Leavenworth County Port Authority unveils education campaign to build public support for economic development
Loading...
Summary
Port Authority appointees told the Leavenworth City Commission they will launch a 6–9 month outreach campaign after polling showed support for economic development but reluctance to pay taxes; presenters sought to prepare local officials for incoming materials and public meetings.
Representatives of the Leavenworth County Port Authority and the Leavenworth County Development Corporation briefed the Leavenworth City Commission on a planned public education campaign intended to increase understanding and support for economic development initiatives across the county.
What they announced: Greg Cause, a city appointee to the Port Authority, said the campaign will emphasize three themes: the value of economic development, transparency and accountability, and building trust and support. The effort will include polling, targeted messaging for different communities, digital and print outreach and public meetings.
Polling results: Cause cited a recent study by Golden Shovel that he said found about “78% generally supported new economic development, which sounds great, but less than 50% want to pay for it.” He told commissioners the research showed tax concerns were the most common barrier to public backing.
Funding and staffing: Presenters said county funding for the Port Authority has fallen from just under $300,000 a year in prior years to an expected $25,000–$75,000 this year. Cause said the authority currently operates with a skeleton staff of three and argued more stable funding is needed to pursue large industrial parks and business‑attraction projects.
Scale and strategy: The presenters noted that modern industrial parks often exceed 300–500 acres and suggested the Midwest’s land, power and water make the region attractive to data centers. Cause offered a rough figure: developing a full industrial park with streets and utilities could cost on the order of $25–30 million depending on location and infrastructure needs.
Tax shift aspiration: Presenters discussed wanting to shift Leavenworth County’s property tax split from about 90% residential / 10% commercial to closer to 70/30 by attracting larger commercial and industrial investments. They said, however, that such deals typically require long timelines and stable financing.
Commission response: Commissioners thanked the volunteers for the briefing and asked staff to help coordinate outreach to other local governments. One commissioner cautioned that economic development does not automatically lower the county mill rate and urged careful public messaging about tax impacts.
Next steps: Cause said a press release and frequently asked questions will be issued in the coming weeks, and the education campaign is expected to run six to nine months, with adjustments based on public reaction.
