Image courtesy Canva
Nearly 14% of Kansas residents moved to a new home in the past year, according to the U.S. Census, and nearly half of them—about 200,000 people—came from another city, state, or country. Simone Elder with the Kansas Sampler Foundation says this presents an opportunity for communities to grow by being more welcoming to newcomers.
Elder spoke during the July 11 First Friday e-Call, a free monthly online series hosted by K-State Extension to support small business and entrepreneurship in Kansas. The calls bring together people from across the state’s public and private sectors.
In a survey of 500 Kansans, followed by interviews with 175 of them, the Kansas Sampler Foundation found that people are more likely to stay in communities that welcome them. Their Power Up and Go report identifies four key traits of future-ready towns: they like themselves, are welcoming, engage all residents, and invest in themselves.
Examples include Emporia’s Mi Negocio program, which helps Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs, and efforts in Lawrence to use small business as a bridge to community inclusion.
More about the Kansas Sampler Foundation and First Friday talks is available online.