Makayla and I returned to the States this past weekend after heading south for eleven days. When we left Kansas, there was still abundant snow and ice. We saw less and less as we moved down I-35, eventually arriving at our port in Galveston, Texas. It was about 50 degrees when we boarded our ship, which felt like summer coming from single digits just a day or two prior. As we headed to Mexico, Belize, and Honduras, we continued to catch some sun and enjoy the 70-80-degree temperatures (pictures of the trip here). Lots of laughs, some incredible sights, and fantastic food made for some great time off.
Thanks to Sherri and our two interns, Zeke and Kyllian, for helping hold down the fort while I was away. It sounds like everything quieted down after the banquet/auction subsided (which was needed after a frenzied lead-up to the annual event). But now it’s time to get to work! Lots of opportunities ahead of us in 2025, it's going to be a great year.
Franklin County Secures New Round of Pathways Funding Through 2026
Some exciting news came out right before I left on my trip. Live Healthy Franklin County has been awarded another round of funding through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative, extending its efforts through 2026 (press release here). Franklin County is one of 14 returning communities selected for this highly competitive program across the state, which provides funding for initiatives that promote healthy eating, active living, behavioral health, and tobacco prevention.
Live Healthy Franklin County was formed in 2013 but has received Pathways funding since 2016. Over that course of time, over 50 community projects have been implemented with dozens of partners across different sectors in our county (more info on those here). In those eight years, this grant has awarded over a million dollars to Franklin County for its varying projects. Over the next two years, the coalition will have access to non-competitive implementation grants to fund new avenues. This will include healthier food retail, youth physical activity, healthier hospital food environment, multimodal transportation, and more. Stay tuned for more details on upcoming initiatives. I’m excited the Chamber can be involved with this impactful program and the good it does for our community.
2025 Community Guides Are Here
This also might be old news, as hopefully you’ve received your copy in the mail already. But, our 2025 Community Guides have arrived (view the virtual version here)! This annual publication has some great info for those who are new to the area or maybe just visiting for a short time. We would love to display these in your waiting rooms, display racks, or other locations where you think they might be helpful. If the one copy that was mailed to you is not enough, we have loads to share. Just stop by our office or give us a call, and we can get them delivered. This is a great way to show off our area, promote you (our members), and have a comprehensive guide for those interested in taking a peek into our community. Whether they’re viewing it in person or on our website, we hope this guide will be of assistance!
We also want to remind everyone who would like a 2025 Chamber Plaque sticker that they are also available (plaque here). If you need a new plaque or you never received one in the first place, just let us know! These plaques can proudly be displayed in your place of business, office, or wherever you see fit. Also, a reminder that we always have extras from previous years. So, if you need more than just 2025, let us know what your plaque is missing and we'll make sure you get caught up.
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Though I was not in Kansas when they clinched the AFC Championships, go CHIEFS! What a time to be in Kansas City. Now we anxiously wait to see how Sunday plays out. With that being said, it's not hard to find Chiefs haters out there. If the game came down to a popularity contest across the nation, I wouldn’t love our odds. I think we’ve become a pretty despised franchise over the last few years, which is always bound to happen when you’re the best around! We’ll see if history will be made on Sunday night. If you don’t have a place to watch, I know PrimeTime Grille has some great specials and will have dozens of TVs all streaming the game. If you’re not a football fan, hopefully you can still enjoy some buffalo wings! Talk to you next week,
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
