Southeast Kansas, Inc. hosts transportation meeting to develop regional priority list

Southeast Kansas, Inc. and Kansas Communities, LLC will be hosting a regional conversation on transportation issues in southeast Kansas on August 25 at 1:30 p.m. in Chanute. The Southeast Kansas, Inc. Transportation Council is in the process of formulating their legislative position statement for the 2009 session. Key to that statement is input from all SEK, Inc. members providing a regional priority list of transportation needs.

Southeast Kansas, Inc. is a regional organization that works with business and government to collaborate on issues facing southeast Kansas. With a membership base that includes 13 counties, SEK, Inc. has been an aggressive force when dealing with the transportation needs in southeast Kansas.

Executive Director Kathy Swezey said, "We were excited about the opportunity to partner with Terry Woodbury and provide a venue for our members to discuss the transportation priorities in southeast Kansas. We know that this is going to be a crucial year for transportation and we want to be ready when the legislature convenes with a solid priority list for the region."

Chair of the SEK, Inc. Transportation Council Dean Mann goes on to say, "Kansas's current Comprehensive Transportation Plan will be completed in 2009 and KDOT and the state legislature will be developing priorities and funding for the state's next transportation plan. It is important for the continued growth of the Southeast Kansas region that we develop and communicate the needs and priorities of our region's transportation system. The SEK, Inc. Transportation Council, with input from its members, will communicate these needs and priorities to our state's legislature as a unified voice for our region. If you want your concerns and ideas to be considered in this process, we encourage all SEK, Inc. members to participate in the August 25th."

Kansas Communities, LLC was founded in 2004 to "build and re-build community across Kansas" by rebuilding the Public Square, one community at a time. The Public Square is the intersection of four sectors: business, education, health/human service and government. President Terry Woodbury is currently working in five southeast Kansas communities including Humboldt, Fort Scott, Girard, Chanute and Coffeyville. Woodbury spoke to the SEK, Inc. membership at the annual meeting in January encouraging regional collaboration. Woodbury stated, "This is a chance for community leaders in Southeast Kansas to ask themselves, "What can we do together that we can't do alone? Together, we are better and stronger."

Southeast Kansas, Inc. has taken an aggressive role in Kansas legislation providing an avenue for residents of the region to voice their concerns. SEK, Inc. members who would like to attend, can call Kathy at (620) 249-5606 or email kathys@sekinc.org. If you are not a member and are interested in attending, log onto www.sekinc.org and go to the membership page for membership information.