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
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 Names as an 2023 Accredited Program!
EMPORIA MAIN STREET RECEIVES 2023 MAIN STREET AMERICA ACCREDITATION Emporia, Kansas (May 2, 2023) – Emporia Main Street has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development…
Continue Reading >
Identifying the top threats to rural small businesses, and what Main Street is doing to mitigate issues.
In businesses and organizational speak; many leaders use a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). For those with the mind of an entrepreneur, they understand that a “threat” and an “opportunity” are really the same thing. Both represent the changing nature of the market, but opportunity may be a little clearer in the mind of…
Continue Reading >
How Can Your Business Thrive with Upcoming Events?
Over the past several years, people have wondered aloud about the same strange behavioral issue. They say, “Casey, I don’t understand why people park the equivalent of two blocks away from the (big box store) but they get weird when they have to park behind a business.” People like to see business frontage, and the…
Continue Reading >
One perception changing conference session that people need to understand
I’m more of an evidence based thinker. I am willing to change my mind or stance on an issue if there is data to back up a shift, so it’s rare that I’m exposed to a viewpoint that makes me immediately reconsider a perception. I had one of those rare moments at the closing plenary…
Continue Reading >
Changes in Property Use- New data highlights a changing landscape in commercial property.
The ability to track form and function of property in relation to traffic gives us better tools to guide development. Property usage evolves over time. Buildings function differently than they did 30, 70, or 150 years ago. New technology enhances “work from home”, online sales, or more comfortable transportation options. Shifts in consumer norms have…
Continue Reading >
Fab Lab Update
The Fabrication Lab at Emporia Main Street came online in April of last year, and it has been a wild ride taking the concept to fruition. In the past eight months, Jeremy Wharton (the Fabrication Lab Manager) has helped businesses prototype new products, supported entrepreneurs testing out concepts, worked with event organizers to support merchandise…
Continue Reading >