City of Manhattan Partnership

Contact:

Rebecca Robinson

Phone: 785-532-3955

Purpose of the Collaboration:

Kansas State University has a multiple, intertwined university/community efforts designed to build economic prosperity in the region including Knowledge-Based Economic Development (KBED), the North Campus Corridor (NCC), and Region Reimagined.

KBED: KBED is a unique partnership between K-State, university-related entities and the area’s leading economic development agencies. It is one of the first truly integrated university/community economic development initiatives to focus on the attraction of, as well as the creation of, small knowledge-based businesses. The KBED partners have established, and actively support, a thriving entrepreneurial environment to attract, grow, and retain knowledge-based businesses to create wealth and other benefits for the region and the partners. This environment includes access to world-class research, a talented workforce, cutting-edge facilities, and capital through all stages of the business lifecycle. The KBED Partners include: the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Manhattan, K-State, K-State Research Foundation, KSU Foundation, K-State Institute for Commercialization, North Central Regional Planning Commission, and Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation.

NCC: In an effort to create the kind of campus spaces in which K-State can partner with established public and private sector partners while having a physical nexus to campus, collaborations can be expanded, K-State and the Manhattan community are creating the North Campus Corridor, a 4-mile stretch of streets that make up the north edge of the Kansas State University campus. This will be a place that will be fitting of the university’s global leadership and reside on the campus north edge alongside both College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Medicine research facilities and research land as well as the future National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF). The corridor serves as the physical nexus of a plan that establishes Kansas, the region, and the university as the destination for the world’s established food and animal health companies, global food systems-related research, and educational talent. The City of Manhattan, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, K-State, KSU Foundation, K-State Institute for Commercialization, and K-State Athletics have partnered to develop plans and financing strategies to make the corridor visions a reality.

Region Reimagined: The Region Reimagined Initiative is a tri-county community and economic development planning and implementation effort to build a sustainable path to regional growth and prosperity. Community groups from Geary, Pottawatomie and Riley counties are forming to develop and implement regional strategies focused on Talent Attraction and Retention, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Quality of Place, Built Environment and Advocacy.

Length of Partnership:

11 years (KBED); 7 years (NCC); 3 years (Region Reimagined)

KBED: Since its inception in 2008, 514 jobs have been created in the region (with 771 projected) with average salaries of $55,539, representing an economic impact of over $48 million and a projected economic impact of $77 million and capital investments of over $55 million.

NCC: The public infrastructure investments in the corridor will create a vibrant neighborhood for the public. The area described is currently a high vehicular traffic thoroughfare for the community, but also has large sidewalks that are heavily used for pedestrians as running or biking trails. The streetscape, however, is unattractive, dilapidated and dangerous to cross because of the high vehicular traffic, especially on K-State Athletics game days. The vision for the corridor is to enhance the pedestrian experience via the addition of streetscape and landscape (trees, knee walls and gateways/entry features), as well as enhance the safety features for pedestrians (crosswalks, medians, bus drop-offs).

Region Reimagined: The Community and Economic Development Strategy will bring the community together behind a consensus vision for a thriving, sustainable, and equitable future for the Central Flint Hills region. Extensive quantitative research will be paired with comprehensive outreach to regional leaders and constituencies to inform the development of an action plan designed to be effectively implemented by the Chamber of Commerce and its partners across the public and private sectors.

Community Partners:

KBED: North Central Regional Planning Commission, City of Manhattan, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, and Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation. NCC: City of Manhattan. Region Reimagined: Many public and private stakeholders from Pottawatomie County/Geary County and Riley County/Manhattan.

Community Impact:

NCC: The public infrastructure investments in the corridor will create a vibrant neighborhood for the public. The area described is currently a high vehicular traffic thoroughfare for the community, but also has large sidewalks that are heavily used for pedestrians as running or biking trails. The streetscape, however, is unattractive, dilapidated and dangerous to cross because of the high vehicular traffic, especially on K-State Athletics game days. The vision for the corridor is to enhance the pedestrian experience via the addition of streetscape and landscape (trees, knee-walls and gateways/entry features), as well as enhance the safety features for pedestrians (crosswalks, medians, bus drop-offs).

Region Reimagined: The Community and Economic Development Strategy will bring the community together behind a consensus vision for a thriving, sustainable, and equitable future for the Central Flint Hills region. Extensive quantitative research will be paired with comprehensive outreach to regional leaders and constituencies to inform the development of an action plan designed to be effectively implemented by the Chamber of Commerce and its partners across the public and private sectors.

Institutional Partners:

Kansas State University Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice President for Research, Governmental Relations, K-State Research Foundation, KSU Foundation, K-State Institute for Commercialization, K-State Athletics

Institutional Impact:

KBED: KBED activities and partnerships with companies have resulted in over $1 million in collaborative sponsored research with faculty and students; over $500,000 in philanthropic gifts, internship and post-graduation job opportunities for students; industry participation on college/departmental advisory boards; and ongoing industry support and participation in university events.

NCC: The KSU Foundation has taken a leadership role in developing 56 acres that make up the K-State Office and Research Parks, providing office and build-to-lease lab space for established companies, state and federal partners that advance K-State.

Region Reimagined: The university has played an important role in many of the work groups formed to develop the specific strategies for the region, assisting in strategies to retain K-State graduates in the region after graduation to meet workforce needs, leveraging the universities innovation capabilities to support regional companies’ growth and strategies to improve the infrastructure and quality of life in the region to support the health and wellbeing of its citizens.

Website:

http://www.pickmanhattan.com/ (KBED); https://greatermanhattanproject.com/ (Regional Reimagined)