Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
The Flint Hills region is known for its people, collaboration and landscape. The historical and future institutions will create a diverse economy that supports entrepreneurship, small business and our workforce. This is an exciting and promising time for the Flint Hills and the State of Kansas.
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development. A CEDS serves as a means to engage community leaders, leverage the involvement of the private sector, and establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration. A CEDS is the result of a regionally-owned planning process designed to build capacity to create the environment for regional economic prosperity and resiliency of the Flint Hills region.
Summary
This plan includes the following components:
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SWOT analysis
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Goals and actions
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Performance metrics and resilience
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Implementation
This CEDS was made possible by a grant from the Economic Development Administration
Citizen Strategy Committee Members
City of Manhattan | Jared Wassinger
Chase County | Suzan Barnes
Chase County | Jennifer Laird
Geary County | Mickey Dean
Lyon County | Kent Heerman
Morris County | Kay Hutchinson
Morris County | Wayne Kohler
Morris County | Tim Tyner
Pottawatomie County | Dee McKee
Pottawatomie County | Jack Allston
Pottawatomie County | Jim Moore
Pottawatomie County | Jo Brunner
Riley County | Bob Issac
Riley County | Randall Anderes
Riley County | Matt Bulk
Riley County | John Jobe
Riley County | Jamie Sheik
Riley County | Ben Wilson
Wabaunsee County | Abby Amick
Wabaunsee County | Lori Daniel
Wabaunsee County | Tracy Henry
SWOT Analysis
The SWOT analysis was conducted in a group setting, with stakeholders from each FHEDD county, to provide input.
The SWOT results identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the whole region. These are reviewed in this section.
The SWOT results for each county, the
northern portion of the FHEDD, and the southern portion of the FHEDD can be read in the final CEDS document, which can be downloaded here.
Strengths
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Educational opportunities
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Central location & I-70 access
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Quality of life and low crime
Weaknesses
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Declining and aging population
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Job availability & mismatch
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Aging infrastructure
Opportunities
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Travel & tourism
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Skilled workforce
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Industry growth & business development
Threats
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Lack of affordable housing
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Population loss
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Lack of labor force
Goals and Actions
From the Strategy Committee's vision and the SWOT analysis a series of goals were developed. From these goals, associated action steps were formulated to guide the region in accomplishing these goals within 3-5 years. The actions build upon the region’s strengths and opportunities to resolve weaknesses and threats that the region faces.
Below are the region's goals (italicized) and associated action steps.
Performance Metrics and Resilience
Performance Measures
1. Number of Jobs Created After Implementation of the CEDS
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Total Employment in Initial Year
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Total Employment in Subsequent Years
2. Number and Types of Public Sector Investments
Undertaken in the Region
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EDA Sponsored Investments
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Significant State and Local Investments
3. Number of Jobs Retained in the Region
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Number of Jobs Retained as a Result of Federal Investments
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Number of Jobs Retained as a Result of Select State and Local Investments
4. Private Sector Investment in the Region After
Implementation of the CEDS
5. Changes in the Economic Environment of the Region
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Changes to Taxes
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Fees
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New Incentive Programs
Resilience
Resilience involves the strength of a community’s ECONOMY, SOCIETY, and ENVIRONMENT, as well as an ability to withstand economic, social, and environmental threats.
Economic Risk
Risks: Reduction in public sector employment.
Mitigation Strategies: Diversify the regional economy, focusing on manufacturing, high tech agriculture,
and tourism.
Societal Risk
Risks: Rural population loss, urban population growth.
Mitigation Strategies: Economic development, expand transportation options, create opportunities with agriculture institutions.
Environmental Risk
Risks: Climate change and severe weather.
Mitigation Strategies: Coordination between communities, FHRC, FHEDD, and Kansas Division of Emergency Management.