Wichita, Kan. - At a news conference today, representatives from the public and private sectors announced eight priorities recommended for keeping south-central Kansas competitive for people and jobs. Now, Priority Project is asking people in the region to fill out an online survey in an effort to choose the top three priorities that need to be focused on over the next three years.

     Project Priority was the direct result of a request from Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer and then County Commision Chairman David Unruh of Visioneering to indentify area of momentum and regional needs to focus on to ensure the region remains competitive. Visioneering partnered with Young Professionals of Wichita and the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation to respond to the challenge.

     After interviewing more than 265 people in 140 organizations on what they were doing and what ideas they had about the priorities for the future the Priority Project compiled a list of eight priorities in three categories as potential targets for the highest priority over the coming years.

     The complete list of priorities can be found online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VisioneeringWichita2012

     There you will also have the opportunity to recommend your own priority ideas.

     Mayor Carl Brewer told KNSS news that it's "important for everyone who can to participate" and County Commission Chairman Tim Norton says this process will help the "solidify" their priorities in line with what the public wants so they "can start making plans to do something about it."

     The Wichita Eagle reports that Project Priority was launched with funds from a broader $125,000 economic development grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and about $82,000 in private donations and in-kind services. The total cost of the project will not be known untill the survey has been completed.