Dear editor,
We thank the Iola Register for reporting Carl Slaugh’s comments regarding methods of economic development in Saturday’s paper. We believe all three strategies are accurate and they have been used by Iola Industries, and now Thrive, for a number of years. In fact, several years ago, Iola Industries paid for a study of the best opportunities we have for new business and industry. The verdict: Grow from within.
The fact is, we have always favored “within.” For 61 years we have felt that we must protect the jobs that Iola already has and we must encourage local entrepreneurs whenever possible.
For six decades Iola Industries has been committed to the City of Iola, its citizens and those in the surrounding area. What’s good for Iola and Allen County benefits all of us . The city, Allen County, Iola Industries and Thrive have all worked hard and will continue to do so. The rest is “details” and we’ll figure them out.
John McRae,
president, Iola Industries,
Mary Kay Heard,
chairman, Iola Industries
Dear editor,
I personally think selling the farmland is a big mistake. It’s surely paying for its own upkeep, plus.
Once it gone it gone. Where will you ever buy another piece of ground with good fencing/pond, nine miles from the college on good paved road? All it’s going to do is increase in value. You may want it a few years down the line.
As to not being able to buy cigarettes till you are 21 years old, I haven’t smoked one cigarette or drank a beer, but if an individual is old enough to join the Army at 17 years old he ought to be able to make his own decisions.
We need to start in kindergarten and show children pictures like on TV of the cheerleader talking through a box (tracheotomy, to show the dangers of smoking.)
Raymond Cooper,
Iola, Kan.
Dear editor,
After reading Saturday’s “See, Hear Iola” column, I was impressed with our city manager, Carl Slaugh’s, quick reading of a study I handed him at Monday’s council meeting. I do feel the need to clarify the description of “who I am” and why I would weigh in on economic development.
“Republican activist” only describes a very small part of who I am. I am also the Transportation Chair of SEK Inc., a regional economic development group; five-year veteran serving as a Kansas State Fair Board member and treasurer, which is in the midst of completing a master plan; graduate of the class of 2014 Leadership Kansas were a selected 40 leaders from Kansas tour the economic infrastructure of the state; organizer of ACARF Fireworks where all profit goes to Allen County Animal Rescue; secretary of Farm-City Days Board 2015 that undertook the rebuilding of the countywide celebration, and chairwoman of Area V-SE KS Works Labor Investment Board that oversees federal training dollars for 17 area counties.
Rural Kansas is faced with similar problems in economic development as rural America. Rural communities have constantly battled the offshoring of their manufacturing once located in their rural areas, the decreased population that once was a skilled labor force no longer exist, and the instabilities of agricultural markets that are 7 percent of our local economy are down. The cities that have stabilized their economy by focusing economic development money into local businesses that want to single out niches and expand services are weathering the economic downturn far better than those that constantly give tax incentives to attract players. So the lesson learned should be we look locally for our food, but should definitely grow local businesses that have already made the investment to stay.
If this sounds simplistic, it is and it should be. Our town is filled with talented people who are looking for opportunities to carve out their American Dream. We should help foster their dreams and help open the doors that hinder them.
So, when I visit a city that is prospering or I see a business model that is out of the box thinking, I want to know the how, the what, and the rate of return on investment that could be replicated in our community. When I was directed to the study “Rural Realities,” along with “small Town, Big Ideas” I visualized just a few improvements that would make a big difference in our business community, but would make an even bigger improvement on how we are perceived by others. Yes, this is the part where I give my two cents for what it is worth!
If our city spends $65,000 a year on a lobbyist/economic development and redirected that investment toward our community, here would be some suggestions:
1. Electronic sign for Iola Area Chamber that would help fund a full-time chamber instead of part-time. Selling advertising with Chamber memberships and making sure the community is aware of what is going on will create a revenue stream for the Chamber to become stronger and self-sustaining.
2. Rebranding Iola to a fresher, up-to-date look and development of a user-friendly website for visitors to access is essential for our city to stay relevant. Looking toward the future of social media and making our city more of a destination will be a big return on investment for the future.
