Shawnee Forward officials told the City Commission that the city has a robust economic‑development pipeline and is pursuing a retail‑recruitment strategy using data on retail leakage and trade area size.

"Currently, we have 9 projects in the pipeline at various stages of the conversation. Those 9 active projects represent nearly 700 potential jobs for our community with an average wage of $87,000 and a total capital investment that exceeds far above $550,000,000," the presenter said, describing a mix of manufacturing, aviation and retail prospects.

Officials emphasized the role of regional collaboration and relationships with site consultants, the state Department of Commerce and brokers in generating leads. They said Shawnee’s retail trade market grows from a population of about 33,000 residents to a 150,000‑person trade area, which helps justify recruitment of big‑box and grocery retailers that might otherwise bypass a small city.

Shawnee Forward also described recent workforce outreach after Jindal Films issued a WARN notice and closed: the organization coordinated with state and regional employers and workforce agencies and reported that about 80% of the affected employees were reemployed or enrolled in training grants as of the most recent update.

The presentation noted Shawnee Forward’s grant programs (façade improvement and childcare reimbursement) intended to support local businesses and workforce retention, and previewed a planned Home Depot project that the presenter said had been in negotiation for about 18 months.

Commissioners thanked staff for the update; no formal action was required on the presentation.