‘Simply Kansas’ is not so simple
The Hays Daily News
Saturday, August 16, 2008
WHAT’S NOT to like about promoting Kansas?
Usually, not a thing. In fact, we are trying hard to applaud the recent efforts of the Kansas Department of Commerce. This week, KDOC’s Agriculture Marketing Division announced it was revamping the 30-year-old “From the Land of Kansas” campaign that labels and markets products made in the Sunflower State.
The KDOC launched a new Web site and plans a quarterly newsletter that will highlight agricultural products and the companies or people that produce them. If 75 percent of the ingredients are Kansas-based, a product is eligible for the program.
The no-frills campaign is titled “Simply Kansas.” A new logo reflects the modernized approach the state is taking. ...
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius reinforced the utility of the “Simply Kansas” approach, citing a demand for Kansas products.
“Unfortunately, many of these entrepreneurs don’t have the resources to promote their products on a large scale,” she said.
So we ask once again, what’s wrong with promoting Kansas?
Visit www.simplykansas.com and one encounters an easy-to-navigate site that is easy on the eye. The company that hosts the site, Wild West Domains out of Scottsdale, Ariz., has ensured quick processing time so visitors won’t encounter delays. ...
But what is “Simply Kansas” about Arizona, Iowa and Mississippi? Why would our own state Commerce Department employ the services of out-of-state companies for this effort?
Much like its decision a couple years ago to have an Iowa publisher handle the printing of Kansas! magazine, the KDOC has bungled yet another high-profile contract. It’s not even the principle of the matter that upsets us most; KDOC is sending our tax dollars to boost other states’ economies.
Is there not one Kansas cook who might have a recipe for okra? Surely there’s a photographer or two who might work for an in-state outfit? Maybe an Internet company capable of hosting a simple Web site?
That the state of Kansas finds these business practices acceptable is galling. “Simply Kansas” is simply ridiculous.
The Hays Daily News
Aug. 12
USNretired (anonymous) says...
Business as usual. Time overdue for new leadership at the Governor's office. Chases some businesses off and gives our tax dollars away. Yes sir thats us! We need some fresh ideas and new blood. How about some tourist attractions like Disney or Six Flags near Emporia?
August 16, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I seem to remember several years ago something about a theme park of some sort to go in west of Olpe, but everybody came unglued about it and refused to sell their land. Someone will probably refresh my mind about this, but I know I wasn't dreaming.
August 16, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
Create, it is just this simple. Many of our families have owned the land for generations, and we want to keep it that way. Others who would have been neighbors to the park like living in the country, and didn't want to live next to a theme park. The beauty of owning the land in the first place is your right not to sell it.
I think the deal was a little to grand to have ever been for real anyway.
August 16, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Wichita did build a western theme park, almost patterned exactly after that proposed for the Olpe location. Result: Bankruptcy. Good thing that the neighbors protested.
August 17, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
USN, you are absolutely correct about needing new leadership in the Governor's Office. Our current governor ran off a $3,500,000,000.00 project that would have provided long term and cheap electrical energy for Kansas, designed in a way that would have Colorado paying most of the cost. She is wearing a bit thin.
August 17, 2008 at 1:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thank you, alfalfa and jayhawker. I appreciate where you are coming from and would not want a theme park in my neighborhood either. I come to you from a different, yet almost similar, mindset. I'm from Hawaii where locals have little or no regard for tourists even though tourism is their number two economic booster.
August 17, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )