GO Topeka Announces Search For Redevelopment Specialist

GO Topeka, the region’s leading economic development organization, has created a position to place a focus on facilitating development opportunities in blighted or underutilized areas in Topeka & Shawnee County. The Redevelopment Specialist is tasked with fostering relationships and attracting and managing catalytic redevelopment projects to redevelop sites to their best and highest use. GO Topeka staff and local leadership view this new position as an invaluable role within the community as Topeka & Shawnee County transition into further development.

“This new position fills a need that GO Topeka wasn’t able to meet but was always cognizant of; blight and underuse is a cancer to economic development, so we knew we needed to find the antidote,” said Molly Howey, president, GO Topeka. “The person who becomes our Redevelopment Specialist will be leading the charge in creating catalytic development that will be felt throughout Topeka & Shawnee County.”

“GO Topeka’s Redevelopment Specialist is going to be our city’s next secret weapon in winning the war against blight and underutilized areas,” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO, Greater Topeka Partnership. “With a position like this in place, we’ll never have a repeat of Whitelakes Mall.”

“This position will help Topeka move forward in a critical way,” said Deputy Mayor Mike Padilla. “A proactive, strategic stance against blight will help us better use existing resources while also eliminating lingering properties that are stalling our community’s progress.”  

GO Topeka is actively hiring for this position. Interested parties may inquire about the Redevelopment Specialist position via Yesy.Lawrence@TopekaPartnership.com.