Economic Development Council

The mission of the Shawnee Economic Development Council (SEDC) marketing program is to promote the location of commercial enterprises in Shawnee, Kansas. Specifically, the following types of businesses are being encouraged to support the interests of the community:

Office Development – Corporate headquarters, export-oriented services, and back office operations; especially large-scale employers,
with jobs offering above-average wages.

Retail and Restaurant Development – Especially firms that will significantly increase the city’s sales tax base, offer convenient local amenities for residents, and attract visitors to the community.

Light Industrial Development – Manufacturers and distribution businesses, especially high-tech businesses that invest significantly in real and personal property, and create jobs with above-average wages.

Bioscience Development – Businesses offering exponential growth, large capital investment, and highly skilled jobs with average wages far above the norm.

Goals

• Increase the city’s property and sales tax bases. Specifically, 35 percent of the property tax base should consist of commercial and industrial property at the city’s ultimate development.
• Create diverse, quality job opportunities for Shawnee residents.
• Create local amenities for residents and attract visitors.

Executive Committee

Jim Andrews, Chairman
Miller-Stauch Construction Co.

Tom Langhofer, Vice Chairman
Rodrock Development

Paul Ridgway, Past Chairman
American Family Insurance

Jim Allen, SCC Chairman
State Farm Insurance

City Manager Carol Gonzales
City of Shawnee

Mike Graft
George Butler Associates, Inc.

Beth Holtwick
HarenLaughlin Construction

Phil McAnany, SCC Vice Chairman
McAnany Construction, Inc.

Mayor Jeff Meyers
City of Shawnee

Mark Myer
Metcalf Bank

Ralph Varnum
Varnum/Armstrong/Deeter, LLC

Tom Zarda
Zarda-Rieke Development Corp.

Jim Martin, Executive Director
Jessica Huston, Assistant Director

Strategies for
Office, Retail and
Industrial Development

• Product development efforts will continue to identify private sector development and investment groups to create quality comprehensive plans
  and assist in the marketing of the areas of Shawnee slated for future business development
• Marketing to the area’s real estate brokerage and development communities works to establish relationships with the larger Kansas City community.
• Marketing to national location consulting firms develops relationships and projects through the SEDC’s affiliation with the Johnson County Partnership, the Kansas Department of Commerce, and the Kansas City Area Development Council. This continues to be a priority for the organization.
• Direct marketing with several planned retail developments is in the works. The SEDC will intensify its direct contact strategy, including assistance with the Mayor’s letter writing campaign to short-listed, prospective retail and restaurant establishments that would be a benefit to the city.

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