Chautauqua County HomeTown Prosperity (HTP) begins its second year charting a course based on research gathered last year from community meetings, surveys and focus groups.
HTP will be rolling out the following community projects in coming months:
Leadership: Lana Hawkins and Linda Robinette have just returned from leadership training in Wichita and will begin recruiting a working group that will create a community-wide leadership and strategic plan.
Youth Retention: Cynthia Leniton is guiding the Chautauqua County Youth Action Committee which is attempting to build a skating rink/youth activity center in Cedar Vale.
The Youth Action Committee recently made a proposal to the Chautauqua County Commission to garner support for the project, and is currently raising funds for the project.
A second youth project on the horizon is a skate park in Sedan. The Sedan City Council endorsed this project after a presentation by Linda Fadely and several students. Fund- raising is targeted for spring 2010, as the group seeks matching funds for a grant available through the Tony Hawk Foundation.
Entrepreneurship: Heidi Hill has agreed to take the lead on the E-ship pillar. The Broadband Communication Center proposal to be located in Sedan at the Bradford Hotel is a direct result of the Hometown Prosperity network. Many additional e-ship opportunities will present themselves if the Broadband Center becomes a reality.
Wealth Retention: Carla Palmer has created a Guiding Circle that will assist in the creation of the Chautauqua County Future Funds endowment with an educational and community driven program called “Power of the Purse.” Stay tuned for more information on this exciting opportunity to join together for the future prosperity of Chautauqua County.
Each of these committees needs volunteers to move the projects forward. We are seeking passionate people to assist in the implementation of these programs. If you can serve on a committee, contact Carla Palmer (620-725-4199) and she will get you connected.
Chautauqua County was one of three communities chosen in 2008 as a part of the Kansas HomeTown Prosperity Initiative sponsored in part by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Kansas Farm Bureau and USDA Rural Development. The HomeTown Prosperity philosophy centers around four areas for community sustainability: youth retention, entrepreneurship, leadership, and wealth retention. Communities participating in the project receive assistance through independent analysis and coaching to help community leaders strengthen existing efforts in those four areas.
For further information contact Carla Palmer 620-725-4199.
