.
We’re also very optimistic about prospects that have been interested in the Wamego Caterpillar facility. We are in regular communication with seven highly qualified leads, providing everything we could to help: employee drive times, labor outlooks, information on additional properties in the area, and potential incentives.
Buy Build Grow Pott. Co.
We are launching the Buy Build Grow Pott. Co. initiative in 2025. This initiative will serve as a county-wide call to action, and a point of community engagement for the PCEDC. This initiative will aim to foster local pride and active participation in regional development. The initiative will connect to our events, social platforms, media outreach, and community-lead projects.
Summary
In this year of growth and transition, we helped local employers attract and retain talent, supported business expansion, and played a key role in job creation. Through strong partnerships, we fostered collaboration and provided businesses, stakeholders, and residents with valuable resources. We also enhanced communication by producing economic reports, tracking key indicators, and sharing insights through newsletters and web content.
Strategic planning was a priority as we gathered stakeholder input, conducted surveys, and developed the Advance Pottawatomie 2030 Strategic Plan. We also cohosted candidate forums, launched workforce task forces, and expanded outreach to strengthen the county’s economic future. As we move into 2025, we remain focused on driving growth, fostering partnerships, and building a thriving Pottawatomie County.
Keep in Touch
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- (785) 456.9776
- 1004 Lincoln Ave. Wamego, KS
- shanna@ecodevo.com
