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Years of community research and planning helped create the Community Initiated Development Process. As the planning phase comes to a close, the difficult process of implementation begins. Because, vision without action is just a daydream.

Emporia Main Street

E-Newsletter

It's the last week of February, and things are starting to pick up steam! Work days are coming up to help beautify the community, a new development plan to build a better Emporia through Community Initiated Development is here, and several fun events are on their way. Keep reading for more information!

Click HERE for the Dinner and Taste Ticket
2014 General Ticket

Click HERE for the general Taste Ticket

The Taste is April 12th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Civic Auditorium. This classic event features Kansas Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries, local restaurants, live music and a lot of fun! We also have a Taste AND Dinner option. Dinner starts at 5:00 p.m., and dinner attendees gain early access to The Taste. We sold out of tickets the last three years, so remember to get your tickets EARLY!!! Click the links above to reserve your dinner ticket or your general ticket (we will hold on-line tickets at the door). Don't wait! Get your tickets TODAY!!!

Do you enjoy taking photographs? Why not enter our photo contest celebrating National Historic Preservation Month in May? We want to see your talent and you may win Emporia Main Street gift certificates!

CLICK HERE for Contest Details

Main Street Merchandise

You can order the items listed below at a variety of local merchants, at the Emporia Main Street office or on-line at www.emporiamainstreet.com

Emporia Opoly Game Board

Emporia-Opoly Game Boards are in and moving QUICKLY! This Emporia version of the classic Monopoly board game features local businesses, historic sights and special Emporia Tokens. This is the perfect gift for current or past Emporians. Because there is a limited quantity, we suggest you get yours soon..

Gift Certificates 2013

Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates are always the perfect size! Give the gift of shopping local this year with the gift of Emporia Main Street gift certificates, good at our member merchants throughout Emporia.

Quarter Mania Logo

Quarter Mania

March 13th in the Granada Theatre

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE for a video explaining this fun event that helps local businesses AND provides great prizes for you!

Mobile App QR Codes

id712001984?mt=8

New additions AND a Web version COMING SOON!

Get 'Em Ready to Read

Instructor: Holly Aranda & Angie Schreiber

Cost: $19; resource materials included!

$25 for couples; shared resources

Schedule: Tuesday, February 25, 7:00-8:00pm

What do three and four year olds need to know to learn to read? And read well? This fun evening will provide hands on activities and up-to-date information on current reading research. Join Holly and Angie from Cradle to Career Literacy Center, and find out what your child needs to know to be school ready.

Farmers Market 101: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Farmers Market Vending

Instructor: Tracy Simmons

Cost: $5

Schedule: Tuesday, March 4, 6:00-8:00 PM

If you've ever considered selling produce, baked goods, or homemade crafts at a farmers market, this is the place for you. Emporia Farmers Market manager, Tracy Simmons, will cover the ins and outs of selling at the market, state and local regulations, creating a niche, and tips and strategies for successful vending. As well, you will learn about the Emporia Farmers Market history, operations and guidelines for selling. If you already know your product, or you've just had an idea that selling at the market is something you might like to do, sign up for this presentation. Sponsored in part by the Emil Babinger Charitable Trust.

Seed Starting Basics

Instructor: John Crisp

Cost: $5

Schedule: Tuesday, March 11, 6:00-8:30pm

Don't get overwhelmed with all the technical stuff - you can do it! From direct seeding in the garden to starting seedlings for transplant, you will learn all you need to know to get started raising your own food. Students will work with seeds, potting soils, flats, cells, soil blocks, grow lights, timers, watering devices, and transplanters, learning all the aspects of growing through hands-on activity. John has been gardening for over 50 years and his experience can help you get through the learning curve, and on your way to success.

Online Moodle 2.5 Boot Camp

Instructor: Kim Dhority

Session 2: Schedule: Modules open March 24-May 26. (Must be registered by March 15).

Cost: $25; graduate credit is available through Baker University at an additional cost.

Do you want to offer online classes? Do you want to be able to give handouts or presentations to your students anywhere? Join Kim Dhority for an informative and helpful "boot camp", and learn how to use the open-source learning management system called Moodle. Through seven interactive and informative online modules, the class will cover course set-up, maintenance, resources, activities, advanced features, and more! This course is ideal for college instructors and administrators, and is available for graduate credit through Baker University for an additional fee. Please contact 620-341-1392 for additional details.

Eating in Season

Instructor: Tracey Graham

Cost: $5

Schedule: Session 1: Tuesday, January 21, 6:00-8:00 PM

Session 2: Tuesday, February 18, 6:00-8:00 PM

We all know that locally-grown foods (from your garden, your friends' and neighbors' gardens, the Farmers Market, etc.) are the very best. Even in the depths of winter, there are many lovely foods available locally. Tips for creative ways of consuming high-quantity foods while they're at their peak is the focus of this class. Explore how to take advantage of the abundance that is available at different times of the year, and sample some recipes whipped up from what's available right now. Sponsored in part by the Emil Babinger Charitable Trust.

Enroll today! Visit http://flinthills.augusoft.net or call 620-341-1392.

DK Banner

Dirty Kanza Sponsorship Opportunities

The Dirty Kanza 200 is fast approaching (May 31, 2014). We at Dirty Kanza Promotions would like to extend an invitation to you to combine our resources.We are looking into expanding our store and we would like to partner with your business! Anything that can be sold with the Dirty Kanza logo on it during that time would benefit both businesses. If you are interested in meeting to discuss merchandising options, please contact LeLan Dains at lelandains@gmail.com . We hope to hear from you soon!

Property Availability Guide

For property owners with property available for rent or sale, this is a free service to collect information and post it on the Emporia Main Street Web Site. With other market information available, we hope this site makes it easier for potential businesses and property developers to find spaces they need.

CLICK HERE to enter information about your available property and view previously submitted information.

Business Investment Guide

Do you know a business that should locate in Emporia? Maybe you know an entrpreneur looking for resources or a business owner looking to expand? The Business Investment Guide is community information designed to help you point your contacts in the right direction!

CLICK HERE for the INVESTMENT GUIDE

Community Initiated Development

The overview plan is done, and now for the hard part...

We have covered Community Initiated Development in past newsletters. As a brief refresher, the process is what it sounds like: the community initiates the development it wants and needs. In this scenario, we work with community members and property owners to identify properties for redevelopment. Obviously, we would prefer adaptively reusing existing buildings, but occasionally buildings are so dilapidated or out of sync with the fabric of an area that they must be razed and replaced with a more appropriate structure. But, whenever possible, housing stays housing, mixed use is added to commercial and quality projects that promote density are created.

You can read the full DRAFT Community Initiated Development report by clicking HERE. The full report with a few additions will be made available next week.

So what are the next steps?

1. We must identify specific areas for potential redevelopment- Some of that has already been done as we work through "proof of concept" portions of the plan. Dilapidated buildings or areas that can be revitalized to Street View

produce profitable concepts are what we are looking for. Again, these can be buildings for reuse, areas that must be demolished and rebuilt or even vacant upper stories that can be converted into housing or business space.

2. We must find property owners willing to realistically "play ball." We didn't create CID so people could flip from "my building is worthless" to, suddenly, "my property is gold, dipped in platinum, covered in diamonds". There are a lot of properties and areas that need fixed in Emporia. If the economics don't work for one project, we will find another project.

3. We will build development teams. Real estate agents, architects, engineers, accountants, local officials, contractors, general citizens and more will be brought together on limited project scopes to produce a project template.

4. We will take opportunities and solicit involvement from multiple developers that specialize in the particular type of development we are focusing on.

Historic developers are often different from strip center specialists. Mixed use developers are often different from upper-story housing specialists. By preemptively creating a team and a project scope, we can create fast and profitable projects that create opportunities for local developers and/or a pull for regional firms.

5. We will design features that facilitate the realization of a coordinated plan, instead of the "this business type goes anywhere for no reason" approach. The idea behind the implementation of a coordinated strategy is to build on each "win" to achieve an overall goal. Developed "clusters" will act as destinations and facilitate future growth. Future development should identify and build upon existing community anchors instead of sprawling into new undeveloped regions.

6. After we get rolling, this isn't just for downtown. We want to run test cases first, but the eventual goal is to tie the community and our assets together while eliminating blight and chronic vacancy. This is a different mind set for any community, but it's ultimately more effective than simply hoping "somebody does something".

We understand that Community Initiated Development is much different that the current development mind set, but that might be a good thing for Emporia. This process encourages people just like you to get involved 000-200 Blocks

in the development process and learn more about your community. We also understand that whenever a group or individual changes a strategy some will resist that change.

CID requires a lot of planning, extensive homework and a clear vision. Frankly, it's much easier to wait for someone to bring concepts to you. But, if we hope to take full advantage of the assets we currently have, citizens will need to step up and make things happen. If we want to decrease blight, create nodes of businesses that serve our local customers AND act as destinations, and develop a a realistic sustainable community model, the Community must Initiate Development. We hope you join us in creating the next phase of Emporia's growth.

Did you know???

Last week we participated in a CVB meeting, held a Finance meeting to dedicate funds to an expanding business, participated in youth entrepreneurship speeches, spoke to leadership of the Flint Hills Regional Council, worked with a local development group, did some editing of the CID document, hosted a board of directors meeting, reviewed some differences in updated codes, participated in the Start Your Own Business Class, answered questions for a few participants in the 3D competition, held a directors meeting for Kansas Main Street and worked with a business expansion. March is right around the corner
, and that means our "slow" (that was slow? Yikes!) period is at an end for 2014, but all the upcoming activity means some good questions from all of you
!

1. "Why does the city change codes?"- From a visit to the office. Codes aren't so much "changed" as "updated". Building codes, plumbing codes, electrical codes and so on are updated in publications on a regular basis and published every three years. For most codes, the City of Emporia is updating to the 2012 edition from the 2006 edition. The State of Kansas currently adheres to the 2006 edition. There are two basic forms of codes "international" and "universal", and typically cities adopt one or the other, but both have their advantages (and disadvantages). Most cities also have an "existing building code" that recognizes the difference between rehabilitating existing structures and building new. Governments update codes in order to adhere to new "norms" promoted by construction, accessibility, fire safety specialists and insurance professionals. The overall goal is to create safer work and living environments via quality construction. When buildings change use, they are often subject to newer codes, and that is one of the many reasons why working with construction, engineering and architectural professionals is very important.

2. "How do I deal with a staff member that "snaps" at work?" From an e-mail to the office. Work can be stressful, and the effects of stress can manifest themselves in various ways. Each situation and individual is different, but I encourage people to try and give "team" members a way to release stress is a productive manner. Passion for work is generally a good thing, and blowing off steam is common among passionate people. They just sometimes need some guidance on what is an appropriate avenue to release stress in a work environment. Without being sucked into someone's personal life, a little empathy and a lot of listening can help diffuse tension, but it is important to create a positive work environment for staff longevity and healthy business. Constant "drama" can hurt a business or organization in the long term, so try to find effective strategies to improve your business culture in the short term.

3. "What do you think will drive more jobs to the state?" From a friend of mine. In talks with friends and colleagues, we often talk about job or business drivers. First, I think it is much better for a community to encourage entrepreneurship and home business expansion in the long term. When we try and "steal" someone else's business you are asking for problems down the road, and when you take steps that put the little guy out of business, you are creating a situation where a higher percentage of dollars leave the community. For those businesses looking for expansion opportunities, I've often heard that the process is analogous to car shopping. If I go to a local car dealership, I probably know the type of vehicle I want (truck, SUV, minivan, sedan, sports car, etc.), I know the basic color I want, I know the mechanical requirements I have, and I know the amenities I'm looking for. If I find all of those things then I will start talking price. Similarly, business placements have questions about population, geography, income levels, workforce, transportation, culture, housing, schools, infrastructure, utilities, blight and a variety of other topics. If they find places that meet their "product" demand, then they start looking at "price". The complex criteria associated with business needs means that the environment needed to encourage business recruitment and expansion is also complex. If we recognize and act on that fact, we will be more successful in driving jobs to the state. If we oversimplify business needs on the basis of assuming that only one categorical criteria is important, we will be largely unsuccessful.

4. "Were you excited about the City Manager announcement?" From a former Emporia resident. I was. I've had the chance to work with Mark McAnarney for several years. Mark is definitely conservative in his approach to governance, but he also is known to have the respect of the people around him and has a talent for listening. I enjoy working with people that you can have a difficult, and sometimes contentious discussion with, where you generally learn something. Mark is a small town guy that has made Emporia his permanent home, and I'm excited to work with him in the future.

5. "Are you available to meet "off hours"?" From a local citizen that wanted to talk about starting a non-profit. Most of the time, the answer is "yes". However, fatherhood has shifted my priorities. I still do all I can to communicate with people or meet with them to advance the interests of the community. I understand that means working well beyond 9 to 5. After talking to another workaholic friend of mine that has children, and receiving some sage advice from her, I'm trying to make one night a week and one day during the weekend dedicated "family time". There are times when I will have to encroach on those days, and I fully understand that. But, if I try to reschedule an "off time" meeting, please try not to take it personally. I still want to help everyone I can, but my daughter will only be little once. A little flexibility in scheduling is appreciated. I hope you understand.

Public Schools Fundraiser

In This Issue #237 02/25/14

Taste Tickets

Photo Contest

Main Street Merchandise

Quarter Mania

ETown Mobile Application

Flint Hills Technical College Classes

Dirty Kanza Sponsorships

Properties Available

Business Investment Guide

Community Initiated Development Phase III

Did You Know?

Calendar of Events

Quick Links

City of Emporia

Granada Theatre

Emporia Zoo

Emporia Public Library

Kansas Main Street

National Main Street Center

Lyon County

National Trust for Historic Preservation

Emporia Main Street Button

President's Circle

ERG

Emporia Realty Group

www.emporiarealtygroup.com

608 Commercial

620-412-9850

IM Design Group
IM Design Group

www.imdesigngroup.com

17 W. 5th

620-343-3909

541 Sherman

www.kiss103.1.net

620-343-6144

Benefactors

Bobby D's

Cable One

ESB Financial

KISS 103.1 and The Dawg

KVOE AM 1400KVOE FM 101.7MIX 104.9

Longbine Auto Plaza

Moon Title & Escrow

Price Family Enterprises

Roberts Blue Barnett Funeral Home

Town Royal

Emporia Main Street Calendar of Events

March 5

Emporia Main Street Board of Directors Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.

March 12

Emporia Main Street Promotion team meeting.

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.

Design Team meeting

noon in the Emporia Main Street office

March 13

Quarter Mania.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Granada Theatre.

Main Street Mingle

6:00 p.m. at IM Design Group

A celebration of Start Your Own Business Class Graduates and the launch of a new zero interest loan fund for Lyon County.

March 15

St. Patrick's Day Parade

1:00 p.m. in downtown Emporia.

March 19

Board of Directors Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.

March 22

Monkey Island Disc Golf Classic by Dynamic Discs

Peter Pan Park

March 26

Business Enhancement Team Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office

April 12th

The Taste

Dinner at 5:00 p.m., and the General Taste runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium

May 2-4

The Glass Blown Open. This Dynamic Discs tournament will take place throughout the Emporia area.

May 10th

The Flatland Cruisers Car Show

May 18-20

National Main Street Conference in Detroit Michigan.

May 31

The Dirty Kanza

riders leave at 6:00 a.m. from the 800 Block of Commercial Street.

June 21

Business Stroll

August 23

Trilogy Disc Golf Open

September 13

The Great American Market

Do you have an upcoming event for your business or organization?

Let Emporia Main Street know and we may include it on our upcoming calendars!

General Level Members

AKA Marketing

Amish Woodworks

Applebees

Ash LLC

Atherton & Huth

Bank of America

Bath Expressions

Ben Moore Studio

Bennett Dental Group

BG Consultants

BLI Rentals

Bluestem Farm and Ranch

Brown's Shoe Fit

Bruff's Bar and Grill

C & J Woodworks

Candlewood Suites

Capitol Federal

Cassell Insurance

Chester Press

Clark Carpet and Tile, Inc.

Coffelt Sign Co.

Complete Works

Country Mart/Price Chopper

Dan's Hands Massage

Davis Paints

Disciple Shoppe

Dorsey Eye Care

Douglas Chiropractic

Dr. Kerri Thompson, DDS

Dynamic Discs

Eastwood Lake Apartments

Ek Real Estate

Emporia Construction and Remodeling

Emporia Radio Stations: KVOE, 104.9 & 101.7

Emporia State Federal Credit Union

E-Town Solutions

ESU Memorial Union

Evergreen Design-Build

Flint Hills Eye Care

Flint Hills Mall

Association

Flint Hills Music

Floyd's Automotive

Forget Me Not Productions

Four Seasons Apartments

George Groh and Sons

Gerald Schumann Electric

Granada Coffee Company

Graves Drug Store

Haag Management

Hair Krafters

Heart Center Studio

Helbert & Allemang

High Gear

Java Cat Coffeehouse

Junque Drawer Emporium

Kansas Radio 96.1 The Wave

King Liquor

L & L Pets

Lyon County State Bank

Lyon County Title

Mark II Lumber

McDonalds

McKinzie Pest Control

Midas Touch Tans

Mike Alpers Agency

Mr. Sisters Sweets

Modern Air Conditioning, Inc.

Mulready's Pub

Navrats Office Supply

Papa John's Pizza

Pizza Hut

Pizza Ranch

Plum Bazaar

Poehler Mercantile

Pool and Associates

Prairie Sage Apartments

Pro-Cuts

Rand Simmons Law Office

Redline Trucking

Reflxns Salon

Rhinestone Cowgirl Salon

Sauder Custom Fabrication

Schellers Lawn and Landscape

Scott's Lawn and Landscaping

Second Love Gifts

Stanley Jewelry

Studio 11

Subway

Sunflower Gymnastics

Sutherlands Lumber Co.

Sweet Granada

Textbook Corner

Thompson Auto Repair

Toso Appraisal

Total Technology

Town Crier Bookstore

Triad Leasing

Uncommon Threads

Value-Net LLC

Waters True Value Hardware

Westar Energy

Williams Automotive

Wright CPA Group PA

Wright's Furniture

Xan-A-Do Salon

Non Profit Level Members

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Cradle to Career Cneter

Emporia Eastside Community Group

EHS- FBLA

Emporia Arts Council

Emporia Chamber of Commerce

Emporia Farmers Market

Emporia Friends of the Zoo

Emporia Presbyterian Church

Emporia Friends of the Library

ESU- Alumni Association

ESU- Small Business Development Center

ESU- Memorial Union

ESU- Theatre Dept.

Flint Hills Community Health Center

Granada Theatre Alliance

National Teachers Hall of Fame

Saint Francis Community Services

Salvation Army

SOS

TFI Family Services

Home Based Business Members

Avon- Amanda Hopkins

Gold Canyon Candles- Stephanie Morgan

Green Door Recycling

Interdependent Web, LLC

Longaberger Independent Consultant -Judy Dieker

Mary Kay- Lori Engle

Nicole Bradshaw Designs

Origami Owl- Angela Dowell

Paula's Creations

Pampered Chef- Chelsea Gerleman

Purse Lady- Nancy Crawford

Scentsy/ Grace Adele- Kelly Long

Tastefully Simple- Vanessa Apodaca

Thirty One Gifts- Linsey Hopkins

Individual Supporters

Amy and Rick Becker

Amy Evans

Brad Harzman

Dale & Carolyn Davis

Don Hill

Erin and Casey Woods

Joyce Zhou

Julie Johnson

Kayle Oney

Kelly Wade

Lynn Knechtel

Mark and Amy McAnarney

Michael and Karen Shonrock

Valerie and Matt Zimmerman

Roger Heineken

Smitty Smith

Sue Blechl

Tim & Mary Helmer

Tyler & Melanie Curtis

Yvonne Pool

Casey Woods
Emporia Main Street

12 E. 5th Avenue

Emporia, KS 66801

main.street@emporia-kansas.gov

www.emporiamainstreet.com

(P) 620-340-6430

(F) 620-340-6434

*Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.* -Joel A. Barker