Olpe has accumulated $2.5 million in fundraising for Phase One of a three phase project intended to create state-of-the-art fitness facilities and parks for the enjoyment of the community. Phase One will fund the creation of a football field and track on the school grounds of USD 252, while Phase Two and Three will create a splash pad, a park, and softball and baseball fields. Source: Emporia Gazette

The City of Emporia has provided several updates concerning efforts to assist displaced workers in finding new employment and receiving financial assistance following the announcements of the Tyson Plant and Holiday Resort closure last week. The two closures - one expected in February and the other expected within 30 days - will result in potentially over 900 job losses in the Emporia community. Source: Emporia Gazette

In a marathon session Wednesday, the Emporia City Commission grappled with the complex task of reimagining the city’s economic development strategy. The meeting centered on implementing recommendations from a recent VisionFirst Advisors report, particularly the creation of an umbrella organization to oversee various economic development entities. The plan, presented by VisionFirst President and CEO Gray Swoope in September, recommends consolidating several key organizations under a single umbrella structure. This would include the Regional Development Association, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Main Street, and Visit Emporia. Source: Emporia Gazette

Emporia City Commissioners discussed social media policies for city officials and staff Wednesday afternoon. City Attorney Christina Montgomery said the policy is aimed at navigating the complex legal landscape surrounding government use of social media platforms. Montgomery emphasized the importance of distinguishing between personal and official use of social media. “There can be a fine line between your private usage of social media platforms to communicate with people and your public position as a state commissioner,” she explained. “Your personal social media platforms can be considered government use accounts.” The proposed policy stems from recent Supreme Court case law addressing social [...]

After more than a decade, the Emporia Arts Center brought back its popular Chalk Fest event Saturday, to the delight of local artists and community members alike. The event transformed the 800 block of Commercial Street into a vibrant canvas for artists of all skill levels, with people young and old joining in the celebration. Sarah Barrett, Gallery and Art Store Coordinator at the Emporia Arts Center, said the decision to revive the event after almost a 15-year hiatus was almost serendipitous. “We just really wanted to be out in the community doing this kind of creative thing,” Barrett said. “We [...]

The Lyon County Commission reviewed the findings and recommendations found in the VisionFirst Economic Development Report, Thursday morning. The report outlines recommendations for streamlining economic development efforts in Emporia and the surrounding areas by bringing entities like RDA, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Main Street, and Visit Emporia under one umbrella organization. The report, which was commissioned by the City of Emporia, was recently presented to the county and several key stakeholders, including the Regional Development Association and Emporia Enterprises. According to Chair Rollie Martin, the VisionFirst report outlines a more unified, strategic direction for economic development in Emporia [...]

Emporia Main Street’s ongoing “Adopt a Garden” program received a major boost Monday evening when volunteers from Flint Hills Technical College and the Emporia State University women’s basketball team pitched in to clean up downtown garden beds. Students spent about some time weeding, removing trash, and tidying up the beds to help keep the city’s green spaces vibrant. “We’re really excited we had volunteers from Flint Hills Technical College and the ESU women’s basketball team helping us out,” said Community Development Coordinator Jess Buchholz. “The downtown gardens are a big part of our community, and having the help of local volunteers [...]

The Kansas Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the fall 2024 round of the agency’s Innovative Technology Program. The Innovative Technology Program provides financial assistance to governmental and non-governmental organizations for innovative transportation-related projects that promote safety, improve access or mobility and implement new transportation technology. “Innovative technology” is broadly defined as any technology that does not currently exist in the local community of the project. This allows local communities to determine what projects to submit based on their specific needs. All transportation system projects are eligible, including roadway (on and off the state system), rail, aviation, unmanned aerial [...]

The Lyon County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution establishing a moratorium on certain types of zoning, land use, and building permits related to medical facilities within the unincorporated areas of Lyon County Thursday morning. The resolution, presented by County Counselor Molly Priest, highlighted the lack of specific definitions and guidelines for medical facilities in the county’s existing zoning regulations. Priest said the resolution was crafted County Zoning Director Sam Seeley. “Our zoning regulations do not contemplate the breadth of medical facilities that exist today,” Priest said. “There are at least eight different types of medical facilities defined at state and [...]

The City of Admire is set to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. July 3, to mark the completion of its new multiuse sport court. This event signals the final step in a project that has been eagerly awaited by the community. Following the ceremony, people are invited to join in a potluck dinner, enjoy a game of horseshoes, watch a spectacular fireworks display, and socialize with family, friends, and neighbors. The new multiuse court, designed to accommodate pickleball, basketball, and tennis, was made possible by a $30,000 implementation grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. This grant [...]