Strengths:
Natural Environment
Intellectual Resources
Social Cohesion
Individualism
Built Environment
Opportunities:
Tourism Attractions
Manufacturing Capacity
Animal Health Corridor
Weaknesses:
State-Level Political Influence
Financial Resources
Regional Low Self-Esteem
Threats:
1. Collaborate between participating governments, area institutions and other organizations with a stake in the Flint Hills.
2. Brand the area to reflect the rich natural and social history of the region.
3. Promote the region to encourage regional and national tourism.
4. Brand the area to reflect the rich natural and social history of the region.
5. Educate the population well from early childhood through college and beyond.
Our Story
The Flint Hills Economic Development District is home to one of the largest army bases in the country as well as one of the largest research university's in the region.
The city of Manhattan in Riley County is the largest in the FHEDD with a population of 52,281. Manhattan is the center of the Manhattan-Junction City Combined Statistical Area (MSA), an area that includes Geary and Pottawatomie counties as well as Riley. 72 percent of the 176,537 people living in the FHEDD live in the MSA.
Our Economy
The economic activity of the Flint Hills Region has been unified by three primary industries; cattle, military and higher education. These major utilities dominate the local economies within the area.
Through unique public-private partnerships the promise of new educational, recreational, agricultural and economic synergies, can lead to places like the Flint Hills Nature Trail and to economic initiatives, such as, From the Land of Kansas trademark program.
The Flint Hills Economic Development District’s success will depend upon respecting the functioning economic heritage of the region, while bringing new, targeted approaches to leveraging the region’s rich natural, agricultural, manufacturing and cultural legacy.
FHEDD SWOT Analysis
Dependence on a Small Number of Employers
Public Sector Employment
Aging Population
Growing Urban/Rural Divide
Our Vision
"A highly educated populace, working in an evolving knowledge-based economy, living in the rich heritage of the Flint Hills ecosystem."
In order to establish an economy with steady growth, we must encourage innovation and business formation. In addition to recognizing and supporting our current industries, the FHEDD committee has identified five goals for the region.