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Emporia Main Street Nominated for Best main Street in the Nation-Cast YOUR Vote Today!

A panel of industry experts and editors at USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards has chosen Emporia, KS as a nominee for Best Main Street. The intention of this award is to celebrate...
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Vacancy Issues- What Causes Them and What Can We Do About It.

Across the nation we have an issue that impacts our communities: vacancies. Vacant homes, vacant commercial properties, vacant sections of buildings, and areas that aren't utilized in our communities. Vacancies...
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Emporia Lands Hope VI Grant!

Please read the story at the Emporia Gazette!
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Zig When They Zag. As big companies push automated customer experience, small businesses must embrace the personal touch

Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) were the dominant business stories in 2023. AI will develop an entirely upgraded skill set this year (and for the next several years), and large...
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Show of Hands! The third year of the business pitch event will feature a new location, new concepts, and some new support elements!

Four years ago, Emporia Main Street had an opportunity to participate in a study by the Brookings Institute. The study focused on the practices of three Main Street programs in...
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2024 Annual Public Improvement Auction – this Saturday

Emporia Main Street is a local non-profit organization (501C 6) that focuses on both economic vitality and community development to Emporia and the surrounding area. Proceeds from the evening will...
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New Year, New Business Opportunities

A calendar change often presents the opportunity for a symbolic shift in attitude. A reset button that corresponds with a clock striking midnight can be a great thing for business...
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So WHO are we Marketing to? A new tool to drill down on your exact consumer mix through Emporia Main Street.

We are always looking for new ways to add value to local businesses and give them a competitive edge. Large corporations have extensive marketing departments that study every element of...
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December – It’s Fine, I’m Fine, We’re Fine!

I don’t know about everyone else, but those ten plus inches of snow on Small Business Saturday really put a damper on the launch of the Holly Jolly season. Casey...
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Keep things going during the last month of the year!

December is upon us, and it is a critical month for many businesses. Keeping your attitude positive and your energy level up is important for customer interactions and your sanity....
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Small Business Saturday!!!!

At Emporia Main Street, we believe small businesses are a big deal. Supporting our local entrepreneurs isn't just something we say, it's something that we do through some very clear...
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Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Trend capturing to support traffic and sales.

We are getting ready to enter the holiday home stretch. Emporia quickly transitions from Veterans Day to the Christmas Season, and the decor, mind set, and retail/service focus needs to...
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Projecting Positivity: Creating a positive and productive work environment takes some culture effort.

The sun is setting a little sooner each day. The weather is getting cooler and the 4th quarter brings some additional stress for both business owners and staff. That type...
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See the Light! If you aren’t properly lighting your windows and entry points, you are losing consumer attention.

It's getting dark earlier, and that generates a needed upgrade for many businesses (especially in pedestrian areas). Lighting your windows, and all of your egress points (front entrance and alley...
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2023 Veterans Banner Placements

We are excited to announce that all the Veterans Banners are officially hung for 2023! Click here for the Veterans Banners 2023 list for the downtown banner map. Click esu banner list for the...
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Rural Population Trends: Drivers for population and economics within rural communities

I don't think it's a secret that there are differences in community types throughout the nation. Huge cities, metropolitan areas, rural cities, small towns, and country living all have their...
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4th Qt Activities – Finish the Year Strong!

The last three months of the calendar are upon us, and this is the time where businesses need to focus on traffic, exposure, and sales to finish the year strong....
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Business Diversity: Kansas Commerce Registry Programs Open Opportunities to Women, Minority, & Veteran Owned Businesses

In competitive marketplaces, entrepreneurs need to look for an edge. Standing out in a field of similar businesses can be difficult, but there are programs that can help women, minority,...
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Apella – A special weekend for all Emporia High School Alumni

Welcoming alumni back to town for homecoming celebrations is an important community function. These folks represent friends and family, and homecoming festivities are a great way to encourage people to...
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The 2023 Great American Market

Join us for our annual downtown treasure market- a true community favorite. Find clothes, antiques, collectibles, food, and other unique items. Vendors will be set up on Commercial Street (6000...
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HEAL Grant Updates: A Huge Opportunity for Qualifying Downtown Projects.

The Department of Commerce and Kansas Legislature are working through the Office of Rural Opportunity, Kansas Main Street and the State Historic Preservation Office for a new round of the...
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Back to School Strategies

Some reminders of implementation steps you should consider as the school year approaches As back to school approaches, businesses gear up for a transition in traffic and sales. Businesses that...
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Capacity Building-Long term regional improvements require a strategic approach.

Community building is a lot like any other investing. You need a diverse portfolio, it's important to grow your own wealth as opposed to hoping someone just gives wealth to...
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The Summer Reset – Recalibrating your business prior to Back-to-School.

We are officially in that weird portion of the summer when we can see back to school on the horizon, but we still have a few weeks of peak summertime...
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How is Your Customer Communication?

A focus on communication can help you establish positive customer relationships. A lot of our local small businesses do a good job with technical training. They have established programs to...

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