By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Debra Teufel President & CEO at Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce noted that 2020 wasn't as bad economically as it could have been in some areas in spite of the pandemic.
"Everyone obviously had to adjust quickly to cancellation of events, the stay at home orders and all the ways that impacted our hospitality industry and our businesses," Teufel said. "Looking at the numbers, though, and reflecting on 2020, it would seem like our economy fared fairly well considering everything that was thrown at it."
Trying to fill existing buildings in the area has been priority one for the Chamber since Teufel's arrival and a lot of that happened in 2020.
"We announced that Superior Boiler was moving an entire line from Richmond, Virginia back to Hutch," Teufel said. "Shortly after that announcement, J and J Drainage announced that they would be building a great new expansion right in the core of the community. A company that's been here for decades, as well. We've been marketing vacant buildings, like the former Eaton facility. It's been one of those products that was waiting for just the right user. To get that announcement in October that KNS was acquiring it and putting it back online was a great announcement. Scott Miller is one of their management team and he's been hiring people to fill that facility. They're up to, I think, 15 employees now. You'll see lots of truck activity."
In addition, American Packaging announced an upcoming expansion in recent weeks that gives the economy some momentum headed into 2021.
"Some of our peer communities in the state have seen some new investment announcements," Teufel said. "I think our turn is coming for those."
Teufel cited the work of the state Department of Commerce in being much more aggressive in the site selection process in recent years. It's also important to note that Commerce Secretary David Toland is now also the state's lieutenant governor.