Dear Chamber Supporters,

I hope you had a great Easter holiday! April is here, and spring showers come along with it. As Midwesterners say, “it’s pretty dreary outside, but we really needed the rain…” or something along those lines. Though the seasons come around every year, this coming Monday, large parts of the United States will experience something that won’t come around for another twenty years: a total solar eclipse. This celestial spectacle isn’t particularly in our path; to catch the real deal you’d have to head east (picture of path here). Those in the path of totality will be able to experience the darkness as the moon gracefully passes between the Earth and the sun, revealing the sun’s corona. If you’re still in Kansas as it takes place, you should still be able to catch a partial eclipse (make sure to wear your glasses).

Digital Marketing Seminar Online

Earlier in March, some friends from the Small Business Development Center came to Ottawa to speak with business owners about the digital marketplace and the different tools and skills that can better leverage this daunting subject of marketing yourself to the world. We had a dozen or so in person at the seminar, but we promised to make it so others were involved even if they couldn’t make it on the day of the workshop. We have stuck true to our word and now have this presentation and the source materials available on our website (check it out here). This and future topics will be displayed here in hopes we can support as many businesses as possible, regardless of where they are in their entrepreneurial journey! This is one of the many ways the Chamber looks to support our business community, which wouldn’t be possible without great partners and an audience of passionate individuals who want to make their business and our community a great place to live and work.

Breaking the Cycle with Community Corrections

The Franklin County Fourth Judicial District Community Corrections team hosted our Chamber Coffee this morning (pictures here). This gathering took place in what was formally the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center. Now, instead of housing youth offenders, it provides community-based assessment, supervision, and prevention services for both adults and juveniles. Community Corrections is a department of our Franklin County Government, but it also serves the three other counties that make up the Fourth Judicial District (Anderson, Coffey, and Osage). Community Corrections works with active felony offenders on probation who are at a higher risk of returning to confinement without assistance reentering the community. Between all four counties, there are currently over two hundred individuals who fall in this category, about half of whom exist in Franklin County alone. To understand who is at a higher risk is done through an evidence-based risk and needs assessment. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, each individual that is assessed is provided with a plan designed specifically for their own needs, in hopes that this process can keep them from continuing a life in incarceration. It was shared that this is often cyclical in nature and is often hard to break free from even with support―even that much more impossible trying to do it alone. Because of that, this work is not only reactionary but also preventative. This can be seen often in juvenile cases, assessing tendencies that could move this youth down a path that would eventually lead to incarceration.

These programs have been overseen by Director Dustin Browning, who has been in this role for the last five years―but in this new facility since December 2023. This space was closed as a housing place for juveniles in 2022, a decision that County Commissioners didn’t take lightly. Sitting vacant, this Community Corrections team has been able to move over from the Franklin County Annex and utilize the S Beech St. location in ways not considered when originally built. Dustin shared that there are several upsides to this transition, safety being one of them. Measures have been implemented to keep all parties involved safer in this space than in the Annex―the connection to the Sherrif’s Department adds another layer of prevention to the environment on site. Along with safety, it really allows their team to spread out and utilize the square footage to be a one-stop shop for all the programs they implement.

The support they provide these clients includes accountability in regard to PTSD with substance abuse and mental health issues (with the help of an ELC staff member being onsite), as well as job skills like resume writing and matching them with employers who hire those with criminal records. Dustin recognizes that communication and transportation are often two of the most significant factors that impact the success of an individual reentering the world. They find ways to fill that gap by addressing technical and adaptive challenges for each individual in question. All this work is able to be accomplished through grant funding through the Kansas Department of Corrections, allowing Dustin and his team to intervene to make our community a safer place. I was able to learn so much about these vital services this morning. This group isn’t often in the limelight but should be commended for the work that is done to transform the lives of those they interact with. Thanks Dustin and staff for all you do!

Calling All Vendors

Our office is already looking forward to our first downtown shopping event of the year, our Flea Junk & Trunk Craft Fair, which will take place on May 18th at Legacy Square. If you’re unfamiliar, this looks like an opportunity for home-based businesses, crafters, artisans, antique dealers, and maybe even those looking for a chance to part ways with their collection of (you fill in the blank) to set up shop downtown and sell their goods. As a community event, it’s really a chance to entice shopping throughout the whole community by inviting folks to check out Legacy Square and hopefully move throughout town. Last year we had 46 vendors sign up for the event, adding up to over 60 booths in total. Since we’ve opened up registration, we’ve already seen 34 registrations come in! It’s the perfect year to have a record number of vendors―if you are looking to purchase a booth space, spots start at $35 apiece and you can register online here. Whether you’re setting up a booth or just coming around for the good vibes and shopping, we hope you have May 18th on your calendar.

Spring Cleaning Made Easy

If you’re the kind of person who has more Junk than Flea or Trunk, you’re in luck! This weekend is a citywide cleanup for those living within Ottawa's city limits. Dumpsters will be available today starting at 8:00 am through 3:00 pm on Saturday at the following locations:

Near Franklin County Recycling Center (2000 Block Elm Street)
Parking lot west of City Hall (101 South Hickory Street)
Salt storage shed (1300 block of north Cherry Street east side)

Check out the full details and stipulations on what can be dropped off here. If you live in other communities in the county outside Ottawa, you’re not out of luck; just need to wait a week or two, depending on your location. Pomona, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Princeton will accept drop-offs the following weekend on the 12th and 13th. April 17th and 18th Wellsville, Rantoul, and Lane will all be having their own respective cleanup days (more info here). Spring cleaning will be in full swing throughout the month of April, so don’t miss your chance to make some hauls on your appropriate weekend.

Whether you’re doing well on your New Year’s resolution fitness goals or not, you’re invited to run, walk, or crawl (hopefully not crawl) through the Franklin County Historical Society’s 5k this Saturday morning (more info here). It should be a great morning to support this local organization while being healthy in the process. If I don’t see you there, I hope to see you soon!

Ryland Miller

President/CEO

Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce

ryland@ottawakansas.org

785-242-1000