2025 Annual Report by Visit Manhattan team

2025

ANNUAL REPORT

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.

MANHATTAN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Dear Members & Investors of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce,

It has been my pleasure to serve as your Chair in 2025 and celebrate with you our 100th year of being the leading voice for business in our area. Cheers to the next 100!

We hope you enjoyed the many stories of our history about the amazing community impact that the Chamber and community leaders have been involved with over the decades. Our focus on improving quality of life by growing our area economy and improving prosperity for all never ends – it just evolves over time – and 2025 was no exception.

Last year in his 2024 annual report letter, Chair Jake Wassenberg noted … growth is imperative for Manhattan to remain an important center of commerce for the State of Kansas. Chamber leadership has taken an aggressive stand and implemented actions to facilitate growth focused on expanding our population, providing jobs to retain and attract talent and increase median wages in our region. Growing our tax base is an essential element in continuing the lifestyle area residents expect at an acceptable, sustainable cost.

Focusing on growth, working our economic development strategy, collaborating with community partners and promoting a “Yes, if…” philosophy have resulted in businesses choosing our region as the site for their business expansions in 2025. This included PTMW, Amazon, Torgeson Electric and Solar Turbines totaling $30M in new private investment and 500 new job opportunities in the area.

It is notable that projects like this are not the result of a single action or event, but rather years of developing connections, responding to requests and cultivating relationships with prospective businesses. Our Greater

Manhattan Economic Partnership (GMEP) team members and community partners working together are the key to making significant growth projects like this become a reality.

This year, a special task team also completed a major inward-looking project focused on the Chamber organization. This strategic review was done to ensure that our Chamber’s organizational design optimized our delivery of services to our members, investors and community partners. The project resulted in several changes to the organization and governance structure approved by the board to go into effect in 2026. See page 18 of this annual report for highlights of the organizational re-design outcome.

Thank you again for investing in your Chamber and for engaging in all the various opportunities you have to work with staff and each other including advocating on important issues that improve our business climate, attract and retain talent and help grow our community. I know that your new Chair, Nancy Burton, looks forward to working with all of you to continue the progress in creating value in our area in 2026!

Stacy Kohlmeier, 2025 Board Chair

CHAIRMAN CIRCLE MEMBERS

2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NAME

Steve Altobello, Shilling Construction

Tracy Anderson, Anderson Knight Architects

Brett Ballou, Schultz Construction

Bob Copple, Ascension Via Christi

Shawn Drew, Commerce Bank

Karla Hagemeister, Flint Hills Breadbasket

Miranda Hardenburger, Champion Teamwear

Vern Henricks, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation

Terry Holdren, Kansas Farm Bureau

Brett Jones, Manko Window Systems

Jared Loomis, Olsson

Mary Martell, Stormont Vail Health

Annie Peace, Meadowlark

Tom Phillips, Former Kansas House Representative

Jeff Sackrider, WTC Fiber

Patrick Schutter, BHS Construction

Scott Sieben, Mr. K’s/Rockin K’s/Kite’s

Ben Sigle, Manhattan Running Company

Katie Stone, Bourbon & Baker

Kale Terrill, The Trust Company

Gabriela Vega, Addair Law

TJ Vilkanskas, Back 9 Development

Mitch Watson, U.S. Engineering

Kasey Wilkinson, MHK Play Studio

Jarrod Willich, Hi-Tech Interiors

Stacy Kohlmeier ................................... Chair

Nancy Burton Chair Elect

Gavin Schmidt ............................... Treasurer

Callie Marks .................................. Vice-Chair

Jake Wassenberg Past Chair

Jason Smith ................................... President

EX-OFFICIO COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Danielle Dulin ......................... City Manager

Eric Reid

USD 383 Supt

John Ford ..................... Riley County Comm

Chad Kinsley .................. Pott County Admin

Merle Page Pott County Comm

Brady Kappelmann ......... KSU Stu-Body Pres

James Genandt .................. MATC President

Karen McCulloh Mayor

Shanna Goodman Exec. Director PCEDC

Katie Pawlosky..................................... NBAF

Jason Walker ....................................... NBAF

Willie Thomas BEFH

COL G. Nunziato ........................... Ft. Riley OFFICERS

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Bob Copple ........................................ Audit

Scott Seiben CVB Steering

Patrick Schutter .................... Economic Dev.

Callie Marks .............................. Membership

Christine Benne Military Relations

Tom Phillips .................... Business Advocacy

Kale Terrill ............................................. Hype

Gabriela Vega DEIB

STAFF MEMBERS

Jenn Alley

Christian Bishop

Lauren Chard

Allison Doll

Samantha Ellison

Brenda Hoefler

Dena Huff

Sharla Meisenheimer

Allison Muth

Trey Kuhlmann

Marcia Rozell

Jason Smith

Daryn Soldan

Carol Sprawka

Nell Suggs

Julie Valldeperas

DRIVING PROGRESS AND STRENGTHENING MANHATTAN FOR A CENTURY

For more than a century, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce has been a driving force behind the community’s economic strength and civic progress.From its earliest days, the Chamber has been more than an advocate for commerce—it has been a catalyst for infrastructure development, economic resilience, and quality of life in Manhattan and the surrounding area. By bringing together leaders, ideas, and resources, the Chamber has helped shape the city’s response to economic challenges, guided strategic growth, and ensured that Manhattan remains a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. Its history is inseparable from the story of the community itself, reflecting a sustained commitment to collaboration, innovation, and long-term prosperity.

The corner of 5th and Poyntz, our current location, taken from the top of the Wareham Hotel in 1951.

A drawing of the current Chamber offices featured in the 1998 visitor’s guide.

The Colony Square Building was home to the Chamber offices in the 1980s and 90s.

The Chamber staff at the 100 Annual Celebration.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

2025 brought 10 economic development projects resulting in 544 announced new jobs and over $46M in capital investment. Projects included manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, laboratory space, and technology.

The impact of these projects will help positively change the dynamics of the regional economy. The new jobs and investment fit the directives outlined in the Economic Growth Plan that rolled out at the 2025 Regional Growth Summit.

• Addressing economic stagnation – new jobs and additional external dollars flowing into the regional economy.

• Desirable growth – these projects will diversify the regional economy by adding jobs in identified target sectors characterized by private, export-oriented jobs paying above average wages. These companies sell products and services outside of the region, importing dollars that pay new wages that are ultimately reinvested locally by employees.

• Diversify the tax base – private sector investment and job growth expands and diversifies the tax base for local cities, counties, and school districts.

• Talent Attraction – new jobs in growing industries will help the region attract external talent and retain talent from local sources.

10 Projects

544

Patrick Schutter and Blake Bauer with Flint Hills Ventures break ground on their speculative industrial building that attracted PTMW to Manhattan.

In May, the Manhattan City Commission approved a purchase and sale contract with Amazon.com Services LLC for 15.26 acres of City-owned land at the Manhattan Business Park, located adjacent to the Manhattan Regional Airport. By August, the real estate transaction was complete and site work was underway on the property. The tilt-up concrete building came out of the ground over the course of the fall.

Amazon plans for the facility to be operational in Q2 2026. The 70,000 square foot building will serve a broader region around Manhattan for “last mile” delivery services. New jobs created at the facility will include shipping and receiving, warehousing, and delivery.

SOLAR TURBINES

Several hundred jobs were retained when Solar Turbines took over operations in the former Caterpillar Work Tools facility in Wamego. Solar Turbines, headquartered in California was founded in 1927 as an aircraft company. The company became an official subsidiary of Caterpillar, Inc. in 1984. Today Solar Turbines is a key player in the 1-39 megawatt segment of the global gas turbine market. These power generation units are ultimately used in many industries, including data centers, healthcare, and manufacturing. The Solar Turbines news came after Caterpillar announced in June 2024 that the Wamego Work Tools facility would be shutting down operations in mid-2025.

TORGESON ELECTRIC

In August, the Manhattan City Commission approved the sale of 8.5 acres in the Manhattan Business Park, located adjacent to the Manhattan Regional Airport, to Torgeson Electric Company. The real estate transaction is the next step toward Torgeson building a new facility in Manhattan. Their project will include the construction of a $5 million facility and up to 25 new jobs.

Torgeson is a 100% employee-owned company that is headquartered in Topeka, Kansas. They specialize in electrical services across commercial, industrial, civil, and residential sectors. Work in the new space will include manufacturing and pre-fabrication as well as other construction support and service functions.

PTMW, a Kansas-based metal fabricator and manufacturer, announced plans in April to create 146 new jobs and invest over $14M in a new facility in Manhattan. Founded in 1983, PTMW is headquartered in Topeka and is a certified Woman Business Enterprise. The company manufactures prefabricated metal enclosures for critical infrastructure. Demand from emerging tech industries, specifically data centers and AI related to social media, search engines, and big tech are driving PTMW’s growth into Manhattan. Company leadership targeted Manhattan due to the region’s workforce, technical training opportunities at Manhattan Area Technical College, and a new 112,500 square foot industrial building at 1105 Kretschmer Drive. The facility was built by a local development group, Flint Hills Ventures LLC, and was the first to utilize the City’s speculative industrial IRB program. The City of Manhattan and State of Kansas both engaged in the project with performance-based economic development incentives.

PTMW

CHILDCARE BUSINESS INITIATIVE PROJECT—FLINT HILLS COMMUNITY ACCELERATOR CUTS RIBBON

Governor Laura Kelly and other dignitaries joined community leaders and childcare providers at the August 14 ribbon cutting for the Flint Hills Community Accelerator. The ribbon cutting marked a significant milestone in Manhattan’s continued effort to strengthen the economy by addressing one of the most pressing issues facing families and employers today - access to quality childcare.

While “business incubators” are often focused on software or high-tech startups, this unique accelerator is specifically reserved for childcare providers. Unlike traditional childcare centers, the Childcare Business Initiative, within the Flint Hills Community Accelerator, operates as a business development program. The facility provides eight fully equipped childcare suites, each independently run by local business owners. Through this innovative model, providers receive business training, mentorship, and operational support, ensuring they are well-prepared to run successful, independent businesses once they transition into the community.

This business-minded solution is the culmination of years of work and investment from across the community. The concept was originally developed through a childcare

task force formed by the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce in 2020. At the time, data from Child Care Aware of Kansas showed that less than 50% of local demand for childcare was being met and up to 1,300 additional slots may be needed to support demand from area residents and working families.

Thanks to leadership by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, significant grant funding from the State of Kansas, and a location provided by Ascension Via Christi, this vision was brought to reality. Numerous partners stepped up to ensure the facility’s long-term impact, including Manhattan Area Technical College, Kansas WorkforceONE, and the Manhattan Free Clinic, all of which will provide wrap-around services to support entrepreneurs as they launch or expand their offerings.

The Chamber is proud to have helped launch the original idea and looks forward to supporting this innovative solution as it begins delivering real results for our community and economy. There are many people who deserve credit for getting this project to fruition and the Chamber thanks everyone who worked on this project at any point.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

The Chamber also supported additional projects in 2025 that will total more than $143M investment when completed. These projects will have both immediate and long-lasting impacts on the community. They include:

HARTFORD BUILDING

BISHOP STADIUM SCOREBOARD

WAREHAM HALL LK TOWNHOMES

MEADOWLARK EXPANSION

Talent

HIREPATHS

CLASSROOM TO CAREER

The first-ever HirePaths Career Hunt, held April 16, 2025, at the K-State Student Union, brought together nearly 300 students from Onaga and Manhattan with 27 local employers to explore in-demand career pathways through handson activities, job simulations, and employer conversations. The

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce and the Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation, continued the Classroom to Career Partnership Program, connecting local businesses with 44 fourth-grade classrooms across the greater Manhattan region to introduce students to career exploration. Through three engagements each year, an introductory classroom visit, a mid-year discussion on careers and skills, and a final workplace field trip, businesses helped students learn about local industries and job opportunities while strengthening school–business relationships.

MHK SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The MHK Summer Intern Program, presented in collaboration with Hype, had a record-breaking year in 2025. Through a series of free signature events, monthly networking opportunities, and the MHK Summer Internship Passport, interns explored Manhattan, gained hands-on professional experience, and built meaningful connections within the community.

event emphasized multiple postsecondary paths, from college to apprenticeships and direct workforce entry. In addition, GMEP and HirePaths collaborated on a Featured Communities social media campaign, highlighting local education and career opportunities and sharing regional success stories.

KEEP TOUR

On June 24, the Chamber hosted a Kansas Employment Exploration Program (KEEP) Tour for transitioning service members and their families from Fort Riley, offering a fullday introduction to career opportunities and quality of life in the Manhattan community. Rather than a traditional job fair, the immersive experience included visits to major employers, employer briefings, site tours, and quality-of-life discussions designed to help participants envision Manhattan as a place to live and build post-military careers.

RILEY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TALENT BUSINESS VISIT

We were excited to host students from USD 378 Riley County High School for a local business tour with our Chamber leadership staff. Students explored several local businesses and heard firsthand what it’s like to start and own a business in our region, as well as military careers and resources.

Military Relations

COMMUNITY INFORMATION EXCHANGE, VICTORY WELCOME & INSTALLATION ENGAGEMENT

The Community Information Exchange (CIE), Victory Welcome, pre-deployment briefings, and additional installation engagements provided consistent opportunities to connect Fort Riley soldiers, families, and leaders with the Greater Manhattan community. These efforts ensured service members and spouses were informed about local resources, events, and quality-of-life opportunities throughout all phases of service.

ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS

The 2025 AUSA Annual Conference drew more than 41,000 attendees, with representation from 96 countries and 750 defense industry partners. The conference highlighted Army modernization and future readiness. The Fort Riley AUSA Chapter engaged with Baker Donelson and Kansas congressional staff to advocate for key priorities impacting Fort Riley and the region. Advocacy efforts emphasized behavioral health funding, transition support for service members, veteran retention policies, and major infrastructure investments, including barracks modernization, youth center repairs, and deployment readiness facilities.

Participation in the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) National Conference further strengthened partnerships and showcased Manhattan’s successes, including Made for Manhattan, military spouse employment initiatives, and Defense Community Infrastructure Program projects.

Through Victory Welcome and related engagements, the Military Relations Manager highlighted Made for Manhattan, recruited young military professionals for HYPE, and showcased the amenities that make Manhattan an exceptional place to live, deploy from, return to, and retire. Collectively, these outreach efforts reached more than 18,000 soldiers and family members over the past year, reinforcing the value of sustained community presence and connection.

VETERANS DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Despite limited military participation due to an installation shutdown, the Veterans Day Parade moved forward with strong community support. The parade was led by the Manhattan High School Marching Band and centered on the theme “Guardians of Our Nation: Honoring the Reserve Forces.”

Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) Hector A. Vasquez served as Grand Marshal and guest speaker. With more than 40 years of service in the Kansas National Guard and multiple deployments, CW5 Vasquez exemplifies dedication and leadership. The ceremony also featured a performance by the Marlatt Elementary 3rd Grade Choir, led by Staci Payne.

The Flint Hills Veterans Coalition is already planning for the 2026 Veterans Day Parade in alignment with America 250.

Hype

KANSAS YP SUMMIT

Hype members joined young professionals from across the state for a day of connection and growth at the Kansas YP Summit in Salina. The young professionals explored how to build their own career paths, set healthy boundaries to prevent burnout, and use mentorship as a tool for lifelong learning.

We’re excited to share that Hype will host the Kansas YP Summit in 2026 and 2027! We look forward to welcoming young professionals from across Kansas to experience all that Manhattan has to offer.

AGGIEVILLE OLYMPICS

Hype’s annual Aggieville Olympics returned with record-breaking energy, welcoming 85 members for the largest event to date. Young professionals competed in fast-paced, minute-to-win-it style games throughout Aggieville, creating an unforgettable night of teamwork, laughter, and friendly competition. The event reinforced Aggieville Olympics as a signature Hype experience and a favorite way for members to connect.

LUNCH & LEARNS

This year, Hype revamped its quarterly Lunch & Learn series, hosting engaging sessions on childcare, housing, and finance. Members brought their own lunch and connected with peers while learning from top local leaders and gaining career tips. The new format energized discussions, sparked new connections, and gave young professionals actionable insights to grow personally and professionally.

INNOVATE24 | 2025 Annual Impact

At Innovate24, our mission is simple and focused: to create, attract, and grow innovative and resilient businesses that strengthen our local economy. We do this by supporting entrepreneurs through advising, education, connections, and access to capital.

Over the past year, Innovate24 has advanced this mission in meaningful ways. We expanded our advising capacity and introduced more structured programming designed to guide entrepreneurs systematically toward business readiness and success. Our Start Smart Series launched as a monthly workshop program focused on building strong fundamentals like financial literacy, marketing, and business planning. In addition, our GrowthPath Program offered one-on-one consulting and accountability tailored to each entrepreneur’s goals. These programs together provide the knowledge, strategy, and confidence necessary to reduce risk and accelerate growth.

A major milestone of the year was our formalized partnership with the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Washburn University. Through this collaboration, Innovate24 now delivers technical assistance across Riley, Pottawatomie, Geary, and Wabaunsee Counties, while also tapping into statewide expertise, research, and professional networks. This partnership strengthens the entire regional support system and ensures entrepreneurs have seamless access to the right resources at the right time.

Access to capital continues to be one of the most critical needs for local business growth and one of Innovate24’s strongest impact areas. As the local partner for Network Kansas loan programs and facilitator of the Elevate Fund, Innovate24 helps entrepreneurs secure funding to launch and expand operations. ADVANCING ENTREPRENEURSHIP. STRENGTHENING THE MANHATTAN ECONOMY.

• Access to Capital: Local loan deployment + capital readiness

• Education & Tools: Workshops, planning support, and business fundamentals

• Strategic Advising: Personalized guidance to reduce risk and accelerate growth

• Ecosystem Building: Partnerships that strengthen Manhattan’s innovation pipeline

Celebrating Business Success

6TH ANNUAL BUSINESS AWARDS

Since 2020, the Manhattan Chamber has hosted the Business Awards as a way to recognize those businesses that are going above and beyond in achieving excellence in a number of categories. Below are 2025 winners.

Cornerstone Award

BAYER CONSTRUCTION

Honors a business that exemplifies what being a “solid pillar of the community” is all about.

Women/Minority Owned Business Award

SWITCH WICKED

Recognizes diverse business leaders and decision-makers across all industries who have a proven track record of excellence in advocating for others within their communities and workplaces.

Business of the Year Award

ADDAIR LAW

Awarded to a business within the community that exemplifies both business and civic leadership.

Tourism/ Hospitality Award

THE MUSEUM OF ART + LIGHT

Presented to a business that has made a significant contribution to the tourism industry in the area.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING (DEIB)

Under the leadership of Chair Gabriela Vega, DEIB efforts focused on meaningful community engagement and education. The committee exceeded outreach goals by strengthening partnerships with community organizations, supporting inclusive events, and expanding the Made for Manhattan campaign to reinforce Manhattan as a welcoming place to live, work, and do business. In the fall, the committee hosted multiple educational workshops centered on workforce inclusion, bias

Small Business of the Year Award

NEW BOSTON CREATIVE GROUP

Honors a small business within the community that exemplifies both business and civic leadership.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

FLINT HILLS VENTURES, LLC

Celebrates the entrepreneur who has led the way for their business. The nominee will demonstrate true entrepreneurial spirit through the creation of a new business locally, despite the risks involved.

awareness, and equitable hiring practices. These sessions provided employers and community partners with practical tools to enhance workplace culture, improve talent attraction and retention, and deepen understanding of diverse experiences within the community. DEIB principles continued to be integrated into Leadership Manhattan and Youth Leadership programs, reinforcing inclusion as a shared, community-wide priority.

100th Annual Meeting & Banquet

For a century, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner has been our community’s “gather-round” moment, a night where business leaders, neighbors, and partners come together to celebrate progress and spark what’s next. This year’s Annual Dinner carried extra meaning as we celebrated 100 years of Chamber impact, honoring the people and businesses who built the foundation and those who are shaping the future. The evening featured the passing of the gavel to welcome new leadership, recognition of standout community champions through signature awards, and a shared toast to the relationships that power a strong local economy. From the stories that reminded us where we’ve been to the conversations that hinted at where we’re going, the Centennial Annual Dinner wasn’t just a milestone, it was a launchpad. Here’s to the next 100 years of connection, advocacy, and opportunity in The Little Apple®.

The Lud Fiser Citizen of the Year was Jim Gordon, the C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year was Vern Henricks and the Young Professional of the Year was Katie Seay.

2025 Leadership Manhattan

LYLE BUTLER DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD

Patrick Schutter was selected as the 2025 recipient of the Lyle Butler Distinguished Leadership Award pictured here with Lyle Butler.

Leadership Manhattan empowers emerging leaders to address community challenges through knowledge, skills, and collaboration. The 2025 class engaged with local and state leaders, explored economic and social issues, and examined the impact of Fort Riley and the regional education system on Manhattan’s growth. As part of the program, participants completed an adaptive leadership project supporting the Flint Hills Breadbasket by designing and building a new ATA Bus stop near Rosencutter and Stagg Hill Roads and creating a communication plan to engage community stakeholders. The program develops leaders equipped to create meaningful, lasting impact in the Manhattan community.

2025 Youth Leadership Manhattan

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce launched the Youth Leadership Manhattan Program to develop the next generation of business and community leaders by providing leadership opportunities to high school sophomores earlier than its traditional Leadership Manhattan program. Focused on building a strong pipeline of skilled, community-minded leaders, the program offers hands-on learning through interactive workshops, business and organization site visits, and community service projects that foster leadership skills, workplace readiness, and civic engagement. The inaugural class included 13 students from USD 383 Manhattan High School, who gained valuable insight into local career pathways and their potential role in shaping the future of the Manhattan community

20 Under 40 Recognition Program

In 2025, the Chamber proudly recognized the 20 Under 40 class—an outstanding group of young professionals who are making a meaningful impact in their workplaces and across the community. Honorees were selected through a competitive nomination and application process and celebrated for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to making the Manhattan area a great place to live and work. The class was formally recognized through Chamber communications and at a special reception, where their achievements and dedication to the community were celebrated alongside family, peers, and business leaders.

2025 Winners

Josh Brewer

Andy Ellis

Courtney Ellis

Samantha Ellison

Lauren Farwell

Kendahl Goetzmann

Paige Harman

Eric Holderness

Tyler Jackson

Jayna Kelly

Craig Lauppe

Dustin Maley

Peter Oppelt

Heather Peterson

Brad Ross

Kylie Shipley

Veronica Sims

Kale Terrill

Rob Wild

Madison Williams

MHK PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY

The MHK Professional Development Day brought together professionals from every stage of their career for a full day of learning, inspiration, and connection. Designed to meet people where they are, from early-career talent to seasoned leaders, the event offered a mix of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and practical takeaways focused on leadership, innovation, workplace culture, and personal growth. Participants had the opportunity to sharpen skills, explore new perspectives, and engage with peers from across industries, all under one roof. More than a conference, MHK Professional Development Day reinforced the Chamber’s commitment to investing in people as our region’s greatest asset. By creating space to learn, reflect, and connect, the event helped equip our workforce with the tools and confidence needed to grow individually and strengthen the Manhattan community as a whole.

Chamber Reorganization

Over the past year, the Chamber completed a strategic reorganization with one clear focus: better serving our members. The process started with a revamp of the mission statement and supporting statements. The new mission is: “The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce drives business growth and promotes the Manhattan area as a premier destination to live, work, and visit.”

The leadership of the organization then transitioned operations from three divisions to six targeted areas— Visit MHK, Business Climate, Small Business, Jobs & Growth, Talent, and Member Investor Services—to ensure our programs, advocacy, and resources are more closely aligned with the diverse needs of the businesses

and organizations the Chamber represents. This structure allows the Chamber team to be more responsive, intentional, and effective in delivering value at every stage of a member’s journey.

This new approach also opens the door to more ways for members to connect, engage, and lead. By closely evaluating our activities for ongoing effectiveness, the Chamber is prioritizing programs that deliver meaningful impact while creating new opportunities for involvement, collaboration, and growth. The result is a stronger, more accessible Chamber—one that meets members where they are, evolves alongside their needs, and remains committed to helping our business community thrive.

champion initiatives that create prosperity and fuel the economic health of our community.

Engages our Stakeholders

We create opportunities for members, community business leaders and partners to connect, participate and prosper.

Commits to Excellence

We make data-supported decisions designed to create positive outcomes for our organization, members and community.

Rises above Self-Interest

We put in the work and make tough choices for the things we believe are in the best interest of our businesses and our community.

VALUE STATEMENTS:

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce drives business growth and promotes the Manhattan area as a premier destination to live, work, and visit.

Chamber Advocates for Business, Community Growth

LOCAL ISSUES SCORECARD

The Business Advocacy Committee created and implemented a formal scorecard to track Chamber-supported positions on local policy issues throughout 2025. This tool allowed the Committee to monitor outcomes, measure effectiveness, and provide accountability to members and investors. By year’s end, the scorecard showed an 85 percent success rate on priority local issues, demonstrating strong alignment between Chamber advocacy positions and adopted community decisions. The scorecard now serves as an ongoing performance management tool, helping the Committee refine strategies, identify trends, and focus advocacy efforts where they deliver the greatest community and economic impact.

UPDATED CORE PRINCIPLES

In 2025, the Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee completed a comprehensive update of the Chamber’s Core Principles to reflect current economic realities and community needs. A key addition was a clear, affirmative statement recognizing the need for expanded housing supply as a prerequisite for job growth, workforce retention, and long-term economic competitiveness. The updated principles reinforce support for targeted use of local, state, and federal tools to increase housing availability, encourage infill redevelopment, and grow the construction workforce, aligning housing policy with broader goals for population, wage, and job growth. The Core Principles is used by the organization to determine if and how the Chamber might get engaged in issues at all levels of government.

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRES

In advance of the 2025 local elections, the Business Advocacy Committee distributed detailed questionnaires to candidates for City Commission and School Board to better inform members and the broader business community. City Commission candidates addressed topics including the City’s role in job creation, housing affordability, flat job and population growth, fiscal responsibility for major projects, intergovernmental collaboration, and their top priorities if elected. School Board candidates responded to questions on balancing student needs with taxpayer responsibility, workforce-aligned curriculum, collaboration with local governments, youth and community facilities, and board priorities—promoting informed, issues-based civic engagement.

ADVOCATING FOR MANHATTAN IN D.C.

This fall, members of the Chamber Executive Committee traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for federal priorities critical to Manhattan’s continued growth and success. Despite a federal government shutdown during the visit, elected officials and their teams met with the delegation to discuss issues impacting our economy, workforce, and quality of life, reinforcing the importance of continued collaboration and engagement.

The Chamber advanced a federal agenda reflecting Manhattan’s diverse economic drivers, including the opening of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, sustained investment in Kansas State University research, support for Fort Riley and Irwin Army Community Hospital, and policies that strengthen the business climate. The Chamber is grateful to its Executive Committee members who annually represent Manhattan’s interests in Washington, D.C. at their own expense.

VISIT MANHATTAN

Vision Statement: Destination Manhattan!

Mission Statement: To expand the local area economy by attracting visitors.

2025 The Year of Growing Our Welcome

Building on last year’s momentum, we focused on strengthening how we invite, inspire, and host visitors to Manhattan, Kansas. Investments in an updated website and expanded photo and video library enhanced how our destination is experienced and perceived. We completed a comprehensive sports tourism evaluation to inform strategic efforts to strengthen Manhattan’s sports tourism offerings. A notable achievement this year was hosting our own tourism industry conference, welcoming peers from across the state and reinforcing Manhattan’s capacity to host, convene, and lead. Additionally, post-conference familiarization tours for travel writers attending the Travel Blog Exchange Conference extended Manhattan’s reach through authentic, firsthand storytelling. Together, these efforts reflect a destination growing in visitation, confidence, readiness, and the quality of its welcome.

$234.4 M in visitor spending with $24.2 M in state and local spending (2024)

$28.1 M

Reported by Smith Travel Research in hotel revenue with $2.1 mil Transient Guest Tax collections (2025)

$7.8 M In revenue, reported by AIR DNA in revenue of short term rental property with $584 K in Transient Guest Tax collections (2025)

TOURISM BY NUMBERS

1.4 M

Visitors

289

Meetings & Events Held

20,933

Room Nights Booked

$16.7 M

Estimated Economic Impact

209,000

Website Visits 29,160 Social Media Followers

Sports Tourism

• Strategic advancement: Partnering with Huddle Up and the Sports Implementation Committee to refresh and grow Manhattan’s sports tourism efforts.

• Successful hosted events:

• 2A State Basketball Tournament at Bramlage.

• 3A State Baseball Tournament at Tointon.

• Kansas Special Olympics Cheer and Basketball Tournament.

Conferences, Meetings, Sports, and Special Events

• Record-breaking year: Manhattan hosted 286 conferences, sporting, and special events, attracting over 66,000 attendees.

• 73 events (26%) were directly sold by Visit Manhattan staff.

• 41 events were new to the community.

• Notable first-time or returning groups after a 7+ year absence:

• Kansas Library Association

• Kansas Herpetological Society

• Society of the 1st Infantry Division Annual Officers Dinner (moved from Junction City—first time recorded in Manhattan).

• Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Region 5 Meeting (first time hosted in Manhattan).

• Self-Advocate Coalition of Kansas Conference booked for 2026.

• Kansas Tourism Conference

Manhattan Hospitality Industry Celebration

The Manhattan hospitality industry is committed to delivering exceptional experiences for visitors to our community. We are proud to recognize and celebrate the dedication of these businesses, whose outstanding service and partnership play a vital role in supporting tourism. In 2025, we were pleased to honor the following businesses as the Best of 2025.

Attraction of the Year

Retail of the Year

GATHERINGS 313

Restaurant of the Year

Lodging of the Year

Industry Partnerships and Marketing

• Hospitality relationships: Strengthened collaboration with partners through initiatives like a visitor coupon sheet to drive local business engagement and email notifications when citywide conferences were in town.

• Media and content creation: Completed video shoots with 10 partners. Expanded the photo and video library for website redesign and marketing pieces.

• America 250 committee formed

• World Cup committee formed

HILTON GARDEN INN

ONE EGG GROUP

COLBERT HILLS GOLF COURSE

Website Redesign

Visit Manhattan, KS launched a redesigned website with a fresh, modern look and simplified navigation to make trip planning easier. The update introduces engaging video content and a new itinerary creator that allows visitors to build personalized travel plans, offering a more intuitive and inspiring way to explore and find your Manhappiness™.

2025 TIAK Conference

Hosting the Kansas Tourism Conference in October was a great opportunity to welcome more than 200 tourism leaders from across the state and highlight Manhattan as an ideal conference destination. Attendees were wowed by the opening social at the Museum of Art + Light, and the unveiling of the Kansas Travel Guide cover the next day underscored why MoA+L earned that recognition. We were also thankful for our local agritourism partners, who added a memorable touch by bringing special “guests” for attendees to enjoy during session breaks.

The 2025 Visitors Guide was distributed extensively across the country and recieved over 65,365 digital views.

2025 TIAK Marketing Awards

During the TIAK Conference, the Visit Manhattan team took home first-place awards in the large budget category for our Visitor’s Guide and the Print Marketing Award for a collection of coupons we hand out to visitors of Manhattan.