Local leaders are looking to the future of Ellsworth County and how best to serve the area. Recent changes have brought on discussions between Ellsworth County Economic Development and the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce about a possible joining of forces.

This past May, Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Board Executive Director Tami McGreevy tendered her resignation.

“Our executive director informed the chamber board of her desire to spend more time with family,” chamber president Colby Richard said. “We immediately began the search here locally for a talented individual to take over.”

Unfortunately, McGreevy left some big shoes to fill and the right person to wear them couldn’t be found. The search continued and still has not yielded a successor. McGreevy is still assisting the chamber as it navigates the transition.

“Simply put, the right fit didn’t materialize and we began to think creatively about our members’ needs and the position itself,” Richard explained.

“The unique timing of our transition is what really opened the door to these discussions. We are looking for the most talented people to represent our members’ interests and I think in Ellsworth County, you can’t talk about talent without ECED being a part of that conversation.”

A merger has been discussed a couple of times over the years. This time however, the suggestion is being taken more seriously and gaining enough traction for further discussions.

“Identifying and optimizing opportunity is the cornerstone of growth in any business.

Recently Ellsworth County Economic Development and the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce have asked ourselves the question, ‘Could we be stronger together?’” according to a recent news release.

The Ellsworth County Economic Development works to stimulate economic activity and sustain economic health in Ellsworth County. This is accomplished through programs and resources to increase population, business growth, jobs and other opportunities.

These goals are parallel with those of the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce. They serve their members through partnerships and efforts that support community growth and business opportunities.

“The economic success of Ellsworth County is the cornerstone of every conversation,” Richard said. “We are striving to do the hard work now to better position our organizations, better enable our talent and better serve the great people of Ellsworth County.”

Now that the question, “could we be stronger together?” has been asked, the organizations are going through the hard process of finding an answer. This doesn’t just involve talking. That process involves budget analysis, discussions and study of similar communities, while being mindful of stakeholders and residents of the area.

“A shared dialogue, creative thinking and hopeful aspirations continue as we research other models across Kansas and beyond that have undergone similar transitions,” said Ellsworth County Economic Development President of the Board Justin Lindsley.

A number of positives can come from a merger of these two entities. With more resources, services and personnel available through joining forces, more opportunities for development and assistance could be offered to the area.

“ECED identifies this as an opportunity to create more services and more development to benefit our business community and Ellsworth County as a whole,” Lindsley said. “We are still investigating what exactly this looks like and ask for patience as we collaborate together in these shared efforts.”

This decision cannot be made lightly. No matter which way the discussion goes, the end result will have an impact on the businesses, establishments and residents of the county.

“These discussions are really just at the beginning. We look forward to engaging with each other, reaching out across Kansas to learn from similar business models and at this point, we are listening more than speaking,” Richard said. “Getting this decision right doesn’t come with a time table. We will be sitting down soon and we look forward to updating the community as we go.”