Having put the finishing touches on a three-year community engagement initiative, a group of Allen County residents want the work to continue. Citizens from Moran, Humboldt, LaHarpe and Savonburg gathered Thursday at Thrive Allen County
Vol. 120, No. 202 Iola, KS 75 Cents
offices to discuss the future of Allen County Together, a monthly meeting in which folks talk about goings-on in their respective communities. The meetings started in 2015 as part of the Community Engagement Initiative funded by the Kansas Health Foundation. The initiative led to several citizen-led improvements throughout the county, from new playground equipment in LaHarpe, storm sirens in Elsmore and a fitness center in Moran.
The grant funding expired in 2018, but attendees agreed the meetings were invaluable in keeping others in the county abreast of happenings in their hometowns, share ideas and plot the course for future projects.
Larry Manes, a member of the Moran PRIDE/Thrive Committee, noted the shifting focus of the meetings.
For example, Morans focus at the start of the initiative was to open the fitness center. By the end, the community had aimed its sights on purchasing the local grocery store as part of a cooperative. (The successful venture led to the opening of the Marmaton Market in June.)
Members will continue to meet at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.
The next meeting, Sept. 20, will be at La-Harpe City Hall.
Allen County Together also has set up a Facebook page as a venue for communities to highlight recent projects, discuss upcoming ventures and eventually set up a community calendar.
Pastor Timothy Roth of Humboldts St. Peters Lutheran Church, said the cooperative effort may someday lead to larger, countywide projects if neighboring communities can work in league.
Communication is key, agreed Bill Maness, former Iola mayor, and the countys economic development director.
For more information, go to Allen County Togethers Face-book page.
