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Economic development group asks Dickinson County for $125,000, outlines staffing and six strategic pillars
Summary
The Dixie County (DKDC) Economic Development Corporation requested an annual county investment of $125,000 and described a reorganization, interim leadership and a six-pillar strategic plan emphasizing business retention, workforce, housing and government affairs.
Tony (chair), speaking for the board of the Dixie County Economic Development Corporation (DKDC), asked the Dickinson County Commission for an annual investment of $125,000 and described the organization's recent reorganization and strategic priorities.
Tony said the DKDC is seeking a lower county appropriation than in prior years and that the board is pursuing a national search for a permanent executive director after engaging interim director Jim Grama. He told commissioners the DKDC office is operating Monday through Friday and that the board had realigned operations while pursuing a new director.
On finances, Tony said the organization is "financially strong," reporting the bulk of its assets are in certificates of deposit at local banks and that it also has funds held at a community foundation. The DKDC reported "total assets of just over $782,000" at the community foundation and said its equity or net worth is roughly $774,000. Tony also told the commission the organization experienced a loss in June of about $12,000 and that it was "in the black" for January through June of 2025 (year-to-date net figure not specified in the meeting).
Tony described six operational pillars the DKDC plans to prioritize: business retention and expansion; workforce development; government affairs; housing and community housing; investor communications and events; and day-to-day operations and financial controls. Under workforce, the DKDC said it will use a contract workforce consultant (Troy Lee) and pursue partnerships with Kansas Works and a local community college. Under housing, the DKDC said it will pursue grants and collaborate with the North Central Kansas Regional Planning Commission and local governments to support housing projects and perform housing assessments.
The DKDC told the commission it expects to continue a mix of paid staff and contract workers, and the board described plans for an assistant director or business retention & expansion consultant and potentially three full-time staff supported by contract positions.
Tony closed by saying the organization will continue fundraising and that the county’s potential support would be used to carry out the strategic plan. Commissioners thanked DKDC board members for the presentation; no formal appropriation was made at the meeting. The county commission indicated the request will be considered in the context of the county’s budget process and upcoming budget decisions.
