Issue # 736 Date 08/28/2024 | |
Emporia Main Street E-News | |
Thank you to everyone that helped with last week's Welcome Back Block Party for ESU and FHTC Students. According to Placer data, we had 2,100 total individuals in the 600 and 700 Blocks between 5 and 8 p.m. in the event area! | |
Hello Casey, Events, summits, small business training, and much more are on the immediate horizon! September is going to be a busy month! Keep reading for more information. | |
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Emporia Main Street, Trox Gallery & Gifts, and the Lyon County History Center are calling all Piece Seekers for a fun night of puzzling entertainment!
- Teams of 2 people can enter the Couples Division ($30 entry fee) or team of 3 to 4 can enter in the Team Division ($50 entry fee). We have removed the solo entry option.
- Check in will be from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the History Center. The competition will start at 6:00 p.m
- Each team will receive the same puzzle wrapped in brown paper to start the competition. Puzzles are 500 pieces.
- The clock will start at 6:00 p.m. and teams will have 2 hours to complete their puzzle. When a team finishes their puzzle, they will hold up their flag to signal they are finished. An official time keeper will check their puzzle to confirm completion.
- Prizes will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each division. All teams will get to keep their puzzle.
- Teams are allowed to bring in their own sorting trays, mats, or battery operated lighting (table lights or head lamps). We recommend bringing additional lighting sources. Teams can also bring in their own snacks and beverages. Beer and Wine permitted for competitors who are 21 years of age or older.
Prizes for Couples Division:
1st Place: $60 in Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates.
2nd Place: $45 in Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates.
3rd Place: $30 in Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates.
Prizes for Team Division:
1st Place: $100 in Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates.
2nd Place: $75 in Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates.
3rd Place: $50 in Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates.
This Event has LIMITED registration! Do not delay, the last competition sold out quickly. Register at https://emporiamainstreet.com/events/jigsawjam/
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We value the incredible work you do in shaping the future, and we want to show our appreciation by offering a special discount on our classes for your children. Whether you work in a pre-K, elementary, middle school, high school, or higher education setting, you’re eligible for this exclusive offer!
Enroll your child in our engaging, hands-on classes, this fall and pay just $45 instead of the regular $65. It’s our way of saying thank you for your dedication to education.
Visit our website for class descriptions.
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Come over to our Champs Bar & Grill at Champions Landing Outdoor patio for $5 appetizers, $1 off draft, and a doggone good time.
Yappy Hours are every Thursday from 6pm-8pm on our dog friendly patio at 1801 Rural Street!
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At The Emporia Public Library! | |
Have you been wondering about the CoolTura Conexion at 707 Commercial Street in downtown Emporia? Well now is the time to check it out! They will be celebrating the Grand Opening of their restaurant on September 3rd! Open 11am - 3pm that day with a Ribbon Cutting at 11:30 am! Come check out their awesome menu inspired by Columbia, Mexico, El Salvador and the USA! For more info, make sure to follow their FB page (they have some pretty cool entertainment options in the evenings)! | |
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Date: Thursday, September 26th
Time: 9 AM to 3:30 PM
Walking Tour: 4 PM
Cost: Free
Location: Emporia State University
Memorial Union, Skyline Rm 231
1331 Market Street
Emporia, KS 66801
RSVP Form: bit.ly/2024MakerSpace
Registration ends: September 12th
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Plunkett’s Pest Control, Inc. Acquires McKinzie Pest Control in Kansas
Plunkett’s Pest Control, Inc. is pleased to announce its acquisition of McKinzie Pest Control, a distinguished, family-owned business with regional offices in Manhattan and Emporia, Kansas. The acquisition of McKinzie Pest Control represents a significant milestone for Plunkett’s Pest Control as it continues to grow and expand its presence in Kansas.
Aly Silva Mulgrew, President of Plunkett’s Pest Control, expressed her enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome McKinzie Pest Control to the Plunkett's family. McKinzie Pest Control has a long-standing reputation for providing exceptional service, and we are committed to upholding that tradition. This acquisition allows us to expand our reach and better serve customers throughout Kansas.”
Steve and Kayla McKinzie, the owners, expressed their confidence in Plunkett’s Pest Control as the new owner, saying "I am proud to announce that McKinzie Pest Control is joining the Plunkett's family. After careful consideration, I chose Plunkett's because of their shared values and commitment to treating employees and customers with respect, courtesy, and dignity. I am confident that Plunkett's will continue our legacy of exceptional service."
Founded by Steve’s father, Vernon McKinzie in 1960, McKinzie Pest Control has a rich history of industry leadership. Vernon, a Board-Certified Entomologist, served as President of both the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the Kansas Pest Control Association (KPCA).
Steve McKinzie, the current President and CEO, began working for the company while in high school and joined the firm full-time in 1980 after earning his degree in Biology and Business from Emporia State University. Steve has extensive experience at every stage of the business, including a short stint as a janitor, working his way up to his current leadership position. Steve has twice served as President of the KPCA and chaired its Government Affairs Committee. Steve and his wife Kayla are stepping back from the business to focus on health and spend time with their family.
Contact: Lydia Stock
Communications Manager
(763) 225-6350
Lydia.stock@plunketts.net
About Plunkett's Pest Control: Founded in 1915 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Plunkett’s Pest Control is a privately-owned and operated corporation led by President Aly Silva Mulgrew, and third-generation owner and board chair, Stacy O’Reilly. Based in Minneapolis, with regional offices in Columbus, OH and Farmington, NM, Plunkett’s Pest Control and Varment Guard Wildlife Services deliver professional pest and wildlife control services to over 70,000 residential and commercial clients in 22 states.
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Are you ready to be part of something truly transformative? Join the Emporia Main Street organization for the 2024-2025 membership year and become a driving force behind the revitalization and growth of our vibrant community! With an impressive track record of events, initiatives, and collaborations, Emporia Main Street is the heartbeat of our city- fostering economic development, community pride, and unparalleled support for local businesses. Click HERE for Investor information and to sign up! | |
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Upcoming Activity Listing
2024
Sept. 5- Mix and Mingle
Sept. 9-10- Kansas Main Street training in Hays
Sept. 14- Great American Market
September 20-21- Apella All Class Reunion Weekend
September 26- Kansas Maker Space Summit
October 25-26- Haunted Tours
October 26- Downtown Trick or Treat
October 26- Dia de los Muertos
October-November- Veterans Banners
Nov. 7-8- Kansas Main Street training in Garden City
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Are you new(er) to Emporia? Have you moved here in the last 5 years? We invite you to our Fall Mix and Mingle Event!
So what is this event all about? It's a chance for you to meet other people in our community and learn about ways to get involved. We will have service groups, clubs, and organizations from around Emporia there to share information about activities in our community and to answer any questions you might have.
We hope you can join us for this fun and FREE event. Come solo or bring a spouse, friends, and co-workers!
If you are not new to Emporia-but have friends that are, we encourage you to host a group to come to the event.
-Attendees will receive 2 drink tickets and snacks.
-Lots of great door prizes!
-Champions Landing will have the pool open and attendees are invited to swim.
-Kids are also welcome at the event, but anyone under 10 years old MUST have an adult with them at the pool.
-We also plan on having a few kids activities available.
-We do ask parents to stay with young children at all times.
The event will be held upstairs (and in the pool area) at Champion's Landing, 1801 Rural Street, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm!
A big thanks to our Sponsors: Emporia State University, ESB Financial, and Plunkett's Pest Control.
Please help us with planning by RSVPing to the event by August 30th! Click here to RSVP: https://emporiamainstreet.com/events/mixmingle/
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The Emporia Main Street Hype Team adds new services to aid local businesses | | |
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You can usually spot the Emporia Main Street Hype Team and Hype Hounds at large community events helping people get connected in our community, volunteering, and answering questions. But, did you know that the Hype Team can do more than act as community contacts at events? Two newer services offered through the Hype Team can help existing local businesses and new startups.
The Hype Team consists of approximately 20 community members that want to see Emporia grow and be successful. Think of them as our local social media ambassadors. These positive people have volunteered their time to get the good word out about the local area.
For new startups, the Hype Team can offer Hype Help. This service allows Hype Team members to act as test case customers before a new business opening so the business can test all their relevant systems and get consumer feedback prior to opening. The last thing a new business wants is a major fail on day one of operations, and the Hype Team actually shops, uses services, and orders items so you and your staff can stress test every area of your operations. Emporia Main Street works with ownership to develop consumer surveys, and the Hype Team uses surveys to provide valuable feedback prior to opening. Compiled feedback allows businesses to make necessary adjustments prior to engaging the general public.
If your new startup needs Hype Help, please contact Emporia Main Street at director@emporiamainstreet.com .
The second service is Hype Team Hop Ins. If your business is looking for some social media buzz for a new product or service, the Hype Team can provide assistance. Your business can provide Hype Team members with a gift certificate or complimentary experience to highlight something new in your shop, restaurant, or venue. Once the Hop In is set, Hype Team members will stop in and review your product/service and spread the positive news about what you have to offer.
Click the following link to fill out the Hop In form to request Hype Team Hop In assistance: https://forms.gle/jvf9gGNZxQLmy5F27
Emporia Main Street is always on the lookout for new ways to engage community members and help local businesses. The Hype Team are a group of wonderful volunteers that are helping spread the Hype about this area. If your business or startup needs assistance through the Hype Team, please let us know!
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 |  | Last week we promoted area activities and local educational institutions on a regional television broadcast, met with a consultant with Main Street America concerning our transformation strategy for the region, assisted a Kansas county with development issues, hosted the Welcome Back Block Party for Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College, met with a City representative concerning regional marketing strategies, hosted a Kansas community shadowing our organization, worked with a local business on a downtown expansion plan, helped a local business with grant-related questions, worked with an existing entrepreneur on potential expansion plans, held a Board of Directors meeting, worked with a local engineering group concerning a development, presented at the Rural Digital Equity Summit, met with regional counterparts concerning an area economic development initiative, participated in Talk of Emporia, helped a local business with a relocation/expansion plan, generated multiple items in the Fabrication Lab for area businesses, worked with Network Kansas to supply content for a state "Maker Space" video, worked with an area development on incentive compliance, and answered a ton of questions on upcoming events (Mix and Mingle, Great American Market, Apella, Maker Space Summit, Jigsaw Jam- all in September). To say the week was hectic is an understatement, and we still received some great questions and feedback from all of you!
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1. "How did the Welcome Back Block Party go?" From a local volunteer. The weather was perfect, and it was great to see so many students back in town from Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College. Overall, we had approximately 2,100 people in the 600-700 Blocks of Commercial during the duration of the event, which is a solid number. We changed things up a bit this year by changing from a paper passport to a digital interaction through a QR Code. Younger generations aren't as likely to utilize (or keep) paper outreach, but they are very attached to their handheld electronic devices. We will track differences in engagement to determine how event changes translated into business interaction. Internally, students typing in their information versus us attempting to decipher handwriting will make continued outreach much easier. | |
2. "What do you think ESU's enrollment will look like this year?" From several people. We know that every student on campus is important to the local economy. ESU has worked hard to transition themselves as they intersect with a modern economy and relevant student needs. We won't know for sure what enrollment looks like until the 20th day of classes, but we do know that visitations during the Friday freshmen move-in period were up, and we know that campus visitations for the first full week of classes were up versus last year. We love to see those trend lines moving in a positive direction, and we applaud those that worked hard to grow the university. | |
3. "What is your goal with the Mix and Mingle?" From a few different inquiries. We want to help people new to the community socialize. Part of our charge this year from the National Main Street Center was to improve on the "epidemic of loneliness" that is impacting our nation. As people continue to utilize an on-line/drive through economy, they don't make social connections. People need access to social groups where they can make friends and generate positive community experiences. When those positive social connections are made people feel more connected to the community as a whole. Once they feel connected to the community, we can facilitate more conduits to volunteer, leadership, and support opportunities. We have to get the social connections right first, and then move on to deeper community connectivity. | |
4. "How close is the (Jigsaw Jam) from selling out?" From a potential entry. Super close. The event is a lot of fun, and it's another example of forming an activity with a target audience and outcome expectations in proximity to other businesses. The cooperative effort between the Lyon County History Center, Trox, and Emporia Main Street attracts an important target market for our community. Puzzles don't appeal to everyone, but if you had an "appeals to everyone" sort of event it would be so bland that it would appeal to no one. We know that female consumers make the vast majority of purchase decisions, day trip plans, and entertainment ticket purchases. Appealing to that group (we know that some guys also participate, but the event has a majority female participation) allows us to conduct additional outreach for the benefit of other businesses/events in the area. | |
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5. "Don't you think everyone is an innovator?" From a tech summit. Last week I spoke as a panelist in an event that focused on connectivity and tech based entrepreneurship. There were two basic groups in attendance: those that implement technology, and community/civic leaders. The implementation specialists (doers) wanted to talk about the nuts and bolts of making ventures profitable and connecting resources. "Leaders" were maybe engaged in a different thought process. We sometimes get sucked into a process of pretending that everyone is the same. "Everyone is an entrepreneur" flies in the face of information we have on the percentage of the population that actually engages in entrepreneurship. Some people are risk averse, some don't like pressure associated with entrepreneurship, and others just lack the acumen associated with business. "Everyone is a leader" may sound good on a bumper sticker, but we know not everyone leads. If ESU lined up with 11 quarterbacks for the first home football game, the results wouldn't be pretty. "Everyone is an innovator" again sounds good, but sustainable and actionable innovation is actually pretty difficult. I think we need to make innovation accessible. I think we need to offer tangible support (dollars, education, product development, etc.) to those entrepreneurs that want to start businesses. I think we need to challenge leaders (and potential leaders) to create tangible catalyst results and solve for area problems/take advantage of emerging opportunities.
Everyone is different, and that's a good thing. I think some must fear that they are being exclusionary if they say that some people are better suited (due to personality, or other attributes) for an activity than others. I have some former interns that I'm very fond of that hover at about 5 feet tall. They aren't well-suited for a slot in the NBA. They are extremely well-suited for other activities (and actually excel in those activities). Embracing differences instead of trying to jam square pegs in round holes makes us more effective in helping those working towards innovation and entrepreneurship.
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Tickets on sale now! Click HERE to purchase! | |
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Emporia Main Street and a committee of local community members and EHS graduates have been working together to create a class reunion weekend for graduates of Emporia High to gather and reconnect. It is our hope that, Apella will provide you with an opportunity to visit you favorite Emporia locations, enjoy the community and gather with friends.
We are excited to announce that the 2024 Apella Weekend will be held on September 20th and 21st! After much discussion, it has been decided that moving forward, Apella - The Emporia High School Reunion will be held during the 3rd weekend in September. While we know this will not always fall on EHS Homecoming, we thought it would streamline planning for classes and attendees.
There are still lots of plans to be made for the weekend- and we are looking for volunteers to sit on the Apella planning committee. If you are interested, please email Jess at Emporia Main Street at community@emporiamainstreet.com
For more info on the event, check out our Facebook Page or visit us online!
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What we do proves what we believe. | | | | |
