Momentum 22: A Strategist's Assessment
Michelle Stubblefield, senior vice president of strategy for the Greater Topeka Partnership, said that while significant headway has been made on many Momentum 2022 goals, “there is no such thing as complete” as one five year plan wraps up and another begins.
“We’ve made strides in comparison to where we were, but we still have work to do to offer higher wages, further reduce poverty, be more intentional about diversity, equity and inclusion, and influence factors that affect families and financial stability through social services and economic development,” she said.
Among Momentum 2022’s many successes, Stubblefield said a few that stand out for her are dynamic core amenities like the Evergy Plaza and new downtown businesses, Plug and Play, the Choose Topeka relocation program, a grant to address digital equity, the Washburn Tech East campus, the creation of Pine Ridge small development grants and the Top City Internship program.
Plug and Play has positioned the capital city as a worldwide resource for agtech startups. Choose Topeka garnered mention from multiple national media outlets for a program providing a cash incentive up to $15,000 for persons interested in relocating to Topeka.
“We’re speaking with a number of people who want to move away from large metropolitan areas, especially after the pandemic,” she said. “We’ve heard from people with no ties to the community, boomerang individuals with some history with the city who want to raise their families here and retirees considering coming back because they see Topeka as a wonderful option.”
The Kansas Health Foundation provided a $250,000 grant to pay for a part-time digital coordinator and a part-time technician to improve digital access for families. The program is administered through the City of Topeka.
“With classes being conducted online for so many months during COVID-19, the need for digital access and affordability became critical,” Stubblefield said.
Describing the opening of Washburn Tech East as a “fantastic win,” Stubblefield said the campus has created post-secondary opportunities for skill development and helped overcome transportation issues for students who had difficulty getting to the main complex in the southwest section of the city.
Stubblefield said the Pine Ridge neighborhood has benefited from small community development opportunities to spur entrepreneurship in the area.
The Top City Internship program, a collaboration among multiple companies led by Forge, the Greater Topeka Partnership’s young professionals organization, provides immersive experiences so participants can see firsthand what the community has to offer as they consider where they want to start their careers.
Stubblefield said several things are poised to help Momentum 2022 finish strong and potentially transition into the next strategy. SAVE (Strategies Against Violence Everywhere) is a local initiative designed to curb gun violence. The program is managed by the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice and the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office, along with national consulting support.
A group of public and private community members have established “Bring Back the Boulevard,” a grassroots beautification campaign focused on the South Topeka Boulevard gateway.
“Other initiatives that will continue to bubble up that will surely be part of the next strategy are riverfront development, childcare and food deserts,” she said.
Stubblefield said the Riverfront Advisory Council is developing a multi-use strategy that will consider the river’s landscape and integrate additional opportunities for recreation, dining and entertainment to build upon the plan’s quality of life component.
The Kansas Health Foundation provided funding to support an early childhood literacy coordinator managed through the United Way of Greater Topeka to complement the efforts of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center Discovery Kindergarten program and others.
A lifelong Topekan, Stubblefield said she is energized by Momentum 2022’s evolving strategic focus and the extensive support of so many people, whether active participants in the process or beneficiaries of the inroads being made.
“There’s much more hope as we’re able to see what we’re capable of as a community,” she said.
