Category: News

GO Topeka, the region’s leading economic development organization, has created a position to place a focus on facilitating development opportunities in blighted or underutilized areas in Topeka & Shawnee County. The Redevelopment Specialist is tasked with fostering relationships and attracting and managing catalytic redevelopment projects to redevelop sites to their best and highest use. GO Topeka staff and local leadership view this new position as an invaluable role within the community as Topeka & Shawnee County transition into further development. “This new position fills a need that GO Topeka wasn’t able to meet but was always cognizant of; blight and underuse is a cancer to economic development, so we knew… Read More

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Forge Young Talent announced the first event in a new leadership series, titled “Emerging Leaders Series.” The first event, “Navigating Trends as a Young Leader,” will feature a panel of local young leaders, as well as an established leader to further the conversation and provide feedback. The panel includes Del-Metrius Herron, Keller Williams, One Legacy Partners, LLC; Cassidy Roberson, Schendel Lawn & Landscapes; Alycia Weakland, U.S. Bank; Matt Pivarnik, Greater Topeka Partnership; and Justin Moore (panel moderator), Royal Valley USD 337. This event is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5 at Norsemen Brewing Co. at 6 p.m. “Creating opportunities for young leaders to develop their talents and grow within their community is… Read More

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Visit Topeka announced today that Melissa Sowers will fill the role of Vice-President of Convention Sales and Marketing. This position leads Visit Topeka’s convention sales endeavors, scouting and securing leads for future conventions and group tours to take place in Topeka, with the purpose of creating positive economic impact to local tourism and travel partners and the whole of the community. Sowers will assume her role on October 1. “I’m excited to be moving back to Topeka, and eager to continue the growth Topeka has seen over the past few years by working with community partners and securing great new events,” said Melissa Sowers, vice president of convention sales &… Read More

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GO Topeka announced today that Laurie Pieper, Ph.D., has assumed the position of Vice-President of Entrepreneurship & Small Business. Within this position, Pieper will manage programming designed to support entrepreneurs and innovators and support the SVP Innovation to establish and foster relationships with local, regional and national partners. “I’ve had a great working relationship with GO Topeka in the past and I’m excited to start engaging with Topeka’s diverse community of small business and entrepreneurship,” said Laurie Pieper, Ph.D., VP of entrepreneurship & small business, GO Topeka. Pieper comes to GO Topeka from the Washburn University BRITE Center, where she served as Director. Prior to this she was the Assistant Director… Read More

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Greater Topeka Partnership to host 2021 State of Community event on November 9 at Townsite Avenue Ballroom; speakers include Commissioner Cook and Mayor De La Isla. The 2021 State of Community, organized by Greater Topeka Partnership, will include presentations from Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla and Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook; these will highlight past successes in the community as well as a focus on future goals. Programming also includes a housing market panel hosted by local experts. This event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 9 at 7:45 a.m. at Townsite Avenue Ballroom. “The State of Community event truly is an experience that brings so many people… Read More

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GO Topeka announced two new leaders focused on business retention and talent attraction. Trina Goss and Rhett Flood have assumed the roles of Director of Business & Talent Initiatives and Executive Director of Forge Young Talent, respectively. Goss and Flood previously held positions within the Greater Topeka Partnership. “As Topeka continues to grow, attracting and maintaining the best talent, and serving our existing businesses is more important than ever. Trina and Rhett were chosen for the outstanding skills and leadership abilities they’ve demonstrated within their careers,” said Molly Howey, president of GO Topeka. “Both were instrumental in supporting GO Topeka initiatives that foster growth and development in our community, such as the Choose Topeka talent… Read More

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SmartAsset.com, the largest marketplace connecting consumers to financial advisors, released a study today ranking Topeka, Kansas as the #12 “best state capital city to live in.”  Topeka, Kansas ranks alongside Madison, WI (#1), Lincoln, NE (#4), and Des Moines, IA (#10).  The capital of Kansas ranks higher than Austin, TX (#16), Nashville, TN (#25), and Oklahoma City, OK (#26). “We considered 10 metrics spanning three categories: employment and education, affordability and livability,” said Allison Stoll, associate PR manager, SmartAsset.com. “SmartAsset crunched the numbers on all 50 state capitals and Topeka rose to our top 15, coming in at #12 on our list of the best state capitals to live in.” “This is… Read More

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GO Topeka, the economic development group for the Greater Topeka Partnership, today announced it partnered with BioRealty, Inc. and closed on multiple properties in downtown Topeka, as part of previously announced $14.5 million innovation campus approved by the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) in May 2021. The new campus is designed to take advantage of the arrival of Plug and Play’s Animal Health / Ag Tech Startup Accelerator program. The ASTRA (Animal Science, Technology, Research, and Agriculture) Innovation Center will be a 60,000-sf project anchoring a new ASTRA Innovation District in downtown Topeka. The development will repurpose the historic Wolfe’s Camera Shop at 635 S Kansas and will involve two adjacent properties at 633 S Kansas through to… Read More

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Downtown Topeka, Inc. has partnered with Washburn University to welcome incoming students to the Capital City. “Weeks of Welcome” will offer a variety of events and opportunities for all Washburn students to discover the University and the Topeka community.  To celebrate the arrival of new students, Washburn University banners will hang along Kansas Avenue, local businesses will offer discounts to students and a free back to school concert will be held on Saturday, August 28 at Evergy Plaza from 5 -9 p.m. To celebrate the return of our students to Washburn, Downtown Topeka, Inc. and Washburn University will run a #WashburnSpirit2021 social media competition beginning August 20 through to August 27. The community… Read More

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Visit Topeka announced today that industry reporting for the month of July showed the highest performance for that month on record since recordkeeping began in 2003. According to the 2021 STR Report, the industry leading metric, Topeka’s July 2021 hotel revenue was the highest to date at $4.93M for the month of July; this was also the highest revenue reported in the Topeka hospitality industry for 2021. This is compared to revenue reported in July 2020 ($3.31M) and July 2019 ($4.15M). This is the second highest revenue rate on record, behind June 2019 at $5.22M. “This is incredibly encouraging news and is a testament that Topeka tremendous growth; we’re seeing… Read More

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