Today the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce/GO Topeka launches a local multi-media campaign to keep Topeka/Shawnee County citizens informed about economic development successes.

“With four major announcements over the last four months we felt it was appropriate to communicate our strategy about why we do what we do,” said Doug Kinsinger, president/CEO, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce/GO Topeka. “Private sector funding commitments have allowed us to greatly expand our reach with more PSA space,” said Kinsinger.

The campaign centers around the theme WE CAN DO THAT, also the theme for national economic development efforts by GO Topeka to attract and retain primary employers in this area. Primary employers are defined as businesses that bring in new dollars by selling products or services to those outside the community.

“We have a commitment and responsibility to report to our stakeholders what we're doing. It’s expected by JEDO and budgeted,” said Steve Jenkins, senior vice president of economic development for GO Topeka. “Working with the same budget, we’ve retooled our tactics to get the message to more of our community.”

Jenkins reports on four successfully completed projects for 2009, to date:

2009 First Quarter Successes

• Goodyear $250 million modernization project, retained 1,400 jobs
• Frito Lay $60 million new investment

2009 Second Quarter Successes

• Groundbreaking for The Home Depot, $25 million capital investment, created 300 new jobs
• U.S. Foodservice added $13 million investment, retained 175 jobs, added 25 new jobs

The WE CAN DO THAT campaign centers around the belief that the Topeka/Shawnee County area offers business and industry what they need to succeed here: a strong economic and business climate, highly educated workforce, available locations, incentives and a high quality and affordable lifestyle.

Before developing the campaign for the community, GO Topeka commissioned a survey, to gauge levels of public awareness and understanding of GO Topeka’s work, results and how to most effectively communicate this to stakeholders. Results led to the development of the new approach to communicate and celebrate successes.

GO Topeka is the economic development arm of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and is under contract with the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) to implement economic development programs in Topeka/Shawnee County. Formed in 2001, GO Topeka is funded by a county-wide sales tax and works to grow existing businesses, develop workforce skills and promote small, women- and minority-owned businesses through the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.

The purpose of GO Topeka is to develop, promote and initiate activities that transform Topeka/Shawnee County into a world class community of choice, creating prosperity for business, labor and management.