A new partnership was announced Tuesday between Kansas State University and NetWork Kansas to create a network of liaisons across the state, aimed at economic growth literally in all 105 Kansas counties.
Vice President for Research Dr. David Rosowsky tells KMAN the effort will strengthen its broader Economic Prosperity Plan, launched in late 2021.
“The K-State 105 component of the Economic Prosperity Plan, is our university’s commitment to creating conditions for economic growth and economic prosperity statewide,” he said.
The partnership was announced at a news conference Tuesday at the Statehouse in Topeka, with K-State President Richard Linton, Regent Cheryl Harrison-Lee and representatives from NetWork Kansas and the Greater Topeka Partnership on hand.
The initiative is centered upon achieving economic growth in both urban and rural areas, using intentional strategies focused on diverse, equitable and inclusive solutions to ensure access to resources regardless of location. Rosowsky says the hope is to “supercharge” K-State’s existing extension model to help communities remove barriers to achieving prosperity and combating out-migration, visiting with those communities one-on-one to understand each’s unique challenges.
“Once we understand what those barriers are, then we can identify what resources are needed to break through those barriers,” he said.
That will be achieved, he says, by pooling the university’s researching capabilities with NetWork Kansas’ ability to identify best pathways to bring resources to help a community’s needs.
K-State also announced Tuesday it has partnered with the Greater Topeka Partnership, with the goal of fostering new business development and helping expand existing businesses and helping attract new outside investment to Kansas.
Read more about Tuesday’s announcement here, from Kansas State University.
