The job of an economic development director is punishing, admitted Jonathon Goering.
“It beats you up,” he said.
And it can be thankless.
“You put your heart and soul into it every day, trying to do good for the community, but the pushback can be brutal. The naysayers who don’t want change can be deafening.”
And sometimes, just when the finish line is in sight, “something changes, and you’re back to square one.”
On the other hand, “It’s great when you move the needle. When you make a difference.”
In just the past year, Goering has been instrumental in bringing Sharky’s, the Fillmore Coffee House and Jock’s Nitch to the Iola square. He’s also been behind expanding major infrastructure at Allen County Airport in order to accommodate industrial ventures.
Thursday was Goering’s last day as economic development director for Thrive Allen County.
The position serves all of Allen County with Iola, Humboldt, Allen County and Iola Industries providing the bulk of the funding.
Goering was eager to make clear his decision to take a similar position with the Greater Wichita Partnership has nothing to do with any dissatisfaction here.
Instead, the move was precipitated by the fact that his wife, Betsey, a high school science teacher in Wichita, was unable to find a position in the Iola area.
“It’s simply a matter of family and at the end of the day, that has to take precedence,” he said.
GOERING’S situation is a reminder that simply filling a position isn’t enough.
“You have to think about the employee’s family and work to attract them as well,” he said.
That can require a community-wide effort in terms of securing adequate housing, childcare, and employment.
