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By any definition, Topeka is a major city. Besides the prestige of being the state capital, it boasts a diverse industrial base and dynamic offerings in the arts. With Shawnee County, it serves as a regional center for a major portion of northeastern Kansas. The phrase "world class" is used often to describe Topeka activities. This may sound like hyperbole to cynical outsiders, but the description is largely accurate for everything from the Topeka Zoo to the city's annual Jazz Festival. Despite its bustling economy and rich amenities, Topeka still offers the quiet lifestyle more often associated with a smaller community. In many ways the quintessential midwestern city, Topeka can legitimately claim to have the best of both worlds—small town charm and big city amenities. Off every busy thoroughfare lies blocks and blocks of quiet neighborhoods. School activities and local fairs rank as major social events. It's even still possible to get from one end of Topeka to another in less than 15 minutes during what passes for a rush hour in this amazingly user-friendly community. Don't think this makes Topekans unsophisticated. In fact, this city's residents are refined enough to recognize the value in their lifestyle and work hard to maintain it. But until recently, they may not have fought so hard or successfully. Through the 1990s, this city in some ways could have been labeled complacent. With state government generating a solid economic base and local industries appearing rock solid, a decided lack of hunger for growth permeated the community. But as state jobs became scarce and a few businesses closed, both residents and civic leaders realized they needed a more aggressive effort to maintain a healthy business climate—but one that would help maintain an equally healthy community. In the last three years, their efforts have begun to achieve success. As Topeka readies for its 150th birthday in 2004, this city has developed a broad-based effort pursuing quality growth, even as it finds new value in its arts and quiet lifestyle. Community Effort The biggest story is GO Topeka!, a regional economic program that has received widespread community support, including voter approval of a sales tax for economic development. The first $4 million of an expected $20 million tax has revenue has already been used to purchase property for a new commerce business park. Portions of the funds have also gone to create one of the most dynamic marketing efforts ever attempted by a midwestern city. This summer, the private sector added $2 million to those public funds for economic development. What is most striking about these efforts is the support by both community leaders and the general public. Once again, Topeka's size is a factor in this success. Although it is the state capital and fourth largest city in Kansas, Topeka operates like a smaller community when it comes to cooperation. Individuals from throughout the city exhibit a surprising unanimity on Topeka's fundamental growth issues: Business leaders are just as likely to brag about Topeka's quality of life as citizens are to vote for economic development. Vince Frye, whose advertising agency, Fry Allen, Inc., leads the city's GO Topeka marketing campaign, said this grassroots energy was not created for press releases. "There's a real energy and focus throughout the community, from all kinds of people and all walks of life," he noted. "This community has changed and made itself competitive." One reason Topeka seems to be getting it right in so many areas is the awareness they have missed opportunities in the past. As another community leader noted, "We understand that we missed the boat on the last economic upturn. We certainly want to be in a better position to take advantage of a spike in the economy in the future." Turning A Corner Several signs of optimism have already appeared. Topeka currently has almost no vacancies in its Class A industrial real estate, although the GO Topeka efforts have opened the door for creation of additional space. In its retail markets, Topeka has an exceptionally solid picture in small and medium operations. This is especially evident in the city's downtown and urban core, where nearly full occupancy of the area's specialty shops and restaurants is helping lead a revival. Across town, the Wanamaker corridor continues to be a regional market, with many major retailers represented in the area. Downtown Topeka may be one of the best examples of how the city's cooperation pays dividends. With the collaborative organization Downtown Topeka, Inc. and critical private efforts, the area is experiencing a revival with nearly 100 percent occupancy of the area's small shops and restaurants, as well as larger redevelopment projects such as the restoration of a Ramada Inn hotel.
Solid Foundations Underlying many of these economic developments is another Topeka strength: workforce. Although Topeka's population is less than 125,000, the city draws on a far larger resource because of its location. Up to 17 rural counties provide employees for Topeka companies, thanks in part to an excellent highway network radiating from this centrally located community. Topeka's educational and training institutions assure another key source of employees. Several vocational and technical programs join the highly touted Washburn University as key resources. Another, often overlooked factor is Topeka's location between three of the larger universities in Kansas: Kansas Univ., Kansas State and Emporia State as well as nearby Wichita State. This often competitive world of higher education includes a good example of Topeka collaboration. Washburn University operates a cooperative program with an area vocational school so that technical training can in some cases earn credits toward associate's, bachelor's and even master's degrees. Long-time Topeka residents might argue that in many ways the city has always held a solid position. With highways and railroads leading into the Kansas breadbasket, it has been a major grain and milling center for decades. More surprising is its status as the unofficial dog-food capital of the world, with plants for Hill's Pet Nutrition and Del Monte. Topeka is headquarters for three major insurance companies and the largest family shoe company in the world, Payless ShoeSource. Although state government has been recently challenged as an economic factor, Topeka's position as a state and regional center is solid. This perspective has a major impact on the local lifestyle. Topeka also offers national level medical care to a large number of organizational headquarters. Unexpected Arts Yet there are some surprises that even Topeka's status as state capital or regional economic center can't explain. Along with the Topeka Zoo and Jazz Festival, other fine and performing arts have achieved national and even international recognition. The ballet, opera and two dozen art galleries are alive and well here on the Great Plains. The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library is a good example. Host for the city's oldest public art collection, the library received voter support for a $23 million bond issue in 1996. Renowned architect Michael Graves designed the new facility, which opened in 2001. Another measure of the city's cultural vitality is the Arts Council of Topeka (ACT), a nonprofit organization that promotes the arts in Topeka and Shawnee County. ACT will soon open a new headquarters donated by Westar Energy (formerly Western Resources). The unique clay-tile building is currently being redesigned as an art center for exhibits and classroom space. Topeka's cultural future appears just as healthy as its economic outlook. The city recently passed a city arts ordinance dedicating funds for building projects and a city "office of the arts" to promote local arts efforts. The private sector remains strong, with several funding organizations such as the Topeka Community Foundation. Topeka is not without challenges, but its generally solid economy and high quality of life are a combination that is hard to beat. With the city's 150th anniversary arriving just as it turns the corner on several issues, there is a real sense that Topeka's time has come. |
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