By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

There are a lot of assets available when it comes to marketing Junction City.

Chamber of Commerce President Mickey Fornaro-Dean and the Economic Development Commission Advisory Committee discussed that topic on Thursday. Fornaro-Dean said, “There is an absolute embarrassment of assets and opportunities. We just need to get it out there.”

City Manager Allen Dinkel said to grow the community there should always be a look at when new Soldiers come in. “What advantages do we have to bring them to live here vs. neighboring communities.” DInkel added that’s not just including Manhattan, but other communities and how they can be attracted to be in Junction City.

Dinkel said the EDC discussed housing costs in Junction City vs. Manhattan. “That a house here brand new is valued at a little less money, so how can we leverage to get people here.”

Board member Steve Struebing noted there are many assets that haven’t been exploited to the extent that they should have been. “We’ve got this constant stream of retiring or transitioning Soldiers, great labor pool, right on I-70, housing is very affordable here particularly compared to our neighbor to the northeast, we’ve got a good quality of life, Milford Lake, just a number of assets. And I don’t think over the years we’ve fully marketed that.”

One future asset that was considered huge in future marketing of Junction City was the new high school that is being built. It is considered a great marketing tool. The goal is to have the new high school open and in use by August of 2021.