LCDC makes pitch for public funds after cuts

With the start of 2010 a little more than a month away, Leavenworth County Development Corporation officials are trying to gain a better understanding of what cities in the county expect from the entity that is “dedicated to the industry of innovation.”

Steve Jack, executive director of the LCDC, gave a presentation Tuesday to Leavenworth city commissioners that detailed its mission and objectives.

According to a memo from City Manager Scott Miller to commissioners, Jack requested the meeting after Miller met with LCDC members to discuss the city’s decision to pull its $47,000 in LCDC funding for next year.

“We just wanted to talk about what we do,” Jack said.

Jack said he has already made similar presentations to the cities of Basehor and Tonganoxie, with mixed results. He said Basehor is focused on attracting more housing developments while Tonganoxie wants to bring in more industry.

Although LCDC does not focus on attracting retail or commercial businesses, Jack said it could be included in the list of “primary industries” that LCDC spends most of its time trying to attract.

“There are a variety of ways we can organize it,” Jack said.


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