The Wichita Eagle reported recently that the Wichita City Council voted 6-1 to join Sedgwick County in participating in a Regional Area Economic Partnership funded by a Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Planning grant. The Regional Area Economic Partnership (REAP) will focus on producing a sustainable community plan to address transportation, water, and health issues. REAP has an existing 23-member consortium that includes 4 other counties as well as Wichita State University.
Wichita resident Hoyt Hillman addressed the City Council about water issues:
“This has been a lifelong issue… Your positive vote today will initiate regional discussion to identify ways to reduce costs to do business in South-Central Kansas. These small communities need economic development, and they want to spend their tax funds very wisely. An enhanced regional economy means jobs. Very simply, it’s going to help.”
To learn more about REAP and its Regional Planning grant, visit their site.
To learn more about the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, go to https://smartgrowthamerica.org/partnership.