Project 17 is an economic development initiative involving 17 counties in southeast Kansas. It aims to improve economic opportunities and quality of life in the region. Key areas of focus include supporting local businesses, improving broadband access, strengthening education/workforce development, reducing generational poverty, and building regional leadership. Volunteers from across the 17 counties work on initiatives like entrepreneurship training, rural opportunity zones, soft skills development, and more to collectively impact the region's prosperity.

1. Together We Succeed
Together We Succeed
Project 17
Heather Morgan
Executive Director
hmorgan@twsproject17.org
785-323-7001

2. Together We Succeed
An initiative to improve the
economic opportunities and quality
of life and of those who live, work,
and play in the 17 counties in the
Project 17 region.
Project 17
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Guiding Principles:
• Project 17 is first and foremost an economic development initiative and all
activities are aligned with improving the regions economic prosperity and
supporting local businesses growth.
• The structure of the work is based upon volunteers from the region coming
together to drive initiatives to improve their communities.
• Project 17 employs a network-based approach and encourages communities
to work together as a region to have a greater collective impact and make
changes to the region.

3. Together We Succeed
• Economic Development
• Helping local businesses grow
• Supporting E-Commerce
• High Speed Broadband Access
• Education / Workforce
• Workforce Reengagement
• Soft Skills Improvement
• Health
• Generational Poverty
• Leadership
• Over 1,700 citizens from the Project 17 region are
engaged to address one or more of these areas.
Literally hundreds of community, group, team, and
individual meetings in the last two years all
working to make progress on these issues.
Project 17 Areas of Focus
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From the Summit and subsequent work the following are Project 17’s areas of focus:

4. Together We Succeed
The Data- Unemployment Rates June 2016
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Project 17 Regional Health Data
CountyHealth
Ranking(Outof
105Counties)2013
%ofHouse-holds
withoutaVehicle
2012
%ofPeopleabove
25yearswithHS
DegreeorEquivalent
%ofPeopleabove
25yearswith
BachelorsDegreeor
Higher
MedianHouse-hold
Income2012
%PersonsBelow
PovertyLevel2008-
2012
%ofFamiliesbelow
PovertyLevel2012
%ofPoponTANF
orGeneralCash
Assistance2012
UnemploymentRate
asofDec.2014
NumberofChildren
inPoverty2013
ChildRemovalRate
per1000popfrom
theirhomeFY2013
ChildreninNeedof
CareIntakeCalls
FY2013
Allen 86 4.4 88 17 39,714 17.2 12.3 3.9 3.8 845 5.4 359
Anderson 67 10.9 88 18 43,060 15.3 13.4 4.6 4.2 426 8.5 146
Bourbon 89 5.5 88 23 38,250 17.7 11.5 2.5 3.8 1,113 12.4 539
Chautauqua 100 3.5 86 18 37,039 15.3 11.8 2.6 4.6 210 5.4 92
Cherokee 98 5.2 86 14 41,877 17.8 12.3 3.9 4.0 1,365 12.3 654
Coffey 24 6.3 92 20 50,106 9.9 6.1 2.5 4.5 289 3.1 301
Crawford 81 5.7 89 26 36,927 20.4 12.3 2.4 4.3 2,275 14.3 1,022
Elk 101 2.4 88 18 33,239 18.2 13.1 1.9 3.8 146 22.2 57
Franklin 57 4 91 20 50,240 12.2 7.8 2.9 4.6 1,354 5.8 610
Greenwood 91 5.2 91 16 39,145 17.5 11.6 2.4 4.4 344 17.7 174
Labette 93 5.9 89 19 40,117 16.6 9.8 1.7 5.4 1,520 8.4 593
Linn 84 4.4 89 16 44,771 10.1 7.6 3.3 6.6 498 1.9 187
Miami 30 2.7 93 24 61,272 9 6.2 2.8 4.5 1,046 4.2 639
Montgomery 96 9.9 87 18 41,073 17.4 12.3 2.7 4.9 2,082 5.2 1,004
Neosho 94 6.5 89 17 40,829 17.6 14.8 2.3 5.3 1,037 7 417
Wilson 85 6.3 81 12 40,414 15.2 8.9 1.7 5.1 529 9.4 280
Woodson 102 6.9 90 17 30,852 23.2 18.6 1.8 4.4 186 23 102
Region Avg.
or Tot.
81 5.6 89 18 41,701 15.9 11.2 2.7 4.4 15,265 8.3 7,176
Ks N/A 5.3 90 30 51,273 13.2 8.9 2.3 4.2 133,480 5.5 65,421
Nation N/A 8.8 86 29 51,017 14.9 11.8 2.9 5.6 3.4
Data Sources
2012 ACS 5-Year Estimates, Census Bureau; Current Population Survey, BLS; CINC Intake Reports, Kansas DCF
SFY2014 Children Served in Out of Home Placement (OOHP) by County, Report Period 07/01/2013 to 01/31/2014, Kansas DCF

6. Together We Succeed
P17 Organizational Structure
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7. Together We Succeed
Youth Leadership
(Develop opportunities for
youth to develop leadership
skills and see the value of
living in the region)
Health
Economic
Development LeadershipEducation/Workforce
Generational Poverty
(Strengthen Families!
Circles- 10 percent of child
out of poverty in 10 years.
Workforce program)
Promote Local
Business
(Promote the Rural
Opportunity Zone Program
and assets of the region)
Regional Cooperative
Marketing
(Pool resources promote the
region)
Promotion Region’s
Quality of Life
(Involve youth in seeing the
value of the region and
staying in the region)
Improved “Soft
Skills” ofWorkforce
(Circles Innovation)
Increase & Support
Entrepreneurship
(Ice House Entrepreneurship
education and create
entrepreneurship networks)
Link Education to
Business Needs
(Convening education and
business to match needs)
SubstanceAbuse
Prevention &
Intervention
(Education and access to
affordable treatment)
Improve Broadband
(Improve access, speed, and
affordability to allow for
business expansion and
location of high tech
businesses)
Connecting Local
Leadership Programs
(Network leaders across the
region for a stronger SE KS)
CivicTeam Leadership
Training (Kansas
Leadership Center)
(Increase leadership
capacity across region)
Increase Innovation
(Promote and support
innovation in the region
including fab labs and
makers mindset)
Preventative Health
(Increase physical activity
and healthy food to create
healthier communities and
workforce)
Promote STEM
Careers/Education
(Promote SB 155 credentials
and STEM careers in region)
All work is intertwined as basically illustrated below.
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Leadershipconnectswitheveryinitiative

8. Together We Succeed
• Working directly with small businesses and the Kansas Department of
Agriculture from the Land of Kansas program to help these businesses grow.
Supporting Local Business
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-BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY! DON’T MISS OUT!-
For those who grow, produce, process, or manufacture food or agribusiness
products or who create unique, locally-produced artisan products in Allen,
Anderson, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Elk, Franklin,
Greenwood, Labette, Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson
counties.
This event offers an introduction and ongoing connection to FREE, one-on-one,
intensive advice related to food safety and other business regulations, logo creation,
e-commerce and more traditional marketing strategies for your products to increase
sales and grow your business.
9:00 a.m. to Noon:
Businesses will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of experts and then request
consideration for FREE ongoing marketing assistance of their locally produced
products. Experts on food safety and applicable regulations will also be in
attendance to help with understanding how regulations impact selling certain
products. “From the Land of Kansas” program representatives will also be in
attendance to talk about the benefits of marketing Kansas products through their
program. Concluding the session, businesses may request consideration for FREE
ongoing marketing assistance of their locally produced products.
Assistance provided to:
-Help you grow your business! Assistance will be tailored to me your specific needs
-Design, strategize, and implement marketing plans and tactics to increase sales
-Strengthen your brand
-Create effective website and e-commerce plans
-Grow your customer base

9. Together We Succeed
• Ensure companies know of the benefits and counties participate in the
Governor’s Rural Opportunity Zone Program.
Promoting Rural Opportunity Zones
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• The internet speeds in the region are
some of the worst in the state. Many
people are still receiving dial-up
speeds.
• Businesses are stating they would
grow jobs but internet speed is
hindering their business growth and
factoring into their ability to relocate
additional jobs from other states.
• Speed is the main concern.
Secondarily, if the business is in a
place where a provider is willing to do
something to help with the speed the
cost for service is unaffordable for
small businesses.
• If not addressed internet speeds will
be a major hindrance to job growth in
the region now and for years to
come.
• Working with the State Broadband
Coordinator at the Kansas
Department of Commerce and the
USDA Rural Development broadband
specialist to ensure coordination of
efforts.
Improve Broadband Speeds
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11. Together We Succeed
• Kauffman Foundation Ice House Curriculum
• Is a Entrepreneurship curriculum that teaches how to have an
entrepreneurial mindset.
• Teaches to add value to anything you do whether you start a business or
work for someone else.
• Teacher you are in control of your own destiny. Don’t like your
circumstances do something about it.
• Entrepreneurship network building is occurring through brown
bag lunches of experienced businesspeople and start up
businesses. (Similar to Kauffman Million Cups Program)
• Currently happening in Independence. Burlington and Pittsburg have
indicated they will be starting similar programs.
• Encourage a new mindset, support of start-up businesses,
support existing businesses.
Entrepreneurship Support/Training
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12. Together We Succeed
Promotion of the Region’s Quality of Life
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Project 17 Quality of Life Video Contest
August 4, 2014 - Project 17 is pleased to announce a video contest to promote all the reasons why it is
great to live in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Elk, Franklin,
Greenwood, Labette, Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties. Video entries
should focus on all of the positive aspects that contribute to a great quality of life in these 17 counties.
The goal of the Project 17 Quality of Life Video Contest is to strengthen a sense of belonging and highlight
all of the unique attributes that make this region great. We will be looking for videos that show a personal
attachment to the area that communicates to others why this region is such an amazing place. This is an
opportunity to share what you like about living in the Project 17 counties and to help spread the word to
others that, “This is where you belong!” or, “You ought to come back to the area because great things are
happening!”
The contest is open to individuals, businesses, clubs, and organizations located in the Project 17 counties.
Students and youth organizations are encouraged to enter. Winning entries will be recognized in three
categories: Student K-12, Student Post-secondary, Professional/Amateur (non-student). To enter,
complete the Contest Submission Form (http://twsproject17.org/qualityoflife/) and post a video, no longer
than five minutes in length, to a video hosting site by December 15th, 2014. Videos can be posted to any
site that can be viewed by the judges, but you must email us with details of how to access the video.
Winners will be chosen in all three categories. Two Grand Prize Winners will also be selected and will
receive a 3-D printer to be given to an accredited K-12 educational institution of their choosing within the
Project 17 region. The 3-D printer prizes are sponsored by PITSCO Education and Printrbot. All winners
will receive recognition and publicity for their entry, including a press release, a recognition ceremony
hosted at Greenbush, and an article in SEK Living magazine.
For more contest information please visit http://twsproject17.org/qualityoflife/. For questions about the
contest, please email hmorgan@twsproject17.org.
Please share this information with your contacts! We look forward to your participation and seeing your
creative videos about what makes life great in these 17 counties.

13. Together We Succeed
• Eureka High School
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdANByOjpy8
• Lucky Horseshoe 4-H Club- Wilson County- Neodesha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvn3gFolr_o&feature=youtu.be
SEK WhereYOU BelongVideo Winners!
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• Independence CommunityCollege collaborated with Project 17
on the development of this concept and received private funding
and a grant from a the Kaufman Foundation to purchase the
needed equipment to open the first Community Fabrication Lab.
• Independence CC and Project 17 hosted two innovation summits
to promote entrepreneurial thinking and the new fabrication lab
to the community.
• A business has been started and jobs already created through
this innovation.
• Work to ensure others interested in fab labs and the
makers movement within the region (Independence
Community College, Pittsburg State University and Neosho
County Community College) work together to create a region
known for creativity and innovative thinking.
Support Innovation, Fab Labs, and Makers
Mindset
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15. Together We Succeed
• Improve Soft Skills in the Region’s Workforce
• Number one complaint from businesses is lack of soft skills
from employees.
• “Get a Job, Keep a Job” team working with community
businesses to develop solutions to meet their needs.
• Collaborating with Southeast KansasWorks, Department of
Commerce, Neosho County Community College, Department
forChildren and Families Work Programs, K-12 Leadership,
CommunityAction Programs, City Leadership, and Circles.
• Independence, Fort Scott, and Ottawa first targets for teams
work.
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16. Together We Succeed
• Connecting the Region’s Business needs and Work
force:
• Talking regularly with the region’s business
community and the educational sector is critical to
make sure both parties understand each others needs
and priorities.
• Additionally, a labor shed analysis has been
completed to help inform businesses about the skills
of the workforce in the region and help educational
institutions ensure they are creating programs for in-
demand occupations.
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Inspiring and Equipping Communities to
Resolve Poverty
• Building significant
community across
income lines
• Focusing on long-term
goals to achieve
economic stability
• Transforming individuals
and communities
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