KU News Release

State commerce secretary to open community economic development meeting

LAWRENCE — Kansas Secretary of Commerce David D. Kerr will open the 20th annual Community Economic Development Conference, which takes place April 9-10 in the El Dorado Civic Center, 201 E. Central.

Titled “Ready, Set, Go: Community Economic Development, A Journey to Success,” the conference is presented by the Institute for Policy and Social Research at the University of Kansas, the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas State University’s Center for Engagement and Community Development.

Kansans representing cities from Argonia to Wilson will focus on what it takes to get communities ready for leadership and go on to success. Registration before April 3 is encouraged. Forms are online at the Institute for Policy and Social Research Web site.

“It is appropriate that the 20th annual conference focuses on community economic development as a journey, not a destination,” said Genna Hurd, co-director of the Institute for Policy and Social Research. “Community economic development is an ongoing process in which communities travel from one stage to the next — making progress however that may be defined by the community. Communities are at different stages in their development and the leadership and tools needed to address their challenges and opportunities vary. The conference is an opportunity for participants to strengthen their networks and learn from the successful efforts of other communities in Kansas as well as best practices outside of Kansas.”

The conference includes an evening of networking and exploration of local foods and history at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, beginning at Walters Flower and Interiors, 124 N. Main, and concluding at the Butler County History Center, 383 E. Central. A new exhibit at the history center features the ecology and economic impact of the Flint Hills on this region of Kansas.

Kerr will speak at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 10, on “Community Economic Development is a Journey.” Thursday’s program at the El Dorado Civic Center also includes addresses by Mark Drabenstott, director of the Rural Policy Research Institute Center for Regional Competitiveness at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Stan Ahlerich, president of Kansas Inc., in Topeka.

Drabenstott will speak at noon on “Where Are We Now — What Are the New Frontiers.” Ahlerich will update participants at 1 p.m. on important initiatives regarding community economic development in Kansas with his talk, “2007 Kansas Strategic Plan — Rural Development.”

David Criswell, president of Wilson’s Pride program, and Bob Carlson, director of Marysville’s Main Street Program, will discuss the preparation in their communities for economic development. Jeanne Stinson of Kansas commerce department will moderate the discussion at 9:30 a.m.

A panel discussion on leadership will take place at 11 a.m. with Ron Wilson of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development in Manhattan. Panelists will be Jim Davis with the Reno County Growth Coalition in Hutchinson; Ed O’Malley, president and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita; and Racquel Thiesen, president of the Kansas Leadership Forum and a Newton city commissioner.

At 2:30 p.m., Kim Kaiser, community volunteer in Argonia, and Beth Pfeifer of Waudby & Co. Clothiers in Russell will join a panel discussion on the trail ahead for Kansas communities. Dave Procter and Dan Kahl from K-State’s Center for Engagement and Community Development will moderate the session.

Sponsors include Aquila Networks; Butler County Economic Development; Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development; Kansas Inc.; Kansas Small Business Development Center Network; K-State Research and Extension; Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation; KU Center for International Business Education and Research; NetWork Kansas; State Association of RC&D; Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance; League of Kansas Municipalities; and the Kansas Association of Counties. Hosts include El Dorado Inc.; El Dorado Convention and Visitors Bureau; and El Dorado Chamber of Commerce.

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.