Emporia Main Street recently returned from a national conference with a treasure trove of strategies, resources, and insights aimed at strengthening regional economic and community development efforts.
Regional Development Coordinator Jessica Buchholz said the conference is an opportunity to bring together strategies, resources and emerging trends from across the country to strengthen regional development efforts. Mr. Buchholz highlighted common strategies discussed, such as the importance of fostering “maker” businesses and fostering ecosystems that support entrepreneurs. She also highlighted the concept of “full utilization” of space to avoid deferred maintenance and the revitalization of the downtown area as a focal point of community pride.
Mr. Buchholz noted the valuable insights gained and enhancements to existing strategies.
“Overall, it was a good conference,” she said. “There were unexpected outcomes and sessions that strengthened the areas we are currently working on.”
Emporia Main Street works with a variety of organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and major funding agencies such as EDA, DOT, DOE, and USDA. Discussions revolved around historic tax credits, green finance opportunities, and an increased focus on regionalism to strengthen development efforts.
“All of our presenters come from communities of all shapes and sizes, so in some cases, you may find yourself in a session where you can apply the ‘T’ to your own community,” Buchholz said. “Sometimes I'll pull out bits of information or ideas that I think apply to me.”
Emerging trends highlighted at the conference included concerns about the impact of “third spaces” and community events on mental health, and the disproportionate impact of automation on rural communities. Additionally, best practices emphasized the need to focus on agile testing and implementation to maximize investments and connect resources to entrepreneurs.
“We looked at different ways to promote the community internally to community members and funding areas, and how we could actually take it to the next level and reach within a 50-mile radius and beyond. We thought about how to market Emporia to more visitors,'' Buchholz said. “We talked a lot about how AI is really starting to play a bigger role in developing different marketing concepts and content for our company. I thought this was really interesting because I think a lot of times we get stuck in our day-to-day business activities and tasks. And sometimes marketing takes a backseat.”
Buchholz emphasized the importance of attending various sessions focused on community marketing and event planning. She emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind during these sessions, as the ideas presented can be tailored to the individual.Buchholz said the conference will increase mental health awareness within the community. He pointed out that the emphasis is on She noted that a recurring theme throughout the sessions was the role community organizations like Main Street play in fostering a sense of belonging and combating feelings of disconnection and isolation exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Everyone has realized that mental health is kind of an underlying theme this year,” Buchholz said. “It’s important to talk about and focus on individuals who feel isolated and lonely, and organizations like Main Street can be a platform to create that sense of belonging.”
Emporia Main Street has already introduced innovative approaches to community engagement, including the HYPE Hounds program, where friendly dogs and their owners act as ambassadors, starting conversations and creating a welcoming atmosphere during community events. (Gazette News and Online Editor Ryan Brooks' dog, Crusher, is one of his members of Emporia's Main Street HYPE Hounds.)
“Sometimes community members feel disconnected or alienated and really want to interact with others,” Buchholz says. “Some of the different things we're doing right now, we have a lot of volunteer opportunities, we're doing community events, we're doing HYPE teams, but we also have HYPE Hounds. They're like our social media ambassadors. It turns out that dogs are a great stress reliever. I mean, most people love animals, and who wouldn't want to pet this super friendly dog walking around downtown? With the owner's permission, of course.
HYPE Hounds also helps combat social anxiety issues and is a great conversation starter.
Reflecting on the impact of the conference, Buchholz expressed pride in Emporia's recognition within the Main Street Network.
“People know Emporia in the Main Street world, and I think that really speaks volumes about our community,” she said.
“By sharing our experiences and learning from others, we strengthen the collective impact of the Main Street network,” Buchholz explained. “It’s inspiring to see the community come together to support each other and drive positive change.”
