Organization

Bringing people together to work toward the same goals

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Our board of directors leads our organization. The board of directors works along with Emporia Main Staff to engage and grow our membership, steer our overall vision, and forge partnerships with other community organizations.

Our organizational initiatives create a strong foundation for a sustainable growth of Emporia's downtown commercial district. In addition, organizational initiatives with our city and county partners benefit the entire area.

Organizational Initiatives

Community Initiated Development

In partnership with the City of Emporia, this project is for the community to proactively identify and initiate redevelopment.

Membership

Emporia Main Street was founded to serve the business needs of our members. Our board of directors works to grow our membership by ensuring that our programs provide educational, financial, and promotional value to our members.

Vision 2030

A strategic vision for the next decade, led by input from the community and our members.

Homegrown Capital Campaign

Our capital campaign raises funds to grow local business and employment in Emporia, by fostering entrepreneurship. The campaign has funded the new Emporia Main Street facility at 727 Commercial, which includes a business incubator space.

Other Organization Projects

Strategy
Operations
Fundraising
Partnership building

Want to be a part of an active organization who gets things done?

Emporia Main Street makes visible and measurable impacts to help our community prosper.

Board of directors

Jeremy Johns – President
Radius Brewing Company

Aaron Sewell – Vice President
EK Real Estate

Mark McAnarney – Treasurer
City of Emporia

Tracy Weltha – Secretary
IM Design Group

Cory Falldine
Emporia State University

Eric Porter
ESB Financial

Staci Hamman
Coffelt Sign Company

Caron Daugherty
Flint Hills Technical College

Sally Sanchez
Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow

Aaron Otto
Brown's Shoe Fit

Jim Lauer
Town Royal

Organization Articles

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

By Jessica Buchholz | March 18, 2024

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 towns with great shops and restaurants along their town’s main street and a strong sense of hometown pride. Emporia Main Street is no stranger to…

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Emporia Lands Hope VI Grant!

By Jessica Buchholz | February 28, 2024

Please read the story at the Emporia Gazette!

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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!

By Casey Woods | February 2, 2024

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 the rural communities of Laramie, Wyoming; Wheeling, West Virginia; and Emporia, Kansas. While researchers were busy studying us, each community got the chance to study…

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2024 Annual Public Improvement Auction – this Saturday

By Jessica Buchholz | January 25, 2024

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 go towards supporting various initiatives within our community. Take part in the silent auction (you do not have to attend to bid) at https://www.32auctions.com/EMS2024 Dinner/Show…

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New Year, New Business Opportunities

By Casey Woods | January 9, 2024

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 owners and organizational leadership. It’s time to take a brief assessment of the past year and then look to the future. Here are a few…

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December – It’s Fine, I’m Fine, We’re Fine!

By Jessica Buchholz | December 5, 2023

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 and I were talking about what a good topic would be for the newsletter this week and I thought we could get real for a…

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