Happy New Year Chamber Supporters!
After a significant chunk of time spent with loved ones, I couldn’t be more excited to usher in the new year at the Chamber. This week has been short but full of energy as we pick up where we left off in 2023. I’m hopeful you also were able to recharge and are ready to make this year one to remember. One of the best ways to start off the new year is with a new read (picture here). New Chamber Community Guides were shipped this week! Every Chamber member will receive a copy in the mail, but if you would like more for any reason (waiting room coffee table, to give to new clients, your neighbor just moved to town, etc.), we would love to get more to you. Just stop in and we can share!
Local Nonprofit Summit
Before we left for Christmas, the Franklin County United Way gathered over lunch with other nonprofits, churches, and social services in the area. All with the hopes that each individual would discuss what their organization does in the community, who they serve, and how. A couple of dozen groups were represented at the meeting. Leigh Hansen, Director of the United Way, shared a quick summary of those who spoke (you can read that summary here). Trying to limit all their organization does in just a few minutes was challenging for some because so many serve in so many different ways. One of my hopes is to utilize the information shared to find ways to pair our organization with others to be more effective. I also walked away knowing that a host of individuals and organizations in our community genuinely care for those who make it up. Through that caring nature they’ve been able to rally troops over their respective causes, allowing people to get fed, clothed, housed, educated, and more. If you aren’t familiar with one of these groups and would like to be, reach out and I’ll get you introduced!
KwiKom Communications
KwiKom Communications hosted Chamber members this morning for our first Chamber Coffee of the year (pictures here). KwiKom is a Kansas-based corporation that offers internet, telephone, and television services. With their home office based out of Iola, they have a growing fixed wireless network area of over 30,000 square miles including over 75 counties in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Franklin County has been served for some time through their wireless operations, often placed on tall structures like buildings or water towers stretching in rural areas of our community. But as of mid-2023, they have been hard at work expanding their fiber network within the City of Ottawa, with Wellsville, Pomona and Williamsburg on the way. This encompasses a 12-million-dollar investment in Franklin County alone, which will benefit over 7,200 homes in our community. The big question this morning was if they had a timeline… they shared that they will have their first residential houses lit by the end of this month. They have projected that by the end of the summer, the rest of Ottawa will also be live! They do not yet have a timeline for any of the other towns in Franklin County, but they are committed to connecting them as well. What great news! If you’re interested in seeing pricing, check that out here. It’s also worth sharing info about their Affordable Connectivity Program, where families who qualify for free/reduced lunch can receive discounts on KwiKom services (find more info on this program here).
Along with their expansion they have also been seen doing some philanthropic work. Through the month of December, KwiKom donated $10 to Hope House for every local internet customer signup in the period leading up to Christmas. As a result, you can see our local Hope House team receiving a big check for $700 through this campaign (picture here)! Through their efforts to connect individuals to the internet and through their giving nature, they were honored by the state at the “To the Stars Kansas Business Awards” with the East Central Region Award of Merit in the Retail/Service category. This is obviously a result of their contributions to the communities around our state. I’m very excited about the investment that’s taking place in our county, a great example of the upward momentum we’re headed in.
Time is Running Out
Don’t forget! The Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet is right around the corner. As a result, your chance to get tickets ends this next Thursday (click here to register). January 25th should be a great chance to come together and celebrate. Honoring our award winners as well as the accomplishments we made together through 2023. I hope to see you there! If you have yet to donate an item to our annual silent auction, next Wednesday is the deadline for that. Our annual auction is a great way to give back, get some exposure, as well as know that your donation is raising money to make Ottawa and Franklin County a better place to live, work, and play.
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Hopefully you have stayed true to your New Year’s resolution so far; if not, there’s always next year! I’ve already had to redo a handful of dates where I accidentally wrote 2023... your guess is as good as mine on when I’ll get it right on the first try. Talk to you soon,
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000