Sedgwick County invests in community and economic development

Sedgwick County has chosen to make economic and community development a priority this year.  As such, the Commission voted today to invest in Project Wichita, a new community engagement process to discover the community’s ten-year vision and the action plan to achieve it. 

Project Wichita, through a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity, (Opportunity Wichita) requested a one-time investment of $45,000 from Sedgwick County to help fund a robust community engagement and strategic visioning initiative designed to determine the ten-year vision and action plan for our region, led by community input. County funding support will be used to fulfill the contract with Wichita State University’s Public Policy and Management Center to facilitate the public listening and engagement process. 

“I support a strategic approach to economic development in this region. This provides the vision for our future,” said Commission Chairman David Dennis. “I am encouraged to see our community and region becoming a more attractive place to live, work, and play.” 

Earlier this year the Commission agreed to join the Greater Wichita Partnership, City of Wichita, and other regional investors, to fund an economic development consulting firm, who will refine and focus the Partnership’s regional economic development efforts.  This one-time investment for Market Street Services, Inc. totaled $45,000 from Sedgwick County. 

Sedgwick County and the Greater Wichita Partnership have a longstanding relationship and the County has invested in the Partnership for a number of years. This public-private partnership was created to align and focus economic development initiatives. 

The Greater Wichita Partnership is devoted to expanding the greater Wichita area's commercial and industrial base through aggressive business retention, expansion, recruitment activities, and marketing the ten county region of South Central Kansas as a fierce competitor in the global environment. Today, Commissioners considered an annual funding request from the Partnership in the amount of $300,000.