continues to accelerate through unified purpose and partnership. BUILDING FOR TOMORROW: STRATEGIC FOCUS ON HOUSING AND WORKFORCE Acknowledging that growth requires more than just opportunity, Lyon County leadership is executing a deliberate strategy around its two most critical assets: people and place. The city and county have been aggressive in supporting developments, from single-family homes to senior living facilities proximate to the hospital. This has resulted in over 300 new housing units in the downtown area alone in the last 15 years, with an additional 67 to 73 units currently on deck. “It’s not just housing availability, it’s the right type of housing that meets the psychographic and demographic groups that we’re trying to make sure are successful within the area,” Woods explains. land and infrastructure improvements, tax increment financing,” amongst others. Complementing these incentives is the Network Kansas E-Community program, housed at Emporia Main Street, which has loaned over $2 million to local businesses in expansion mode, alongside zerointerest loan programs and nationally-modeled classes for startups. Orchestrating this symphony of collaboration is the Regional Development Association (RDA), which serves as the critical link between all entities. As Public Relations Manager Vici Smith notes, the RDA is a key group “that works in connection with Casey, the city, and the county to bring in even bigger development opportunities.” The ongoing process of hiring a new RDA director is seen not as a challenge, but as a strategic step to further amplify and focus these coordinated efforts, ensuring that the county’s economic momentum 69 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 10 LYON COUNTY, KS
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