Great Plains Partners with Pittsburg State University

Great Plains Development Authority is partnering with Pittsburg State University’s Strategic Initiatives (USI) unit to help shape the future of the Great Plains Industrial Park.

As part of a Federal Office of Economic Adjustment grant, Great Plains selected USI to assist in analyzing and developing a new business model that can be supported both locally and regionally. The industrial park, which is located just outside of Parsons in Labette County encompasses 13,951 total acres, of which approximately 6,800 acres are owned by Great Plains Development Authority.

Pittsburg State’s USI unit will work with Great Plains Board of Directors and staff, Labette County Commission, City of Parsons, the Unified School Districts (USD’s), and other regional stakeholders and entities to facilitate discussion regarding the future of the Great Plains Industrial Park.

“Selecting Pittsburg State’s USI was jointly recommended by both the Great Plains’ Board of Directors and the Labette County Commission,” Great Plains CEO Daniel Mann said. “It is a natural fit for both organizations as we continue to strengthen our regional efforts and utilize our unique regional assets to grow and support all of southeast Kansas.”

Led by Chief Strategy Officer Shawn Naccarato, USI will research and explore a minimum of three potential business models that are economically, environmentally and politically supported.

“Our team at USI is excited to work with the Great Plains Development Authority on this important project,” Naccarato said. “The mission of USI is to raise the profile of southeast Kansas and build upon our encouraging population and income trends. As the former Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Great Plains played a large role in shaping the economy of this region and we believe an opportunity exists to shape the economy of the future.”

As part of the agreement, USI will contract with Joe Dellesega, owner of the Dellesega Group consulting firm, who will facilitate discussions between various stakeholder groups. Dellesega will represent a neutral, unbiased base from which diverse conversations and interviews can take place.

This fall, Great Plains and USI will host “Discover Great Plains,” an event designed to give stakeholders a glimpse at the park and start conversations about its future potential. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to Noon on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Great Plains Industrial Park.

For more information regarding the partnership between USI and Great Plains, contact Sydney Anselmi, project communications manager, at 620-235-4938.

More information about the industrial park is at http://www.greatplainsindustrialpark.com/home.aspx.