Pittsburg economic development team reports $730 million in recent projects; commission OKs contract increases

Webb Streeter, presenting the quarterly economic development report on behalf of the city partnership with the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Pittsburg State University, told the Pittsburg City Commission on April 22 that the community’s project pipeline had grown to about $730,000,000, “a $152 million increase since 2023,” which he said equates to roughly a 21% gain.

The report, delivered during the commission’s regular meeting at Pittsburg City Hall, credited diversified private- and public-sector activity for the gains and highlighted projects tied to the Tyler Research Center, new industrial and research facilities, downtown retail openings and grant-supported small-business activity. “What’s even more noteworthy is how diversified that is,” Streeter said.

Why it matters: Commissioners were shown metrics the presenters said indicate household-level gains—median wages and bank deposits rising and an 18% increase in middle-income households—figures the presenters said support recent upticks in sales tax and local economic activity. The report linked research-center investments and partnerships with several incoming projects that city staff and local partners say will generate jobs and tax revenue.

Key projects and figures cited in the presentation included EaglePicher’s planned expansion adjacent to the Tyler Research Center, the KBI facility (described as a roughly $55,000,000 project with $40,000,000 secured for a prove-out facility), equipment and testing capacity added at the National Institute for Materials Advancement (about $500,000 in equipment), and the Wildcat Data Center (Evergy-related work, described as moving toward operation in May). Streeter said EaglePicher’s local footprint is expected to include “50-plus, high-paying jobs.”

The report also summarized smaller-scale and community-focused work: the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) that serves a 13-county region and provides no-fee advising; the FORGE mini-grants program that awards up to $5,000 per business through a third-party review board; and a claim that less than $500,000 in revolving loan fund (RLF) commitments helped leverage more than $36,000,000 in projects in 2024.

Commissioner and staff actions that followed the presentation reflected the city’s ongoing partnership model. The commission voted to amend the contract with the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce—extending the long-running economic development services agreement and raising the annual amount from $55,000 to $65,000 for the coming year. The commission also approved an amendment to the business development and innovation services agreement with Pittsburg State University. Both actions were approved by voice vote after motions from commissioners.

Speakers and questions during the presentation touched on workforce development, literacy-pilot funding (a $321,000 pilot tied to a “blueprint for literacy”), and use of the Tyler Research Center to attract firms and provide workforce training. Presenters said the center’s capabilities were instrumental in recruiting firms and that postdoctoral researchers and student hires are part of the center’s ongoing work.

Commissioners did not request further detail during the meeting’s question period; staff and the presenters stood by for follow-up requests. The commission approved the contract amendments during the same meeting session.

The presentation and contract amendments are part of the city’s long-running economic development partnership model that the mayor and staff said has operated since roughly 2012 and is now in its twelfth year of coordinated services.