By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly was in Salina Thursday afternoon to announce the addition of three cities - including Salina - to the state's Kansas Main Street program.
In addition to Salina, Great Bend and Hays are rejoining the Kansas Main Street program, Kelly said.
"Salina, along with Great Bend and Hays, recognize the value of having the support and guidance from the state and Main Street America programs," Kelly said. "Because of these communities' strong leadership and commitment, they've returned to this program that, without a doubt, is proving to be a winning approach to economic development."
Kelly said that when she took office, she "quickly re-established the Community Development Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce and we brought back the proven Kansas Main Street program."
"This program gives our communities access to key technical services, networking, and training opportunities. It also allows local officials to prioritize restoring and preserving unique, historic downtown business districts," Kelly said. "It supports community development and projects that draw in new businesses, that improve quality of life, and encourage our young folks to stay and raise families in their own home communities."
Kelly said the state has made significant progress in economic development, something of which everyone should be proud.
"There is more economic opportunity in Kansas today then at any time in Kansas history. My administration has created more than 600 new economic development projects. We've brought more than $8.6 billion in new capital investment to the state. We've created or retained more than 42,000 jobs. Many of those jobs and much of that capital investment have been right here in Salina, Kansas," she said.
With the addition of Great Bend, Hays, and Salina, the Kansas Main Street program now has 35 designated communities "working to make substantial improvements and significant quality of life enhancements in those communities," Kelly added.
Salina Downtown, Inc., Executive Director Leslie Bishop said downtown Salina is thrilled to be a member of Kansas Main Street once again.
"Being a part of Kansas Main Street keeps us connected with other local communities that are doing the same thing we are," Bishop told Salina Post. "Keeping local dollars in Salina. Having people do business in Salina. It's so important. It grows our economy."
Salina Mayor Trent Davis talked about the importance of the downtown revitalization project, which was funded with both public and private money.
He also noted that every great city has its place where people gather.
"In Kansas City, you have the Country Club Plaza and the Power and Light District. New York, of course, has Times Square. If you're in Chicago and you're hungry, you want to go shopping or just hang out, you go to Navy Pier," Davis said.
In Salina, that place is downtown, he said.
Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell said he actually first became involved in the Main Street program in downtown Salina as a director of the local program in the early 1990s. From Salina, Sewell moved on to the state organization.
"It's been great to follow the progress that has happened here in downtown Salina over all these years. We talked about this earlier today how you talk about things in the future and you want them to happen, and then to see them happen is really exciting," Sewell said.