News Flash

MHK Chamber Receives 2023 Excellence in Eco Devo Awards from the International Eco Devo Council

• The organization received a Gold award (the highest level) for general purpose print promotion in Manhattan’s population category (25,000 to 200,000). The promotion was for the organization’s Made for Manhattan program, which is used t...

Leadership Manhattan Planning New Year

Manhattan is no exception. We began coordinating a program through the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce in 1983. The mission of Leadership Manhattan is to ensure the vitality of our community by providing a continuous source of motivated leaders who are...

Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce announces the winners of the 2023 Business Awards

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize the successes and outstanding achievements of our members in six categories: Cornerstone (the Chamber's lifetime achievement award), Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Wo...

Candidates Respond to Chamber Questions

The Business Advocacy Committee put the finishing touches on a half dozen questions for 10 candidates for the USD 383 School Board, and nine candidates for the Manhattan City Commission. These candidate questionnaires are designed to allow Chamber members...

KS StateBank Named Cornerstone Winner

Each year we recognize a Manhattan business for its lifetime of success and contributions. We call this award the Cornerstone Award and it is the one award in which there aren’t finalists and we announce ahead of the event.

I am thrilled...

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Stampede Gets Publicity with RFP

Taxes and Economic Growth

Grant to Assist with Childcare Challenge

Chamber Blue Interest Surveys Due

While there is unfortunately no one-size-fits-all solution, we partnered last year with the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas and Blue Cross Blue Shield on a small business solution in which several of our members participated. We are once again wo...

Business Awards Finalists Announced

The finalists for the Fourth Annual Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Business Awards have been named. The annual event is an opportunity to recognize, honor and celebrate outstanding achievement among the Manhattan Business community.  ...

Chamber Staff Promotions

We have promoted Daryn Soldan to the role of Executive Vice President of the Chamber in addition to his duties as Director of Economic Development. This had been a role held previously by Karen Hibbard, who held the executive vice president role along wit...

Riley County Considers Significant Change in Hours of Operation

Developer Considering Speculative Program

The premise is that most economic development projects today are on significantly tighter timelines than in the past. If a company is bidding on a new contract, working on a new customer, or opening a new region, chances are, the company will require addi...

Chamber Earns 5-Star Designation

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is an organization that loves to congratulate, recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of others. We celebrate business and community successes across the board to make people recognize that Manhattan is a place ...

Dual Career Program Launched

Entrepreneurship Funding Approved

In case you missed it…we want to thank our members and partners who attended last week’s city commission meeting to support our request for the Elevate Fund. We are very happy that we received a 4-0 vote from the commission to approve...

Rozell Named Director of Convention & Visitors Bureau

Marcia Rozell has been named as the new Director of the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as Visit Manhattan. The announcement was made by Jason Smith, President and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber Board of ...

Important Policy Events Set This Week

This week provides more than normal as we have major issues in front of the Manhattan City Commission and a legislative forum planned.

Hopefully you’ve seen the notices but, as a reminder, we will present a final plan for the Elevate Fund to the ...

Greater Manhattan Region Wins $1 Million NSF Engines Development Award

Chamber Starting New Talent Initiative

Two areas where the organization has made significant advancements in the past few years is the rebrand and expansion of our young professionals’ program (Hype) and our new Made for Manhattan platform.

We are now launching a new program and need ...

Leadership Changes at UV&S Announced

HUTCHINSON, KS - The Board of Directors along with the shareholders of Underground Vaults &

Storage, Inc. (UV&S) announced changes to its leadership team following the 64th annual

meeting of the company.

Longtime President, Lee Spence, has been elect...

New Diplomats Program Unveiled

Nominations are Open for Business Awards

This is the fourth year of the event, scheduled Sept. 12 at the Manhattan Conference Center. We have had the opportunity to honor and celebrate several Manhattan businesses for their impact on our community. Nominations for this year’s event hav...

Newsletter Helps Tell Members’ Stories

Beginning this week, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce will be distributing a digital newsletter called “Chamber Connections”. Each month, we will spotlight members from across the organization. The first issue has features on 202...

Chamber to Support MATC Signing Day

However, this year the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is supporting Manhattan Area Technical National College’s Signing Day. That will be the moment where we recognize students that are signing their letter of intent to continue their education at MAT...

Gail Urban receives Lyle Butler Distinguished Leadership Award

Gail Urban has been named as the recipient of the 2023 Lyle Butler Distinguished Leadership Award at the organization’s recent graduation ceremonies. Urban has been a licensed Financial Advisor since 2009 specializing in helping individuals and ...

MHK Group Addressing Childcare Shortage

The cost and availability of childcare has been identified as a barrier for individuals that may consider entering the workforce. The estimated need for childcare slots is 1,377 in Riley County and 511 in Pottawatomie County alone. Think how many individu...

No Easy Solution to Aggieville Challenges

Bishop Named Manhattan Military Relations Manager

Christian Bishop has been at the forefront of engagement between Fort Riley and the Flint Hill community for nearly 15 years as part of the Fort Riley team. Beginning in April, she will be leading that effort on behalf of Manhattan.

The Manhattan Area Cham...

Your Opinion Needed on Downtown Survey

The City has created a Downtown Plan Steering Committee to look at making updates to the previous downtown masterplan, “Downtown Tomorrow Plan”. The new strategy is currently called, aptly enough, the “Beyond Tomorrow Downtow...

Manhattan Shines in Site Selection Ranking

Manhattan Ranks as a Top Metro, Kansas Wins Governor’s Cup from Site Selection

The magazine’s annual rankings of new and expanded facility projects are considered “the industry scoreboard” by corporate real estate analysts.

The Manhattan area garnered national recognition as a top metro with a population...

Commission to Consider Development Studies

You can review the agenda here. Specifically, we are interested in Item 4A which will be proposals to study the current economic development policies, the development process and strategic housing initiatives.

The economic development policy exami...

Setting “Big, Audacious Goals”: New K-State President Tackles Economic Prosperity

From the day he accepted the job, Linton has been a tireless advocate and supporter of the institution’s efforts to meet a challenge from the Kansas Board of Regents to create new jobs and strengthen the state’s economy. This challenge...

Chamber Celebrates New Year at Annual Meeting

Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce names Stephanie Pierce as Young Professional of the Year

Pierce is the third recipient of the Young Professional of the Year award.

Stephanie Pierce has been engaged in the community for the past 18 years after graduating from Kansas State University. She has previously been selected to participate in Flint Hill...

Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce names Mary Vanier as Lud Fiser Citizen of the Year

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award is named in honor of long-tenured former Manhattan Chamber president Lud Fiser, who served from 1948 to 1975 and was responsible for such community developments as CiCo Park and Manhattan In...

To the 'Ville

We are seeing this play out in Aggieville. For several years there has been a plan to update Aggieville, which includes modernizing utilities, streets, and facilities in the state’s oldest building district.

There are many exciting things that ha...

Legislative Forum Set for Feb. 18; Chamber Sponsoring Candidate Workshop

Treat 'Em Right Manhattan

Annual Meeting Changing for the Better

As times change, it is important for organizations to adjust to expectations of its members. That is what we are trying to do with changes to our annual meeting and celebration scheduled Feb. 17 at the Manhattan Conference Center. Our outgoing Chair Summe...

Chamber Leadership Named for 2023

More Presenters Added to Retreat

15 under 40 Winners Announced

Winners of 2023’s 15 under 40 will be recognized at a special reception in their honor on Jan. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Manhattan Conference Center.

“We are incredibly honored to recognize such a distinguished group for our inaugural 15 unde...

Industry Recognizes Excellence in Kansas Tourism Marketing

The TIAK Marketing Awards are chosen annually to recognize excellence in destination marketing initiatives across the state. They are divided into six categories and broken out by the organization’s marketing budget: Large (over $100,000), Mediu...

Nominate Business for 2022 Award

In case you missed it, nominations are open for the 2022 business awards. This year's event is set for Sept. 10 at the Manhattan Conference Center. You can find the information here.

We have added a new award this year for "Business of the Ye...

DoD Approves $60 Million in Grants under Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program

These awards followed a competitive selection process culminating in the Performing Duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment’s selection of these proposals on August 13, 2021. These infrastructure projects benefit loc...

Hype Rolls out New Membership Structure

The organization is beginning its second full year of operations after relaunching in 2021 from our early young professional programming. Starting today, Hype will be offering memberships for anyone interested in being part of the organization. The $50 me...

Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce announces the winners of the 2021 Business Awards

Manko Windows was named the 2021 Cornerstone award winner. Other winners were Weddle & Sons, Wildwood Adventure Park, Loving Arms Daycare, and Borck Brothers. Additionally, Bockers II and Wal-Mart were recognized as new Legacy Circle members which are...

Manhattan Pursuing Private Developers for Speculative Industrial Building

The Manhattan City Commission approved moving forward on a new program to encourage private sector speculative building for new industrial and warehousing space. The program is the ultimate example of public-private partnerships that have made Manhattan a...