Heather Morgan, director of Project 17 and its only paid employee, gave Rotarians from Iola, Humboldt and Chanute an overview Thursday of its recent accomplishments. AS FOR ECONOMIC development, those who meet regularly to deal with the issue are seeking ways to increase the number of well-paid jobs in SEK.
“We want to transform southeast Kansas to compete with metropolitan areas,” Morgan said.
Project 17 was begun in 2011 with the goal to improve the quality of life and economic opportunities of those who live, work and play in the 17 counties of southeast Kansas. Networking — bringing together for the common good leaders in business, education and government — is the means being employed.
A commonality in the region is high unemployment, poorer health than elsewhere in the state and declining population. Franklin and Miami counties swim a bit against those currents, with their residents having advantage of being within commuting distance of good-paying jobs in Lawrence and Johnson County.
Morgan mentioned statistics that bore out need for improvement.
— On the average the region ranks 81st among Kansas’ 105 in health rankings. Allen County is 86th, Neosho 94th.
— In the region, 18 percent of adults have earned a bachelor’s degree and 17 percent in Allen County, compared to 25 percent throughout the state.
— Throughout the region 15 percent of families are at or below the federal poverty rate; 17 percent in Allen County. In the state the rate is 13 percent, just a point better than the national average of 14 percent.
“We have a lot of room to improve there,” Morgan said.
— More than $90 million is spent in various forms of public assistance in the 17 counties.
A challenge, she said, is to find a way to help people break out of poverty.
One means, she said, is to increase the number of globally competitive innovative products and services. Collaboration — or networking — among the economic development entities and goods-producing companies is an avenue.
Project 17, through Morgan’s leadership and periodic meetings of those involved, should lead to positive results, she said.
As for improving residents’ health, she said raising awareness of preventive care and finding ways to deal with generational poverty and substance abuse are key.
A common refrain she hears from employers is that failure to a pass drug test often disqualifies potential employees. She recalled an employer who said he would hire 50 people, if he could find ones who qualified.
Education also is an important factor.
Networking employers and educators to ensure students are prepared to go to work is one means, Morgan said, and part of that is strengthening bonds between institutions within the region. Promotion of science, math and career/technical education is important.
Morgan said narrowing the gap seen in “soft skills” also is important. Soft skills are such things as personality traits, social graces, communication, personal habits and optimism, as compared to hard skills, or occupational requirements, of a job.
Project 17: networking for a better life in SEK
