CONNECT WITH US!
GREATER TOPEKA PARTNERSHIP:
Facebook — @GTPartnership
Twitter — @GTPartnership
Instagram — @GTPartnership
LinkedIn — Greater Topeka Partnership
VISIT TOPEKA:
Facebook — @VisitTopeka
Twitter — @VisitTopeka
Instagram — @VisitTopeka
DOWNTOWN TOPEKA:
Instagram — @DowntownTopekaInc
Facebook — @DowntownTopeka
that time of year again! We've bid farewell to 2023 and find ourselves back at our desks, ready to embrace what lies ahead. The new year tends to be an exciting time full of possibility. As I drove into work one day this month, I couldn't help but sense the momentum surging in our community. Southwest Topeka Boulevard is a perfect example. This main artery, once symbolic of Topeka's stagnation, bustles with new investment thanks to the concerted efforts of many, including Bring Back the Boulevard.
Along “the boulevard,” in 2023 alone, the Kansas Turnpike Authority cut the ribbon on a new administrative building, offering an improved first impression upon exiting the interstate. The former White Lakes Mall property is now clear and ready for development, and new restaurants and retail are arriving nearby. Further north, Stormont Vail Event Center gleams next to Hotel Topeka, a convention hotel poised to fulfill its potential thanks to stewardship and investment by the City of Topeka. Finally, a new KDHE Laboratory is rising next to a reimagined Docking State Office Building, accentuating the entrance to our downtown.
And that's just what you can see along one thoroughfare! What's truly exciting about Topeka right now is that progress is occurring throughout our city and county, spurred by various entities. Our riverfront’s future shines brighter than ever, thanks to bold leadership from the Riverfront Advisory Council and their strategic partnership with consultant Bolton and Menk. GO Topeka continues to connect new businesses to our community, including through Plug and Play Topeka's inaugural Animal Health/Ag Tech Summit in 2023. Our downtown came alive this year with vibrant cultural celebrations, including India Mela and For the Culture KS, and West Ridge Mall made headlines with the announcement it will soon transform into a corporate headquarters, lifestyle hub, and retail district under the guidance of Advisor's Excel.
Internationally, Topeka gained recognition when Telemundo showcased the impactful work of Topeka
Public Schools, Washburn University, the City of Topeka, and GO Topeka, highlighting our pioneering efforts to welcome first-generation Latinos. This news piece resonated globally, amassing over 6 billion impressions and solidifying Topeka as a dream destination where families prosper.
Meanwhile, our housing market again made headlines, with Topeka recognized by the Wall Street Journal as the NUMBER ONE emerging housing market in the U.S. Our education system remains a key advantage, with Auburn-Washburn and Silver Lake named two of the top 10 school districts in Kansas, Topeka Public Schools acknowledged for its duallanguage program, and Washburn offering innovative new scholarships. In addition to these wins, Topeka’s tourism sector saw a record year in 2023, boasting record attendance at local attractions and the highest number of hotel stays in our history.
While taking immense pride in these triumphs, we acknowledge there is still work to do. Growth in our unsheltered population is a shared concern, both nationally and in Topeka. We must stay the course when it comes to issues like community engagement, population growth, and poverty. The Partnership is also proud to collaborate on initiatives like the Clean and Safe Task Force and support lobbying efforts for the 2024 Topeka State Hospital project, aimed at providing essential care for those in crisis.
As we go into 2024, let’s get excited for the potential this year holds. Topeka is a city in motion, and progress is evident around every corner. Together, as we continue to reach for new heights, let’s give this community the best we have to offer. Here's to a year filled with momentum, collaboration, and the realization of big dreams!
~Bob Ross
TheGreater Topeka Partnership and Riverfront Advisory Council, in cooperation with consultant Bolton & Menk, officially announced the launch in December of the Topeka Riverfront Activation Plan project. This campaign is designed to collect vital feedback from our community to help guide a strategic master plan for Topeka’s riverfront. A series of surveys and engagement opportunities will be available throughout 2024 and offered in several languages to ensure our entire community is given the opportunity to engage.
The goal of a river master plan is to establish the city’s riverfront as a vibrant district that supports growth and economic development, connections to nature, recreation, and reinvestment in surrounding neighborhoods. To work toward this vision, the Riverfront Advisory Council has launched the website MyTopekaRiverfront.com. On this site, the public can learn more about the project, stay up to date on the latest information, and use an interactive map to leave comments and ideas. As engagement and planning kicks off, local partners from the Riverfront Advisory Council, State of Kansas, and City of Topeka have begun discussing the probability of removing metal debris still in the river from the flood of 1951.
Trina Goss, The Partnership’s director of business and talent initiatives, was recently selected for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ 2024 Fellowship for Economic Mobility. She is one of 20 chamber professionals from across the U.S. who will be taking part. The fellowship consists of an immersive, six-month program that provides education and tools to improve workforce ecosystems and remove barriers to access living wage jobs. Congratulations, Trina!
The Topeka Chamber Political Action Committee is seeking your support! Elections will be here in no time, and the PAC is asking those of you interested in getting active in your community to contact us today to see how you can help with the committee's pillars of outreach, education, and endorsement.
Chamber President Juliet Abdel joined the GTP team in November, just days after helping emcee The Partnership’s 2023 State of the Community! During her first 60 days on the job, Juliet has taken the position in stride, connecting with nearly 200 of Topeka's finest through one-on-one meetings. This has been part of her immersion into all those things that make the Topeka/Shawnee County community stand out. She has also engaged with local media partners, sharing her initial impressions of the community and hopes for the future on talk shows at KSNT and WIBW. Juliet looks forward to more community outreach over the next several months, as she continues to share what the Topeka Chamber is doing as your voice for business. We hope you’ll help us welcome Juliet to Team Topeka, as she gears up for a worthwhile 2024!
The Greater Topeka Partnership and GO Topeka were excited to announce four winners of our 2023 Equity and Opportunity Business Pitch Competition held Thursday, Nov. 16 in downtown Topeka. The pitch contest offered a chance for aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups to present their innovative ideas to some of the area’s business decision makers, competing for a portion of the $38,000 prize pool. Eleven entrepreneurs and new business owners participated, with the following winners being recognized:
• 1ST PLACE – Chef Lamona Scroggins for her expansion into grocery stores ($15,000)
• 2ND PLACE – The Grind Coaching & Consulting/ Fatima Luthi for a new mobile app ($10,000)
• 3RD PLACE – Paletas Royale ice cream/Estaban Polanco ($8,000)
• 4TH PLACE – Topeka Treat Company/Jaime Davis ($5,000)
• ALEX ADAME-BIPES –Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professional, FHLBank Topeka
• NADIA ARBELO – Interim Regional Director, Kansas SBDC @ Washburn
• LEANN BRUNGARDT – Youth Services Supervisor, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
• JOE BEASLEY – Assistant Vice President and Trust Officer, BOK Financial
• VIDAL CAMPOS – Sergeant, Topeka Police Department
• SHERYL DICK – SVP Member Services/Chief Retail Officer, Azura Credit Union
• JACKIE FOX – Project Manager, HTK Architects
• ZACH FRANK – Dean, School of Applied Studies, Washburn University
• JANICE GILMER-GENTRY –Manager of CMS Programs, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
• MAKAYLA GIRODAT – Realtor and Entrepreneur, Genesis Realtors LLC
• PHELICA GLASS – Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW, GCCA-C, FAAGC, CSOTP, SPARC), Phelicia Glass, LSCSW, LLC
• ROB GREGORY – AVP, CISO, Security Benefit
InDecember, The Partnership announced the names of community members chosen for the 2024 class of Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT), which is celebrating 40 years of developing local leaders!
Founded in 1984, LGT identifies aspiring and established leadership from the community to participate in a competitive annual leadership training course. Class members attend a retreat and nine day-long sessions that begin in January and continue through May. During these classes, participants increase their capacity to lead as they learn about challenges facing Topeka/ Shawnee County and how they can work to influence important community issues. The following 2024 class members were selected from more than 160 nominations:
• WRYLIE GUFFEY – Animal Curator & Elephant Manager, Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center
• CAITLYN HALSEY – Founder/ Employment Services Director, Dialogue Coffee House
• JADE KERR – Accounting Director/Controller, Capitol Federal Savings Bank
• PAYTON KOLLING – Senior, Washburn Rural High School
• SARAH LUCERO – Director of Title Services, USD 437
• JILL MARTIN – VP of Life Operations, Advisors Excel
• DANIELLE MARTIN – TV Host/ Producer, Advisors Excel
• STEPHANIE NORWOOD –Director of Entrepreneurship & Small Business, GO Topeka
• MICHAEL ODUPITAN – CEO & Founder, Omni Circle Group
• ERIC PATTERSON – Marketing Consultant, WIBW
• AMY PINGER – Sr. Community Engagement Manager, Harvesters - The Community Food Network
• CASSIE RICHARDSON –Senior Vice President-Marketing Manager, CoreFirst Bank & Trust
• CARMEN ROMERO-NICHOLS – Operations Manager, ECI Services
• LUCAS RYAN – Regulation and Policy Specialist, Kansas Department of Health & Environment
• PAULA SANDERS – Director Magnet & Clinical Excellence, Stormont Vail Health
• DAMON SHORE – Stock Room Lead, MARS Wrigley
• TROY SIMONEAU – Director of Operations, Kansas Gas Service
• JASON SMITH – Director of Volunteer Engagement and Events, Topeka Civic Theatre
• ANDREW TAGUE – Associate Attorney, Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, LLP
• JASON TRYON – Deputy Director of Public Works, City of Topeka
• STEVEN VICKERY – Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, MARS Wrigley
• SHANE WARTA – Director of Strategic Initiatives, Topeka Community Foundation
• COLA WHITE – Finance Manager, Cornerstone of Topeka
• ANDREW WRIGHT – Delivery Group Leader, Bartlett & West
new cultural festivals like For the Culture KS India Mela to Partnership-led functions like Annual Meeting and State of the Community, exciting and innovative events took the Topeka by storm in 2023. As we gear up for more meaningful fun in 2024, we’re proud to look on a vibrant year celebrating culture, progress, and community!
STORY
2023, we shared some of Topeka’s story with world, landing features and mentions in outlets like Forbes, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Telemundo, Business Insider, and more! Covered topics ranged from talent attraction and economic development to estate, Plug and Play, diversity efforts beyond.
top leaders in the chamber industry who have demonstrated success in their careers and made significant contributions in the communities they represent. We know Molly’s impact on Topeka/ Shawnee County has been tremendous!
In similar news, Molly was also recognized in December as an honoree in the We-KC edition of Ingram’s business magazine, as a member of the 2023 Class of Women Executives to watch. Earlier in the year, she was also named to Ingram’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023. There is no other way to say it—Molly is making moves! We hope you’ll help us congratulate her on these recent successes.
191 6 B
PIECES OF NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE AUDIENCE REACH ESTIMATED VIEWS
In
2023, the Greater Topeka Partnership helped share Topeka’s story with the world, landing features and mentions in outlets like Business Insider, Forbes, NBC, Telemundo, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and more! Covered topics ranged from talent attraction and economic development to real estate, Plug and Play, diversity efforts and beyond.
Young Talent gained 233 new members in 2023! This is the highest number on record for Forge new member recruitment, which has been a focus over the past two years. Forge achieved this record growth by implementing a couple of new strategies in markets it hadn’t targeted in the past.
After the success of new member marketing campaigns in 2022, Forge expanded its new member campaign in 2023 to include both spring and fall windows. The expansion included targeting nearby colleges, including Washburn University, University of Kansas, and Kansas State University, with digital marketing. In addition to digital marketing, Forge also put boots on the ground and tabled events at both Washburn and KU to get direct engagement with current students and soon-to-be members of the workforce.
A second strategy was to refocus efforts to engage with area interns participating in the TopCity Interns program. Even though it’s an official Forge initiative, we felt the TopCity Interns program and interns who participate had become siloed away from the larger Forge membership. Forge thought it would be beneficial for both groups to interact during events. We saw some initial success with this and want to continue that focus in 2024.
In addition to those strategies, Forge also continued its traditional efforts of working with local employers to engage their new hires and under-40 employees. All of this led to 233 new members in 2023, which was 34 new members than the previous year, and a total of 433 new members in the last two years.
During November, the Topeka Youth Commission, with assistance from the Topeka Community Foundation, collected applications for the latest round of Stay785, an annual grant program created to fund community projects designed and directed by youth in the Topeka/Shawnee County area. For its 2023-2024 term, Stay785 will provide up to $10,000 in funding to support various youth-led initiatives. Be on the lookout for announcement of the grant awardees!
A seasonal scavenger hunt stemming from a partnership between Downtown Topeka Inc. and the Topeka Area Sports Commission enticed downtown shoppers in late 2023!
Partnering with TASC, DTI hid five TASC Teddy Bears at local retailers. As customers found each bear, they were able to return it to the Topeka Welcome Center with a receipt from the retailer in which it was found to receive a $50 gift card to a downtown eatery.
In December, a third cohort graduated from the Greater Topeka Partnership’s Executive Development System program, which is designed to teach executive-level leadership skills to team members with the demonstrated drive and talent to become strong leaders in the organization and economic development industry. During the course of the fourmonth program, the cohort collaborated on a class project, which is being presented to the Executive Leadership Team in January.
Our members make our momentum possible. In November and December, the Partnership welcomed the following new members to the GTP family:
• Michaels Resurfacing
• Love’s Moving Service
• Oz Alliance
• Whayne’s Herbs & Natural Products LLC
• Estevia Magic
• AO NOLO PRALINE CANDY
• Best Enterprises LLC
• Patterson Family Infant & Toddler Center
• Pulito Closets
• Over the Top Sandwich and Deli LLC
• Advantage Tech Inc.
• Dohrn Transfer Company
• Technical Applications & Consulting
• Forward Nutrition
• Dirty Dough Topeka
• The Hive LLC
• Fit Realty
• Tommy Leathers District Office of Farmers Insurance
• Foundations Commercial
• The Mix
• 785 Beer Company
• God’s Storehouse
• BREWpay Innovative Payment Services LLC (DBA: BREWpay)
Doyou know a teenager interested in a career in a STEM field? Do you know of an outstanding woman who leads in the STEM economy and has a passion for encouraging young people? If you answered “yes,” we’d love to know! GO Topeka Talent Initiatives is proud to announce the launch of W.I.S.E. Women. W.I.S.E. Women (Women in the STEM Economy) is a program designed to inspire young girls interested in STEM to pursue their dreams. Girls will be paired with female mentors currently working in the STEM field and take part in one-on-one mentoring sessions centered around career readiness and preparation, career exploration opportunities, job shadowing, field trips and more. The program is designed for all high school girls in Shawnee County, and an application is now available at GOTopeka.com/wise-women for those interested in participating. We are also looking for mentors, so if you or someone you know would like to be a mentor in this program, please reach out to Trina Goss at Trina.Goss@ TopekaPartnership.com. A mentorship training session is being held in January, and the program will run from the end of February through July.
Young Talent strives to be innovative as a young professionals organization and aims to be a leader in our community. Below is a list of "firsts" Forge celebrated in 2023:
• Hosted first-ever Kansas Young Professionals Day at the Capitol
• Developed inaugural Forge Advocacy Agenda Held first Forge Rooftop Concert as part of a reimagined ForgeFest
• Held first on-campus event in partnership with Washburn's Student Government Association and Washburn alumni
• Launched new employer/employee engagement program
• Eclipsed 200 new members in a single calendar year
• Launched on-campus recruitment effort at regional colleges
• Hosted first event in Topeka in partnership with KU students from the College of Engineering
events recap — In late 2023, our events department was bustling with activity as we geared up for 2024 and orchestrated unforgettable celebrations for the holiday season. In early November, our 2023 State of the Community was held at Townsite Avenue Ballroom, adorned with Topeka flag colors to mark the occasion. This informative gathering featured engaging conversations among panelists and discussions by Mayor Michael Padilla and Commission Chair Bill Riphahn about key initiatives moving the area forward.
Later that month, we marked GTP member WIBW's 70th anniversary during our November Business Unwind, which featured a special broadcast, local vendors, fun mascots, and the giveaway of a 70inch TV. We then swiftly transitioned to organizing and putting on the 28th annual Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade, making it bigger and better than ever with help from title sponsor Giant Communications and introducing exciting additions like a Macy’s-Thanksgiving-DayParade style red carpet, VIP seating, and real reindeer!
Amidst the holiday cheer, the Downtown Topeka Window Decorating Contest showcased festively adorned windows, with the public voting for best display. Our final Power Breakfast of the year was held at The Tee Box. It combined golf and great food, offering unique business insights. Finally, the year concluded with our December Business Unwind hosted by Vaerus Aviation and Schwerdt Design Group, and as always, it proved to be a member favorite! Keep an eye out for information about 2024 events you won’t want to miss.
The current pipeline of leads for Visit Topeka’s sports sales division sits at 23 unique opportunities. If secured, those leads could result in an estimated economic impact of almost $8.5 million, accounting for more than 12,000 room nights.
In 2023, a total of 46 definitive leads were secured, accounting for about 13,600 rooms, bringing more than 38,400 attendees to the area, and resulting in an estimated local economic impact of $11.5 million. Ten leads lost or cancelled in 2023 could have resulted in an additional 6,900 room nights, 16,700 attendees, and a $13.5 million economic impact.
The Topeka Chamber is pleased that our regional legislative agenda has come to life, in partnership with chambers in Manhattan, Emporia and Lawrence, communities comprising Kansas' METL (Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka, Lawrence) coalition. This METL agenda was presented in our December legislative preview meeting with area legislators. Newer priorities include increasing funding to career technical education, coming up with child care solutions, and bridging the college dropout rate gap.
In 2023, the GTP’s Resource Development team achieved success in increasing sponsorships and overall investment. Notably, we secured $150,000 in new sponsors, with Giant Communications committing to a significant three-year title sponsorship of the Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade. In addition, Briggs Auto became a key contributor by sponsoring the final conference room at GTP’s office. As we approach 2024, the Resource Development team is strategically expanding sponsorship benefits to maximize investors' returns on investment. Collaborating closely with the events, marketing, and communication teams, Resource Development is dedicated to elevating the sponsorship experience, ensuring its continual improvement. The year concludes with a substantial achievement, the amassing of almost $1.1 million in total sponsorships, setting a solid foundation for future growth and success.
GOTopeka celebrated Global Entrepreneurship Week in November, with great events put on by us and our community partners. Kicking off the week, Washburn University held an “Ichabods of Industry” event featuring downtown business owner and entrepreneur Ken Schmanke. That evening, we invited our network to join us for Business Unwind, celebrating WIBW’s 70th anniversary. Mid-week, GO Topeka supported the Kansas Chamber’s Women in Business Conference, where we were able to fill a table with women who are aspiring business owners or currently on their entrepreneurship journeys. On Thursday, GO Topeka held an end-of-year celebration for Propeller, bringing back those who participated in the mentorship program throughout the year, alongside the small business council and those interested in participating in Propeller in the future. At the celebration, Mayor Padilla issued the city’s Small Business Saturday Proclamation, and attendees heard keynote speaker Tara Dimick talk about her entrepreneur journey full of mentorship and growth. Later that evening, GO Topeka held its 2023 Equity and Opportunity Business Pitch Competition.
Following two years of work, the song and music video coming out of Visit Topeka's Project Broadway campaign officially debuted at the Kready Holiday Spectacular Dec. 23 at the Topeka Performing Arts Center! Visit Topeka had been working with Topekaborn Broadway performer Jeff Kready on Project Broadway, which will serve as a primary piece in Visit Topeka's 2024-2025 advertising campaign. Jeff helped Visit Topeka recruit the talented Steven Lutvak, the composer and lyricist behind "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," which won the Tony for Best Musical in 2015. Steven wrote a piece for Topeka titled "Free to Be Me," and in early October, Mammoth Creative Co. filmed a promotional video for the campaign at locations around Topeka, culminating with a simulated parade in downtown Topeka. Unfotunately, Steven died suddenly just days after the shoot. While our team is heartbroken by his loss, we we are committed to elevating Steven's work and legacy and honoring his memory. We expect to release the full campaign in early 2024.
Mike Bell, TASC director and VP of sports sales for Visit Topeka, was recently chosen to serve on the 2024 Small Destination Task Force for Destinations International, the premier global trade association for destination and tourism professionals. Congratulations, Mike!
In December, Topeka’s Small Business Council hosted their bi-monthly training, a newer offering available for SBC members. The training featured Martha Piland, who presented networking tips and tricks for an installment titled “Networking 101.” This engaging session allowed participants to listen, learn, and practice skills that should help them in personal and professional networking scenarios. After the session, guests stuck around to make new connections and learn more about the programs and resources available through GO Topeka and the Greater Topeka Partnership.
The Partnership’s Executive Leadership Team attended an off-site retreat in mid-December.
The retreat served as a valuable opportunity for our leadership team to come together, engage in teambuilding activities, and set the stage for future endeavors.
The retreat also focused on reviewing progress on The Partnership’s 2023 thematic goal and discussing our 2024 thematic goal.
Insights gained from the retreat will undoubtedly contribute to a more resilient and collaborative GTP leadership team going forward.
Thelatest on Choose 2.0 — Choose Topeka 2.0 has been a huge success! In 2023, between the employer match and boomerang options, Choose Topeka helped 40 applicants and their families move to Topeka. The average annual salary of the recipients is just over $85,000, and more than half have made the decision to purchase a home in Shawnee County rather than rent. The program is getting more employer participation than ever before, with 18 different companies using the Choose initiative in 2023 alone to aid in their recruitment efforts. And that’s not all! Since Telemundo’s broadcasts about Topeka in October, GO Topeka has received thousands of calls, emails and visits from people interested in building their lives here, and more than 7,000 individuals from outside Shawnee County have utilized Choose Topeka’s SkillFit platform to create profiles that aid in their job search with Shawnee County employers.
Topeka’s Trina Goss and Forge Young Talent’s Chair Elect Zac Surritt attended the Young, Smart & Local Conference in New Orleans in November. Young, Smart & Local is a national network of more than 800 professionals in economic development, city government, higher education and business who are working to build diverse young talent through the engagement, inclusion and retention of college students and young professionals. During the conference, Zac and Trina had the opportunity to network with professionals from across the country, while hearing powerful presentations on topics such as connecting industry to education, how artificial intelligence will impact the workforce, utilizing social media to build your talent pipeline and community population, emerging trends in talent attraction, and much more.
Our 2024 Topeka Chamber legislative priorities can be found online at TopekaPartnership.com/ topeka-chamber. After having removed successful policies that passed last year, our areas of interest continue to fall under the umbrella of "Kansans Work," with key issues including child care, workforce training, higher education, and housing.
Downtown businesses and residents got festive in December with the annual Downtown Topeka Holiday Window Decorating Contest. Participants were encouraged to decorate their windows for the holidays, for a chance at winning the title of “Best Window in Downtown Topeka.” The public voted for their favorite display to determine the winner, who received a cash prize and recognition on social media. We’re proud to announce our 2023 window decorating winner was Fidelity State Bank!
Momentum
On Nov. 6, the Topeka Area Sports Commission (TASC) launched a survey to determine the outflow of sports-related economic activity from Topeka to other communities. TASC director Mike Bell set a lofty goal of having 2,000 respondents but was advised 500 would be good and statistically accurate. The survey remained open for about a month, garnering a total of more than 1,200 responses. TASC is now working with The Partnership’s economic advisor to build models that determine the outflow and should have a report ready by the end of the first quarter of 2024. From there, TASC will determine next steps for the data.
1) Housing for All
2) Active Core & Neighborhoods
3) Arts & Recreation
1) Retain & Expand
2) Launch & Develop
3) Promote & Attract
1) Cradle Through Career
2) Access to Opportunity
1) Engaged & Empowered
2) Proud & Aware
3) Recruit & Retain Talent
County's Momentum 2027 community strategy, now a quarter of the way through, is being measured by the GTP and Momentum 2027 Executive Committee. Our Momentum 2027 Strategic Metric Tracker shows notable progress in key areas and room for improvement in others. It's important to note that Population Growth, GDP, Higher Education, and Poverty Rate indicators have a one-year lag. Currently, four of the tracker's 10 indicators are on target, significantly surpassing expectations. These include Jobs in Shawnee County, Household Income, GDP, and Poverty Rate, all of which are trending in the right direction. Three of the 10 indicators are under caution, with Net Promoter Score suggesting a potential shortfall, wages in Shawnee County growing just over 3% but falling slightly short of the 4% target, and capital investment showing growth but at lower levels than desired. The remaining three indicator areas need improvement. While we aren't yet achieving a perfect 10/10 when it comes to metrics, the ambitious targets reflect high expectations, emphasizing our commitment to excellence and specific numerical measurements.
Click here for video update https://vimeo.com/882546726/ e0b539e895?share=copy.
There were 92,496 workers in the Shawnee County Labor Force as of October 2023. This was an increase of nearly 900 workers from a year prior but down 172 from the month prior. Of those in the labor pool, there were 89,559 employed workers, leaving 2,937 people unemployed. Employed workers decreased by 500 from the year before and were down 951 from the month prior. Meanwhile, Shawnee County’s unemployment rate increased slightly to 3.2% in October (or 2,937 people) from September’s 2.9%.
In addition to welcoming Juliet Abdel to the GTP team in November, Jessyca Moreno joined The Partnership on Monday, Nov. 6 as Manager of Downtown Topeka & River Strategies. Jessyca, who also goes by Jessy, has a wealth of community involvement! She graduated from the Citizens Police Academy, the City of Topeka Public Works Academy, and volunteers with Boys and Girls Clubs of Topeka as a member of Club Blue. She is also bilingual, with fluency in both English and Spanish.
Following GO Topeka travel to a Plug and Play Summit in Silicon Valley around the beginning of December, staff from GO Topeka and Plug and Play Topeka joined forces a week later to hold a special event here in the capital city. GO Topeka and Plug and Play Topeka invited special guest Ed Reggi to lead a pitch training session at the Sunflower Foundation for entrepreneurs, students, and small business owners. After the training session, recent graduates of the Plug and Play Topeka accelerator program pitched their innovative business concepts in front of venture capitalists and angel investors as part of a 2023 Demo Day.
In December, at the 13th annual Arty Awards, Visit Topeka President Sean Dixon was awarded the 2023 Liz Stratton Arts Champion Award from ArtsConnect. Sean has done tremendous work to elevate and expand the arts in Topeka, and this recent recognition is a testament to his efforts.
Preliminary reporting for November indicates local hotel revenue remained steady in late 2023. November saw average daily rate fall to $93.11. Meanwhile, demand landed at 42,231 rooms for the month, generating $4 million in hotel revenue.
Grant funds are being utilized and facility expansions are underway, as we work to add quality child care slots to our community’s care inventory. GO Topeka and Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas have been collaborating closely to stand up a website centered around creating a strong talent pipeline of child care workers to support providers in Shawnee County. A community fund is also being established to provide scholarships to parents when the cost of child care is a struggle. There will be more information to come on the website and community fund, with an opportunity for your business to become a “Champion for Child Care”! Be on the lookout for a unique educational session about how your business can further support child care in Shawnee County.
In a recent significant development, Topeka has been chosen as the host city for the 2024 Annual Conference of the Kansas Association of Airports (KAA). The KAA Annual Conference, secured by a Visit Topeka bid, is a key event on the aviation industry calendar in Kansas, attracting airport professionals and aviation stakeholders from across the state. The event features a range of activities, including keynote speeches, workshops, networking events, and an exhibition showcasing the latest in airport technology and services. KAA’s selection of Topeka is a testament to the city’s growing reputation as a prime location for hosting major professional gatherings. It also promises notable economic benefits, as the influx of attendees is expected to boost local business.
Topeka reported 27 new-business attraction projects in the pipeline as of early December. The top industries represented include manufacturing and aviation.
Visit Topeka made an appearance recently at the Kansas Society of Association Executives (KSAE) Expo as both a sponsor and exhibitor. The event provided an excellent opportunity for Visit Topeka to showcase the city’s diverse meeting spaces and event facilities to association professionals. At the expo, which was attended by association executives from various sectors, Visit Topeka’s focus was on attracting associations for their annual conferences, social events, and client meetings. Visit Topeka’s participation in the KSAE Expo is a strategic effort to promote Topeka as a leading destination for such events.
The Partnership held ribbon cuttings in late 2023 for the following new members and events:
• Oct. 25: IHOP
• Nov. 1: Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home
• Nov. 13: Vetco Total Care
• Nov. 27: Build-A-Bear at Bonkers
• Nov. 29: McCrite Plaza Memory Care
• Dec. 7: Cornerstone of Topeka
• Dec. 12: McDonald’s KTA Topeka Service Area
Following the close of our fall Small Business Incentives application window, the selection committee approved awarding almost $158,000 to 25 unique companies, funding 33 different incentive projects. The winter 2024 application window is open, and applicants can continue to use GO Topeka’s new online automated system for ease and convenience.
In the fall window, GO Topeka saw a few participants from Spanish translation information sessions apply and receive awards, marking the success of our bilingual programming. In November, the Small Business Incentives program was also part of a presentation at a Lenders Luncheon, allowing us to share the opportunity with our banking community so they can better serve their
On Nov. 11, downtown Topeka welcomed the annual Sunflower Salute Veterans Day Parade to Kansas Avenue! This annual tradition seeks to recognize and honor Topeka-area Veterans and active service members. Participating in the parade were numerous floats, including several groups from local ROTC programs and various marching bands.
OnDec. 2, downtown Topeka was transformed into the city’s hub for the holidays with the Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade! 2023 brought an upgraded parade experience with the addition of the Shawnee County Parks + Recreation mobile stage and a carpet donated by GTP member Carpet One for float entries to pause and show off their holiday cheer on the parade route. Spectators were also welcomed to Evergy Plaza that night to enjoy Cookies and Carols sponsored by Topeka First United Methodist Church; the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting; and a meetand-greet with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and live reindeer!