Greater Wichita Partnership > Blog
2021 Year-End Update
In 2021, the Partnership launched new initiatives and worked collaboratively to address the economic challenges that arose in 2020. While still focused on the economic recovery of the Greater Wichita region, the Partnership team continued to fast-forward economic growth within our three strategic priority areas of Jobs, Talent and Quality of Place. These priorities are driven by strategic, research-based plans, including the Regional Growth Plan, Accelerate Wichita Report, the Talent Marketing Blueprint, Project Wichita and Project Downtown.
Through the commitment of the Greater Wichita Partnership investors, the following results are a culmination of our team’s efforts to position our region as a place where both business and community members can thrive.
Below is an overview of the work that has been accomplished within the Partnership’s three strategic priorities through a highlight video and digital report.
We support the creation of jobs through business retention and expansion, company attraction and entrepreneurship cultivation
1,816
Total Jobs
2015-2021 YTD: 12,178
$94M
Capital Investment
2015-2021 YTD: $2.6B
$70M
Total Annual Payroll
2015-2021 YTD: $584M
- Led delegations to two national tradeshows with 19 local and regional partners to globally market the region
- Produced two videos to highlight our region’s capabilities in the Transportation & Logistics sector and the business assets of the Greater Wichita region
- Helped secure approximately $325,000 in grants for the region through Blais & Associates
- Launched the Accelerate Wichita Report with Entrepreneurial Ecosystem partners
- Focused on mobilization of grants and key action points identified in the Wichita Region Economic Recovery document
We work alongside regional businesses and partners to attract, retain and engage talent
147
Interns Engaged
through Summer Intern Kickoff Event
28,532
pageviews
on Choose Wichita website
9
new Choose Wichita blogs
showcasing our relentlessly original region
- Raised $500,000 to initiate the Future of Work & Workforce Strategy with Deloitte
- Provided financial support for the WSU Tech and NIAR WERX “Get to WERX” program for talent attraction
- Launched the second phase of the “Get Trained. Get Paid.” talent retention campaign
- Re-engaged Development Counsellors International (DCI) to evaluate the Talent Marketing Blueprint and identify new talent trends due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Partnered with ICT Box to create a curated “Boomerang Box” with local goods for residents to send to loved ones that have roots in the region
We focus on developing a distinctive quality of place that attracts talent, visitors and economic growth
12
development projects
completed in the core
$75K
NEA Our Town Grant
awarded to the City of Wichita
100+
local students
created unique holiday-themed designs for Douglas Ave. banners
- Contracted three national firms to produce market forecasts for downtown
- Raised $250,000 for the development of Chester I. Lewis Park
- Launched the Front Porch project through a $75,000 NEA Our Town Grant
- Released Possibility People – Celebrating 10 Years of Project Downtown video
- Wichita Literacy Coalition launched second phase of its initiatve
