Olathe Chamber honored in Topeka
The Olathe Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 100th anniversary last Thursday and were honored with proclamations from the floor of the Kansas House of Representatives and Kansas Senate in Topeka.
The Chamber was honored by Representative Robyn Essex during the House session Thursday morning. She read the proclamation and introduced Chamber staff in attendance. The Chamber was then honored by Senator Beverly Gossage during the Senate session Thursday afternoon. She also read the proclamation and introduced Chamber staff in attendance.
“This is a tremendous honor to be recognized by both the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate,” Chamber CEO Tim McKee said. “We appreciate Representative Essex and Senator Gossage for their efforts in helping to shine a light on our organization on such a monumental occasion. We’re truly humbled.”
Check out some pics from our day in Topeka here.
Looking for input for new Economic Development Strategic Plan
In partnership with the City of Olathe, the Olathe Economic Development Council is developing a new Economic Development Strategic Plan to see how we can best serve our community.
Part of that process involves you. We’d love to get some feedback from Olathe residents. This new strategic plan that will guide the City’s efforts in the next 10 years. The plan will provide strategic direction for the City by identifying key opportunities for future growth and partnerships and recommend place-based development strategies for the City’s future development.
A quality of life survey and a business survey will help us craft the plan. We value your experience and insights as we craft a strategy for the future.
For reference, both surveys are online and can be accessed here:
We appreciate your help with this and please know that your input will help us greatly.
Chamber Social this Thursday
Remember, there will be no Olathe Chamber of Commerce Networking Coffee this week. Instead, we encourage everyone to join us for our first of four Chamber Socials of 2023 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. this Thursday, March 30.
The Chamber Social will take place at Crazy Good Barbeque, 16695A W. 151st St. We can’t think of a better setting to kick off this year’s Chamber Socials than with some networking and delicious barbeque.
YOPro is back this afternoon
The Young Olathe Professionals are back! Make plans to join us to celebrate the return of our popular YOPro group from 3:30 – 5 p.m. this afternoon at Tall Trellis Brewery, 25600 W Valley Pkwy.
The first YOPro event will be all about networking. We’ll reconnect, toast to our return, tackle some brain-stirring riddles and win a few prizes.
We’re excited to re-engage with the younger members of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce (and the young at heart). This is the first of what will be monthly meetings of the YOPro group.
A big thanks to Enterprise Bank & Trust, our 2023 YOPro sponsor.
For more information, contact Chelsea Taylor and take a look at a complete list of 2023 YOPro events here.
Street and park sales tax renewal going out to Olathe voters
Next month, City of Olathe residents will have the opportunity to renew the Street Maintenance Sales Tax (SMST) and the Parks Sales Tax. Both sales tax measures are the main vehicle for funding in their respective areas.
The 3/8 cent SMST was approved by Olathe voters in 2013. The 1/8 cent Parks Sales Tax was approved by Olathe voters in 1999 and renewed in 2004 and again in 2014.
The ballot will contain two separate questions regarding renewal of each sales tax. This opportunity provides transparency to residents by allowing renewal for sales tax liability on one ballot, rather than separate elections in following years and cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars by having one election cycle.
Ballots will be mailed April 5 and must be returned by noon on April 25. Visit here to view ballot language and for more information.
At their February meeting, the Olathe Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted unanimously to support both the Street Maintenance Sales Tax (SMST) and the Parks Sales Tax.
WHAT'S NEW
Grab a booth at the Garmin Olathe Marathon expo
The Garmin Olathe Marathon is coming up on April 22. As the big day quickly approaches, the annual Holmes Murphy Garmin Olathe Marathon Packet Pick-up and Expo on April 20-21 is a perfect opportunity to promote your business.
For more information or to inquire about expo sponsorship opportunities, please contact Susie Carson.
This year’s Garmin Olathe Marathon, organized by the Olathe Convention & Visitors Bureau, will start and finish at Garmin International at 151st and Ridgeview.
The April 22 event will feature the largest full-marathon and half-marathon in the state of Kansas, a 10K, the Munchkin Marathon, and the CenterWell Senior Walk. Register here and join in on the fun. Be sure to register by this Thursday, March 30, to lock in the lowest price.
Explore KC with KC Kid Friendly Trip
The KC Kid Friendly Trip is a free way to explore Kansas City! Download the OtoCast app on your phone and start exploring. Get out and enjoy some stops throughout KC that are for the young (and young at heart). Be sure to stop by Calamity Line Park near K-7 and Santa Fe to check out Olathe’s kid friendly spot on the trip. Earn three badges along the way and be entered to win a $250 prize. Check out more information here.
OUT AND ABOUT
Tommy’s Express Car Wash Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Congratulations to the Tommy’s Express Car Wash on their Olathe Chamber Ribbon Cutting. Stop by and see them at 225 S. Parker St.
MEMBER MINUTE
Let’s say hello to Rob Heise of Tommy’s Express Car Wash in this week’s #MemberMinute.
Be sure to check out all of our #MemberMinute videos here.
CHAMBER CONNECTION
Whether it’s through the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Kansas Department of Revenue or the Enterprise Center of Johnson County, there are a few great grant opportunities available right now for Olathe Chamber of Commerce members. Read more here.
There are fantastic teachers and staff at the Olathe Public Schools. They want to share that with the rest of the school district. Nominate a teacher or staff member for an award from the Olathe Public Schools Foundation (OPSF). Each month the OPSF recognizes two educators with the Educator Excellence Award and two classified staff members with the Classified Employee Excellence Recognition Award. Both awards include a cash award of $500. Nomination forms are available on the OPSF website. It’s easy and only takes a few letters of support. Questions? foundation@olatheschools.org or 780-8222.
The Super Famous Warehouse Sale at Gerson Company begins next Thursday, March 30 and runs through May 26. The sale features discounts of up to 75 percent off spring and summer items. The sale takes place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Saturday at 1450 S. Lone Elm Road.
Five years ago, Meghan Jolliffe survived an Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE), which occurs in 1 in 40,000 births but is the leading cause of maternal mortality around the world, second in the United States. She has spent the last five years working to raise awareness around AFE. Megan and the team at Overland Park Regional Medical Center met with Governor Laura Kelly who proclaimed March 27, 2023, to be Amniotic Fluid Embolism Awareness Day in Kansas.
Celebrate the grand opening of the Olathe Downtown Library from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 29. Festivities include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music, face painting, and more. The multi-story building, located at 260 E Santa Fe, will total 46,600 sq. ft. and will feature a large flexbox space, a café, numerous meeting and study rooms, a rooftop terrace, and a special Olathe history collection.
Save the date for the Johnson County Community College Continuing Education Business Breakfast Series event from 7 – 9 a.m. on April 19. More information about the event, “Reboot Retention: Hiring & Inspiring the next Generation-FTW” can be found here.
Join the Salvation Army in Olathe, 420 E. Santa Fe, for their third annual Hope Celebration at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 20. The benefit luncheon and live auction as they honor their volunteers who bring hope through their work with the Salvation Army.
Residents can drop off their unwanted household hazardous waste at the City of Olathe’s drop-off event from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the HHW facility, 1420 S. Robinson Dr., behind the City of Olathe Public Works and Customer Service. This is also a secure shredding event, so bring any paper items you’d like to have destroyed. Residents will be asked to provide a photo ID and a general description of their HHW items. For the safety of staff, customers will be asked to remain in their vehicle at all times during the drop-off. Staff will remove all materials. Visit here for a full list of acceptable items.
DID YOU KNOW
The Olathe Chamber of Commerce can provide a certificate of origin for members free of charge at any time. Just drop by the office at 18103 W. 106th St., Suite 100 and we will gladly provide it for you.
A LOOK AHEAD
NOTE: You can reach the Olathe community and beyond through the Chamber’s online calendar of events. Members can complete the online form and then submit their events online for approval by staff. If you have multiple day events, a form must be submitted for each day. Listings must meet the established criteria.
Also, if the Olathe School District is closed due to inclement weather, the event will be cancelled.
March 30 – Olathe Chamber Social at Crazy Good Barbeque, 16695A W. 151st St., 3:30 p.m.
RECENT CHAMBER MEMBERS
COUPONS AND DISCOUNTS
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©2023 Olathe Chamber of Commerce