Laura Obando

This time of year, it seems that everybody is snapping and sharing first-day-of-school and my-summer-vacation photos. Do you have a stellar photo highlighting Emporia area landscapes or people? Submit your work in the 2021 inaugural “Live, Work, & Play” photo contest hosted by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber produces a yearly Relocation…

Read this week’s column in The Emporia Gazette.    It’s the first day of school as I write this, which always brings a wave of nostalgia for the freshness of new beginnings. The start of a new school year seems to serve as a new beginning for everyone, as though we’re all hard-wired for that…

How many times have you heard this one before: the only constant in life is change. Across our community many nimble businesses and organizations are showing their adeptness at change, continuously and gracefully adapting to the ever-evolving landscape of life with covid. The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce is no stranger to change either, as…

There are a number of things coming to a close as we enter these last long days of summer. Unemployment extended benefits and the PPP loan forgiveness deadline come immediately to mind, along with the end of school summer vacation. Federal expanded unemployment benefits for Kansans will expire September 6, including the $300 per week…

There are a number of things coming to a close as we enter these last long days of summer. Unemployment extended benefits and the PPP loan forgiveness deadline come immediately to mind, along with the end of school summer vacation. Federal expanded unemployment benefits for Kansans will expire on September 6. That includes the $300…

Visit Emporia, the convention and visitors’ bureau side of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, is currently accepting applications for Round Two of its 2021 Tourism Grant Program. Established to enhance and strengthen tourism’s positive economic impact on our community, the tourism grants are designed to assist with starting up and/or growing an event or…

The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce has proudly offered Leadership Emporia Academy since 1989, and boasts more than 620 alumni from 33 classes. Although keeping a close eye on local COVID-19 trends, the 2021 LEA class will begin its journey on September 23. In order to grow our communities, we must inspire others to embrace a…

We’ve reached the halfway mark of 2021, a year with many question marks and many changes. Among those changes, you’ll find a few new faces at the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Visit Emporia offices. Please welcome our new Visit Emporia Director LeLan Dains, Membership Director Amy Little, Office Manager Ashley Foraker, and Public…