Address Workforce Quantity & Quality Issues 1. Provide organization support and initiate new programming for Salina Area Young Professionals a. End of 2012 membership in SAYP was at 175 members. b. SAYP is led by a 6 member advisory council which oversees four volunteer leadership crews which consists of between 3 8 individuals. c. Keeping Homegrown Talent at Home initiative provided $1000 of scholarship monies to two USD 305 seniors to pursue post-secondary education. d. Held Intern in Salina event to promote staying in Salina and beginning a career. Over 60 individuals attended, those were interns, employers or current SAYP members. e. Created and currently maintain SAYP website. f. A book club and discussion group focused on leadership has been organized by SAYP. The group will meet quarterly. The books for 2013 are: i. Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin ii. Lunchmeat & Life Lessons: Sharing a Butcher s Wisdom by Mary Lucas iii. Insanely Simple: The Obsession that Drives Apple s Success by Ken Segall iv. Appreciative Leadership; Focus on What Works to Drive Winning Performance and Build A Thriving Organization by Diana Whitney Page 1 2. Develop a database of all career opportunities in Salina and market it to the future workforce. a. Currently 65 companies have uploaded their occupational data into the system. b. Continue process of employers adding data and maintenance of the database. c. Will be utilized to recruit individuals to Salina and provide an accurate snapshot of both educational and occupational opportunities. 3. Create an electronic training clearinghouse a. This project was abandoned based on the feedback receiving from the business and the human resource communities. 4. Organize a Salina Recruiting Consortium a. An eight member committee with HR personnel from both public and private sectors has been meeting once a quarter to develop strategies regarding community wide recruitment efforts. b. The group has developed community customized tours program for people being recruited to Salina. They have also recreated a Salina relocation landing page on the chamber s website. 5. Provide leadership on the Employee Development Transition Project. a. Chamber staff is providing oversight of four groups (Steering, SATC, USD 305 and Employers) as they progress toward spring 2013 approval of an articulation agreement between USD 305 and STAC. The groups include businesses people and educators that also are detailing a system to move SATC grads into the Salina workplace.
6. Explore the Kansas WorkReady Community/County concept and determine if Pilot Project status for Saline County is a worthy initiative a. Research meetings have been conducted and the processes to assist in the creation of a pipeline of credentialed candidates are being reviewed. 7. Support stretched employers by participating in specific occupation recruitment efforts. a. Chamber staff plans to attend at least 6 jobs fairs, workforce fairs, career fairs, college fairs, etc. in 2013. Page 2 8. Increase the number of people completing the Manufacturing Skills Certificate Program with Salina Area Technical College by targeting recent high schools grads that are unemployed or underemployed. a. Chamber staff is working with SATC staff to improve the curriculum with changes that create more hands on learning to reflect the employer s needs. 9. Conduct a Regional Job Shadow event by partnering with Smoky Hill Education Service and Salina Area Technical College. a. An event is scheduled for 3.6.13 when rural school districts from a 60 mile radius are invited to learn more about the specific Career and Technical Education job shadowing activities and increased awareness of Salina career opportunities. 10. Work with USD 305 s School to Career program by placing students in internships and job shadowing opportunities. a. Chamber staff coordinates scheduling and placements of high school students that are undergoing a job shadow experience. Support the Expansion & Retention of Existing Employers 1. During 2012 the Chamber staff made 131 visits to existing businesses, including 10 visits to corporate offices located outside Saline County. The visits also included meetings with nearly every business that secured a building permit in 2011. The meetings centered on the Synchronist survey program as the tool to best record issues related to the growth of the business. 2. In 2013, a different survey format is being used along with increased use of community peers. The program will average 28 original visits per quarter in a concentrated program designed to elicit additional meetings concerning any issue or opportunity that might exist, which will allow the local business to invest additional capital; expand its product line or add employment. Nearly 70 percent of the 100 + visits set for 2013 will include Chamber of Commerce staff AND a peer member of the Salina business community, typically a member of the Chamber s Board of Directors. It is expected that this will change the dynamics of the visits with an additional focus on solving the problems faced by existing employers.
3. In 2012, key business community leadership worked to develop a new initiative specific to second stage businesses called the Early Stage Business Development System. Qualified firms (in existence for at least two years, between 5 to 100 employees with annual revenue between $600,000 and $5,000,000, etc.) can access experienced peers in Salina who will provide support to help with business management. In addition, rent assistance may be available to help encourage business growth. The program will be announced in February 2013. Page 3 4. Chamber staff worked with Kansas Department of Commerce to package multiple incentive packages related to employee training, job creation and capital investment. The announcement of ElDorado National adding jobs to Salina is recent example. There are currently 9 prospects where Salina is on the short list of a growth project via the expansion of an existing employer. 5. A feasibility study was conducted to validate market demand for a way to improve supply chain efficiencies for current and future employers. Two concepts were explored with both WATCO and Union Pacific Railroad. Employers provided detailed information about the potential use of a transload (product moved between rail and truck via forklift) facility and potential use of multimodal (product remains inside a container that is moved between rail and truck via a large clamp) facility. The market does not current exist for a multimodal facility but a transload facility is a concept that remains under study and cooperation with the Kansas Department of Commerce continues. Encourage new business development 1. The Project Open entrepreneur development program continued to support new business start-up activity in addition to providing education and financial resources to existing employers. The key 2012 performance indicators are below: a. Business Contact Numbers: 95 different people contacted the program in 2012. 64 of the people completed intake paperwork and 35 people completed entrepreneurial training in 2012. 110 businesses are on file for ongoing contact and continued assistance during 2012. b. Business Sectors and Assistance Categories: 20 were proposed startup businesses; 19 were existing businesses. There were 8 existing firms that can be considered second stage firms and 5 concept businesses. 18 firms completed business plans; 13 businesses were offered funding and 12 accepted funding. c. Business Classification by NACIS Code: 36 of the firms were classified as Retail, 26 were Service and 2 were manufacturing. Of the firms receiving funds, 9 were retail and 4 were service. d. Location of funded businesses: 7 are in the City of Salina outside of downtown. 5 are in downtown Salina and 1 is located outside of city limits.
The below chart provides further detail about the Project Open businesses that received funding in 2012. Name Jobs Business Sector Geeks Inc. 1F 1P Service K-Belle 2F Retail Lemae s 2F 2P Retail Don s Hobby Shop 2F 1P Retail Kansa Yansa 2F 2P Retail Driven Training 1F Service Playful Pets 1F Service The Copper Rose 1F Retail Iron Street Roaster 1F Retail Jumpin Lambs 2F Retail Cotton Bottom Baby 3F 1P Retail River Bend Farms 2F 1P Retail Seoul USA Korean 3F 4P Retail Studio K 1F Retail TOTAL 24F 13P Page 4 $20,000 of SEDIC grant funds were used to support projects. Business owners provided $204,319 of financing. $21,000 of Federal Home Loan Bank Topeka funds has been used and $182,500 of funding from other investors were included in project financing. E-Community Funds supplied $64,350 of support and there was $128,000 of investment provided by banks. $105,250 of public funds were used and $514,819 of private firms were used. The total amount of non-sedic investment was $600,069. Thus, the Project Open businesses supported in 2012 generated a $30.00 ROI for every dollar of SEDIC funds. 2. Work with our economic development partners to attract new business growth projects to Salina a. There are currently a minimum of 5 prospects where Salina is on the short list of a growth project via a new business locating in Salina. b. A new marketing plan that provides strategic direction to the Salina economic development marketing team about business target refinement, site selection consultant management, personal visits, earned media in order to generate prospect interest is now being implemented. c. The new staff position of Project Manager Economic Development has been filled with an experienced economic developer who will test for Certified Economic Developer status from the International Economic Development Council in early 2013. 3. Stimulate Retail Development a. Provide multiple developers and realtors with information they request as they work with retail prospects. b. Support efforts to increase the Salina Retail Pull Factor c. There are currently 12 prospects where Salina is on the short list of a growth project.
Support the continued economic impact of the military on Salina 1. Assist the Director of the Governor s Military Affairs Council to organize coalition of local military affairs councils in communities with an active duty military presence. The communities have been meeting quarterly across Kansas to share best practices, discuss challenges and to prepare initiatives to increase community support for the military. 2. Work with local military leadership to market Great Plains Joint Training Center to military and civilian users. Salina Airport Authority and Salina Chamber of Commerce marketing staff have prepared a draft marketing plan for the center. Center staff will be supplying additional information and the plan will be ready for implementation. 3. Participate in Governor s Military Affairs Council meetings. Salina Airport Authority staff attends the council meetings and Salina is an active participate in discussions about military downsizing, finding cost efficiencies via shared services for Salina military facilities and for unique programming such as Unmanned Aerial Systems. 4. Continue a variety of programs related to community support for military personnel. a. A military Christmas appreciation event was held on 12.15.12 with 215 attendees, an increase of 200 people from the 2011 event. b. Over 20 events during the year were held in conjunction with the Combat Aviation Brigade from Ft. Riley. The events enhanced Salina s awareness of operations at Ft. Riley and enhanced the local partnership with Ft. Riley. c. Six Salina schools (St. John s, Central, KWU, Schilling, Stewart and Sunset) have been entered into formal Adopt-A-School programs with Ft. Riley. Soldiers volunteer over 100 hours a month in Salina providing leadership, mentoring, tutoring and participating in various activities. Work in 2012 will extend the project to increase the number of Salina based soldiers that participate. d. The Patriot Business program is how merchants provide a significant discount to military personnel who are shopping in their stores. The number of participating retailers grew in 2012 from 125 to over 200. Salina Airport Authority staff briefed Governor Brownback and received his encouragement to make the program statewide. This will make Kansas the first place to have a statewide military discount program. e. Various times and events have been created to encourage military spouses and families to shop in Salina. f. A Friend of Hero program was launched in 2012. 18 military spouses of deployed Soldiers are participating in the program. Churches, families and individuals are being matched to provide support. In addition, the Operation Bigs mentoring program military youth continued in 2012. This activity is in conjunction with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Salina. g. The Salina Military Emergency Relief Fund received donations in 2012. Working with the Great Plains Joint Training Center, funds were distributed to service members that are in need. h. The Wounded Warrior Project fund received donations from many families, businesses and individuals. Events such as Poker Runs also raised money. $23,000 check was presented to the Wounded Warrior Project s statewide leadership. i. The Commander s Club is an alternative for those who wish to provide an extra level of support for the military and the Salina Military Affairs Council. Membership increased in 2012 from 32 to 47 people. Page 5
j. Salina Regional Health Center, Salina Area Technical College, K-State Salina and KWU have agreed to offer scholarships to local service members. It is expected the scholarships will be available in January 2014. Implement a variety of strategies to sell Salina to Salina 1. To gain an understanding of community self-perceptions, a survey was mailed to 3,000 Saline County residents. 1,200 were returned and analyzed by KWU students and faculty. The survey is a benchmark to validate changes in self-perceptions of those who live and work in Salina. 2. Currently 722 people receive a text message once a week. The messages contain a coupon that allows people to save money by shopping locally. 3. Salina Airport Authority and Salina Chamber of Commerce staff host a radio show called Salina Makes Sense Right Now! on 910 KINA. It is heard Sunday at 8am. A television show on AccessTV and a channel on www.youtube.com are planned for 2013. 4. Advertisements are placed bimonthly in the Salina Journal to feature various positive aspects of Salina. 5. In 2012, various contests were held to increase awareness and positive perceptions of Salina. Page 6 Support SeaPort Airlines, the scheduled air service provider in Salina 1. An email list was established in March 2012 for monthly communication with people about new promotions, etc. There are currently 798 individuals on the list. 2. A text list was established in March 2012 for monthly communication with people about new promotions, etc. There are currently 707 individuals on the list. 3. Ten of the top Salina employers were visited by SeaPort s Regional Marketing Director and Chamber of Commerce staff. Over $2,300 of travel vouchers were distributed. A follow up presentation is being finalized for continued presentations. 4. Multiple other events, including a well-attended Easter Egg Hunt, are conducted during the year to increase the positive perception and community awareness of SeaPort. Infrastructure plan A standard approach has been created for reviewing land for shovel ready status to ensure these properties are available to market for private development. An inventory of potentially developable property was then conducted to catalog site characteristics. Following a process to compare the assets of sites, different levels of priority have been created for various properties. Within the diversity of sites, a list of essential improvements has been designated in addition to a list of other improvements that are needed. Preliminary expenses were determined along with a projected timeline.