From the Lanes to Lending a Hand
Young Professionals hit the lanes last Friday for a bowling night at Fusion Alley (pictures here). This is part of their three-pronged approach to connecting with our younger workforce. Social events, like bowling, are one way they bring folks together. The other two elements are educational and service events. Last night, they had their first service event, partnering with More Than Food Foundation (pictures here). More Than Food provides meals and snacks for youth facing food vulnerabilities, and YP helped pack bags that will get delivered to 160 kiddos. Way to go, YP! Thank you to Emily, the owner/operator of More Than Food Foundation, for creating opportunities to help those in need.
You’re probably thinking, what’s next on YP’s calendar? Well, let me tell you! YP has two programs in June, starting with a lunch-and-learn on June 10th at noon with Prairie Sunlight. Then, on June 18, they’re partnering with YP Platinum Sponsor, Ottawa Recreation Commission, for an evening of gaga ball and four square at the Goppert Building. Along with some games, YP’s can also pick up their complimentary punch cards to the ORC gym. These have been graciously donated so that all Young Professionals can work out for free this year. How cool! Message JieJie if you or someone you know wants to get added to their communication list for future programming (email here).
Pathways Funding Continues to Drive Local Impact
Last Friday, we had some exciting announcements for the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium. Over the last year and a half, these two organizations, under the leadership of Melissa Scherman and Tiffany Evans, have worked with BCBS Pathways Coordinator Sheila Robertson to secure grant funding through the BCBS Pathways Initiative. Two amazing amenities in our community are getting even better! This looks like $100,000 of funding, split evenly towards the OMA’s commercial kitchen and the trail surfacing for the Flint Hills Trail off E 1st Street (pictures here). This process is not as easy as applying and then getting a check written; it entails dozens of hours of surveying local populations, gathering data, creating policies and agreements, and much more. But now, the fun part! Implementing these projects makes all the legwork worth it.
These grants continue to increase the number of dollars brought in over the last decade through Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways Grants. Nearly 1.5 million dollars has been used towards healthy living and community vitality. A big shoutout to local champion, Sheila, who has tirelessly led this program in Franklin County all these years. These two projects mark the over-halfway point, as three of the five projects have now been funded. A few months ago, we celebrated the Ottawa Kansas Farmers Market. We look forward to having the Ottawa Recreation Commission and AdventHealth Ottawa join these three here soon, with project funding on the horizon. Exciting stuff!
Celebrating Our Local Hometown Heroes
When I hear the name Dale Pearson, I can’t help but also think of his longtime employer, Modern Woodman of America. Modern Woodmen is a member-owned financial services organization that provides life insurance, retirement planning, and investment products. But as a fraternal organization, members like Dale do more than just provide financial services; they find ways to give back. This week was especially exciting as Dale named a couple of great community members with an award he calls the “Hometown Hero Award.” This recognition program highlights people who are making an impact locally and have been doing so for some time. Often, this impact is achieved through service above self, as seen in how they step up to meet the needs of the community around them. I feel blessed to call both these individuals who received this award friends, and I agree wholeheartedly that they’re deserving of the title Hometown Hero. The more than deserving winners are Tiffany Evans with the OMA and Kevin James with James Automotive (pictures here).
If you have somehow not met 2019’s Person of the Year award winner, Tiffany Evans, you’re missing out! The director of our local auditorium is just one of the many hats Tiffany wears. Dance mom, Rotarian, and she currently serves on the Chamber Executive Committee and is our incoming Chamber Board Chairperson. Tiffany was one of the first people in the community I met when I started as an Intern for the Chamber and the OMA. Since then, I’ve only seen her continue to flourish in every role she’s taken on. An amazing ambassador for Ottawa and an easy pick for Hometown Hero.
Along with running his auto shop off W 1st Street, Kevin is an active volunteer police officer and recently graduated from the Ottawa Police Department’s Community Public Safety Academy. For six years, Kevin served on the Chamber’s Board and on its Executive Committee, serving as Chairperson in 2023. As a result, Kevin was by my side during my first year as President/CEO. We worked so well together, and it was bittersweet when he moved off our board. I’m thankful he’s still only a block away and still takes my call for any automotive need Makayla and I might have.
Thank you, Dale, for lifting up these individuals and so many others through your annual programming!
Adventures in Ottawa Pin Program Kicks Off Next Week
A month or so ago, I was able to share some of the programming that has come from the Chamber’s Summer of 2026 ad hoc committee. I’m excited to share that next week is the official kickoff for the highly anticipated Adventures in Ottawa Pin Program (pictures here). 17 awesome events/organizations have created limited-edition pins, and your job is to collect them all! You can begin your collection at the Chamber’s office (109 E 2nd Street) or at the Ottawa Recreation Commission (705 W 15th Street) all summer long. You can also start your journey by going straight to participating events. This Thursday, you can begin by visiting the OMA for music bingo or the OMSA’s Third Thursday in front of the county courthouse.
Between May and August, we plan to have 900 participants, both local and out-of-town, join in. Along with the fun of collecting pins, we hope to raise awareness of the many amazing events already happening throughout our county. A big thank you to the City of Ottawa and Franklin County government for making this program free to participate in. I also need to give a huge shoutout to Misty Eytcheson, the City of Ottawa Communications Director, who has really spearheaded this project and deserves much of the credit for what I know will be an awesome program. This is just one of the many things that will make this 250th summer one to remember. Good luck pin collecting!
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Congrats to all the OHS grads who walk this weekend! What an exciting time for them and hopefully not too sad a time for all the parents watching their babies officially “grow up”. Whether you have a grad or not, have a good weekend and talk to you soon!
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
