Page 74 - Florence County, SC Florence County 2032: Connecting Our Past, Defining Our Future

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY Coordination and Partnerships
FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION The economic, transportation, and natural

environment linkages between Pottawatomie
Key Issues and Considerations County and its neighboring counties, particularly

Key issues and considerations related to Riley County and the City of Manhattan, have
economic opportunity were identified through the strengthened in recent decades. The explosive
Comprehensive Planning process. These essential growth of the Green Valley area has made stark
items should be addressed as the County’s guiding the need for enhanced coordination and regional
principles, goals and strategic action priorities for pursuit of solutions. The Greater Manhattan
the coming years are pursued. Economic Partnership has been a successful model
for regional coordination and communication.
Infrastructure Needs and Land Availability This level of coordination and partnership at the
economic development and chamber of commerce
Discussions with economic development
level has not necessarily extended at this point into
professionals in the County revealed that existing
coordination between public and private entities
barriers to additional investment within the County
or between governmental entities. Partners should
include a dearth of shovel-ready land for growth
include not only governmental entities, but also
industries such as manufacturing and light industrial.
employers and educational institutions such as KSU.
The PCEDC’s existing industrial parks are located
The Knowledge Based Economic Development
in Green Valley, Wamego, and St. Mary’s. The
(KBED) a partnership between seven entities from
PCEDC uses public and private money to develop
K-State and the Manhattan community, including
infrastructure in these parks, allowing them to be
the Kansas Department of Commerce, K-State
sold to expanding or new commercial entities at an
Foundation, K-State Research Foundation, the
affordable price. The Green Valley Industrial Park is
National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition
fully developed and has no remaining sites available.
and Commercialization, the North Central Kansas
The St. Mary’s Sandy Hook Industrial Park will have
Community Network, the City of Manhattan and
completed infrastructure development by the end of
the Manhattan Area Chamber is another potential
2018 and has a few lots remaining to be filled. The
partner. KBED is working to support knowledge-
Wamego Industrial Park has a limited number of sites
based companies in the region.
remaining and several acres that need infrastructure.
The PCEDC has expressed interest in expanding Planning for the economic opportunities of the
industrial parks in the Onaga area, the St. Mary’s County should support the achievement of many
area, the Wamego area, and other areas of growth. of the other goals of the County and its residents,
Limiting factors include the cost, availability and including:
suitability of land and the high cost of infrastructure,
including storm drainage and roads. • Developing a robust transportation network that
serves the demands of resident and businesses
Diversification Opportunities in an efficient and safe manner.

The County economy has already diversified in many • Pursuing strategic partnerships both at the
sectors in recent decades. Continued diversification regional and local level.
and strategic investments in growth industries, • Developing an identity for the County and
such as manufacturing and currently under-tapped increasing tourism that reinforces and supports
industries, such as tourism, will help the County to the identity, such as agritourism and eco-
continue to grow its economic base. Diversification tourism.
will also help to ensure economic resiliency.

Adopted - August 19, 2019 The Future County 5 | Economic Opportunity | 67
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PLAN POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY 2040