Economic Exploration Group

"Better Together"

This newly formed group is a public action group formed by the rural area and small, town-population-centers to explore their unique resources and to develop them from within. Other project focus-meetings are held regularly. The project focus-meetings inspire some action on a small scale within the population-centers and rural area. General meetings of the entire, larger, community ABCDE group are held monthly, common goals are being set and a plan of action developed for the larger, entire Community Group. The officers are as follows:

Phillip Headrick - Chairman
J.O. Brown - Vice Chairman
Shannon Thom - ABCDE Administrator Governor's Pilot Project
Carol Black - Secretary
Melissa Fraley - Treasurer
Board Members: Angie Krepps, Donna Martin, Gary Headrick, and Ryan Rising and J.O. Brown.
Ex-officio Board Members: Leroy Alsip and Lonnie Stieben

Both individuals and groups are welcome to be a part of the ABCDE group. Broad area representation is encouraged.

	Atlanta has formed an economic development group.
	Burden's group is working hard on its projects. The Burden Group includes Individuals and the Burden Chamber of Commerce (President is Kendle Doll).
	Cambridge individuals are active
	Dexter has formed a Dexter Economic Development Association (DEDA) Individual Dexter Citizens are also working with the ABCDE Group.
	E - The Group working with ABCDE for the Rural Eastern Agri-Area is S.O.I.L. (Save Our Industries and Land) (Chairman is Travis Brown) Other individuals are also involved as rural members of the ABCDE group.

This ABCDE Group is quite fortunate to be receiving strong encouragement and help from all parts of the Cowley Area in an empowering, supportive, and team fashion. Help by groups such as the Sunflower RC&D, the Cowley County Commission, Cowley First and SKT is being welcomed by Eastern Cowley County. The helpful entities have repeatedly demonstrated sincere interest and support in the eastern area's revitalization.

The group's membership is open and anyone interested in making an impact on the future is encouraged to join. Periodically, the focus-groups break into village centered groups to assess and work on agendas unique to their specific areas and needs.

The ABCDE group applied to the State to be considered as one of Kansas Pilot Projects for rural revitalization. The application process was a tiered selection. The Eastern Cowley Application was selected to be one of the 9 finalists, then one of three. Finally they were selected as one of the three accepted projects. Lois Loucks of is leading the Onaga project. Bobbi Miles is leading Smith Center. Shannon Thom is the local person leading the project of the ABCDE Group of Eastern Cowley County.