JuliAnn Mazachek of Washburn concurred that recent progress has been due to people coming together and achieving focus. The Chamber, she believes, has been a leader in that effort.

David Kerr sees the issue as one of vision and not just focus. Speaking for the business leaders and the elected officials, as well as the Chamber, he commented that they first developed a vision, and then, just as importantly, “executed on that vision.”

What has impressed private investor Suresh Ram the most about Topeka has been its openness to new ideas, the willingness to listen, even, he joked, if the ideas “came with a funny accent.”

Kris Robbins of Security Benefit sees one recent development as the capability for “creating proof.” Greater Topeka now has hard and solid evidence that collaboration and investment in development work in terms of growth and economic advantage. “The things we’ve accomplished are real,” he said. “We can see and touch and feel them.”

In the way of proof, Richard Forester of the Topeka Convention & Visitors Bureau cited the 6,447 people employed in the tourism industry in Shawnee County, along with a payroll of about $21 million a year. “That’s a fairly significant slice of the economy,” he noted. “It’s nice that the community is becoming more aware of that.”

For Doug Kinsinger of the Chamber and Go Topeka, the most important testament to the community’s vitality has been the retention and expansion of local companies. “If we’re doing the proper job long-term,” he observed, “we’re going to be keeping our quality employers, helping our employers expand and grow in the long-term.”

Ben Blair of Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair Realtors argued that the contributions of Topeka’s “great small-business community” should not be overlooked, particularly its realtors.

“I think there’s a lot more to come,” Carl Koupal said in the way of summary. But Topeka is surely back on the map and poised for future growth.

Changes in the Economy

David Kerr raised the question of how the Topeka area has changed in the last five years, and the answers were quick in coming. Doug Kinsinger observed that the presence in town now of 12 major distrbution facilities, when coupled with the resources provided by the sales tax, has enabled Topeka to be taken seriously in the Midwest for mega-sites.

“Our ability to assemble sites and competitively incentivize those sites I think has gotten the attention of many of those around our region,” he said.

“You don’t get Coca Cola to build a $4 million distribution facility just because you’re Topeka, you’re nice folks and you have a plan,” agreed Dave Stremming.

“I think there’s a lot more energy toward drawing businesses to this community,” Jim Parrish affirmed, adding that energy also is focused on “keeping businesses here that are faltering, and paying attention to those jobs that are potential jobs we might lose. That hasn’t been here in the past.”

Connie Goodnow insisted that Topeka has not only become more business friendly, “but it’s also more personally friendly.” She cited the numerous calls she gets from transplants about how welcome they have been made to feel. “Topekans open themselves up,” she said, “and I think that makes a big difference in how you feel about the community you live in.”