Thank You
PCEDC facilitated Community Growth Conversations across Pottawatomie County and completed Housing Assessments for Blue Township, St. Marys, and Wamego—delivering actionable data to guide workforce readiness, infrastructure planning, and long-term investment strategies. We also convened investors through a Fall Roundtable to align priorities and explore emerging opportunities shaping the county’s future.
Supporting business growth remained central to our mission. In 2025, PCEDC helped advance ten business expansion and recruitment projects, contributing to regional gains of 544 jobs and $46 million in capital investment.
Through the e-Community program, we continued deploying capital directly to local entrepreneurs, strengthening small businesses and reinvestment across our communities.
Collaboration elevated the county’s visibility and competitiveness. Coordinated efforts surrounding the Wamego Caterpillar facility generated unprecedented market interest, drawing inquiries from regional, national, and international prospects and reinforcing Pottawatomie County’s position as a place for growth.
PCEDC also strengthened its role as a trusted source of economic intelligence through quarterly economic reports, newsletters, and the launch of a new Economic Scorecard—providing transparent, accessible data for businesses, investors, and community leaders.
Thank you to our investors, partners, and public leaders for your commitment to building a strong and resilient economic future for Pottawatomie County.
Board of Directors
Kristin Brighton, New Boston Creative
Lanny Bosse, Kaw Valley State Bank
Brett Jones, Manko Window Systems
Dr. David Cancelada, Flint Hills Dentistry
Peter Clark, Bayer Construction
Amanda Childress, Green Dot Bioplastics
Chris Eichman, Midwest Concrete Materials
Chad Kinsley, Pottawatomie County
Greg Wilson, Howie’s Recycling & Trash
Devin Weis, WTC
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
Dave Nelson, Nelson’s Ridge
Investors
Anderson Knight Architects
Alternative Air
Axiota/ MS Biotech
Bank of the Flint Hills
Bartlett & West
Bayer Construction
Benesch
BG Consultants
BHS Construction
Blue Valley Tele-Communications Inc.
Bluestem Electric
Blueville Nursery
BBN Architects
Bruce McMillan AIA Architects, PA
Capital City Oil
City of Wamego
CR’s Tire
Community HealthCare System, Inc.
Crossroads Real Estate & Auction
Custom Wood Products
Farmers State Bank
ESB Financial
Flint Hills Dental
Flint Hills Fitness
Foundation Realty
Fox Home Innovations
Friendship House
Howie’s Trash Service
Hutton
Green Dot Bioplastics
Drippe Homes
Evergy
Ebert Construction
Hi-Tech Interiors, Inc
Howie’s Recycling & Trash Service
Kaw Valley State Bank
Kansas Commercial Real Estate
Icon Structures
KS State Bank
Landmark National Bank
Larson Construction
Manhattan Surgical
Manko Window Systems
Midwest Concrete Materials
McCown Gordon Construction
McKee Farm & Trust
Nelsons Ridge LLC
Olsson Associates
New Boston Creative Group
Pepsi Cola of Manhattan
Perry Electric Systems
Pugh & Pugh
Reed Company, LLC
Riley Construction
Spirits of ’76
Sidekick Solutions
Shilling Construction Co. Inc.
Sink Gordon & Associates
Stormont-Vail HealthCare/Cotton O’Neil
Sugar Creek Country Store
T&M Concrete
The Bennington State Bank
The Trust Company
4th and Elm Bar & Grill
Wamego Drug Store
Wamego Health Center/Ascension
Wamego Inn & Suites
Wamego Self Storage
Wildcat Fitness & Fun
SPS Companies
SMH Consultants
WTC
Promoted Business and industry Growth
Through employer engagement, business retention and expansion, site readiness, and entrepreneurial support, PCEDC actively promoted business and industry growth across the county and region. In 2025, these efforts supported ten major projects resulting in the creation or retention of 544 jobs and $46 million in capital investment.
A key win was the expansion of PTMW into the region with 146 new jobs. Additional expansion projects included Manko Window Systems, RDT, Parker Hannifin, and Purple Wave. The transition of operations at the former Caterpillar facility to Solar Turbines preserved more than 200 jobs and generated unprecedented market interest, further strengthening regional momentum.
In order to connect local entrepreneurs and small businesses with the necessary capital to succeed, we partner with Network Kansas to administer E-Community loans. These loans help provide the funds needed for businesses to start, expand, and thrive.
As a partner organization, we connect applicants with funding opportunities, guiding them through the application process and providing ongoing support and resources as they launch or grow their businesses. Since 2010, PCEDC has helped facilitate 64 loans, with an average amount of over $40,000, providing significant financial backing for local businesses.
Strengthened Workforce
Working closely with program partners, we strengthened workforce efforts across the county. This included Classrooms to Careers, a countywide effort that pairs local businesses with 4th grade classrooms and the Network Kansas Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, providing $600 in winnings to local teen entrepreneurs to explore their business plan. New in 2025 was the Career Hunts program, in partnership with HirePaths, which provided career pathway education to nearly 300 Pottawatomie County middle school students.
Led Community Collaboration
As a connector for vital resources, people, and partners in Pottawatomie County, PCEDC prioritizes organizing and participating in community conversations. Throughout 2025, we’ve been involved in community conversations and connections, from co-hosting Wamego Chamber After Hours for networking to convening groups for the Community Growth Conversations and Needs Assessments and investor roundtables. These conversations help us guide our organizational goals and activities, and connect with others who can support our mission.
Delivered Intelligence that drives local growth
To ensure businesses and residents have timely access to relevant opportunities and resources, PCEDC actively curated and created ongoing communications across digital platforms. Through regular social media updates, we connected stakeholders to local news and events, funding and grant opportunities, regulatory and business updates, educational programs, and progress on key economic development initiatives—serving as a central hub of trusted information for the county and region.
In 2025, PCEDC continued to deliver targeted Community and Investor newsletters designed to inform, engage, and align partners around growth priorities. The Community Newsletter reached 776 subscribers with timely updates, resources, and opportunities, while the Investor Newsletter connected more than 100 partners with project highlights, strategic initiatives, and key developments shaping Pottawatomie County’s economic future.
Demonstrated Impact With New Economic Scorecard
With the goal of creating a concise webpage highlighting Economic Development KPIs for Pottawatomie County, we designed and launched a new Economic Scorecard. This dynamic webpage, which showcases metrics related to PCEDC and the county as a whole, serves as an overview page for investors and those in and outside the county wanting to check up on the cost of living, employment, development, and business climate in Pottawatomie County.
Metrics presented on the scorecard page include:
- PCEDC organizational metrics
- Workforce development and education stats
- Small business loan metrics
- EcoDevo.com views and site traffic
- PCEDC Newsletter open rates
- Quarterly home sales overview
- Building permit data
- Sales tax totals
- Commercial property data
- Local job and industry niumbers
- Cost of living data
- Average salary and growth
Published Quarterly Economic Reports
Following last year’s successful launch of quarterly economic reports, we continued compiling and posting quarterly economic updates throughout 2025. These reports highlight updated data on the county’s labor force, housing market, and sales tax collection and highlight relevant national-level economic headlines and discussions.
Read Q1 Report
Read Q2 Report
Read Q3 Report
Read Q4 Report
Read the 2025 Annual Economic Report
Served as a Resource Hub for Development and Community Topics
Along with posting regular quarterly economic updates, we shared articles on special topics relevant to businesses and community members, including the following:
- Local Housing Assessment Results
- Community Grant Opportunities
- Community Need Assessment Findings
- Federal Dependent Care FSA Changes
- “Meet Your Neighbor” and Community Spotlights
Summary
In 2026 PCEDC is focused on implementing Year Two priorities of Advance Pottawatomie 2030—strengthening business growth, expanding workforce opportunities, addressing housing challenges, and enhancing collaboration across communities. Our work will continue to center on building communities that compete, businesses that grow, and people who prosper. Through data-driven strategy, strong partnerships, and continued investment, PCEDC remains committed to creating sustainable economic momentum throughout Pottawatomie County.
Thank you to our investors, partners, and community leaders for your trust, leadership, and shared vision for the future.
Together, we are shaping a stronger, more resilient county—today and for generations to come.
Keep in Touch:
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- Become an investor
- ecodevo.com
- (785) 456.9776
- 1004 Lincoln Ave. Wamego, KS
- shanna@ecodevo.com
