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El Dorado Today Dust is flying on the streets of El Dorado! Officials are seeing a definite up tick in new con- struction within the city limits– from industrial to commercial to the fun and trendy enter- prise. They all signal signs of a growing community. Renovation is nearly com- plete on the BG Products building in the El Dorado Industrial Park. The structure will be used as a shipping facil- ity for products produced in Wichita. Installation of their warehouse racking system is underway, and interior office space is now being finished. They expect to occupy the building in October. Holiday Inn Express and Suites on West Central and Boyer Road, is on track to open Wednesday, September 26th. Currently curb and guttering are under construc- tion for the parking lot, and inte- rior finishes are near completion. Site preparation has begun for the TNT Custom Metal Fabri- cators, Inc. new manufacturing facility. TNT’s core business is structural steel, stairs and handrails. Next time you visit the Kansas State University foot- ball stadium or the Wichita State University baseball stadium, you will use handrails constructed by TNT. The City of El Dorado is assisting with this project through the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds. We invite you to look through this issue of El Dorado Today for more information about new projects in El Dorado. El Dorado tax base growth on the upswing Frontier El Dorado Refining Company is making a signifi- cant investment in El Dorado. The $162 million crude expan- sion project, now underway, will modernize a good portion of the refinery. The project will improve the overall economics of the plant by allowing it to process the heavy Canadian crude oil, as well as increasing the output of the refinery. Currently nearly 400 contract and sub-contract workers have arrived in El Dorado. A turn- around (general cleaning and maintenance of units) is sched- uled for mid-January, during which an additional three to four hundred workers will arrive. The construction project is scheduled to be at full throttle in late 2008 when as many as 1000 workers are expected. The additional workers are expected to impact the El Dorado economy positively through the purchase of lodging, food and personal items. The El Dorado Convention and Visitors Bureau staff is now working on ways to facilitate the visitors’ needs, including serving as the conduit between the workers and local business to communicate these needs. Frontier Refining construction project solidifies company’s future in El Dorado News from El Dorado, Kansas September 2007 Volume 1, Issue 2 USD 490 improving scores 2 El Dorado YMCA 2 District 142 2 Walters Pumpkin Patch hosts WSU Shockers 3 Allen Memorial Hospital expansion 3 El Dorado presents at annual LKM conference 3 Flint Hills exhibit at History Center 4 Inside this issue: Special points of interest: Walgreen’s Drug store is under con- struction and slated to open by early 2008. The City of El Dorado has issued RFP’s, and a consultant has been chosen to update the city’s Land Use Com- prehensive Plan. More information to come! BG Products readies a new shipping facility in the Industrial Park Bridge on El Dorado’s newly opened bike path

El Dorado Today Vol 1, Issue 2: September 2007

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Feature Articles: Frontier Refining construction project solidifies company's future in El Dorado, National Geographic photos help launch Butler History Center's permanent Flint Hills exhibit. El Dorado Inc. is a public/private partnership with the City of El Dorado whose mission is to further the economic development of the El Dorado area and its environs. The primary objectives of El Dorado Inc. shall be to benefit the community as measured by increased employment, payroll, business volume, housing starts and similar factors

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Page 1: El Dorado Today Vol 1, Issue 2: September 2007

El Dorado Today

Dust is flying on the streets of El Dorado! Officials are seeing a definite up tick in new con-struction within the city limits– from industrial to commercial to the fun and trendy enter-prise. They all signal signs of a growing community.

Renovation is nearly com-plete on the BG Products building in the El Dorado Industrial Park. The structure will be used as a shipping facil-ity for products produced in Wichita. Installation of their warehouse racking system is underway, and interior office space is now being finished. They expect to occupy the building in October.

Holiday Inn Express and Suites on West Central and Boyer Road, is on track to open Wednesday, September 26th. Currently curb and guttering are under construc-tion for the parking lot, and inte-rior finishes are near completion.

Site preparation has begun for the TNT Custom Metal Fabri-cators, Inc. new manufacturing facility. TNT’s core business is structural steel, stairs and handrails. Next time you visit the Kansas State University foot-ball stadium or the Wichita State University baseball stadium, you will use handrails constructed by TNT. The City of El Dorado is assisting with this project through the issuance of Industrial

Revenue Bonds.

We invite you to look through this issue of El Dorado Today for more information about new projects in El Dorado.

El Dorado tax base growth on the upswing

Frontier El Dorado Refining Company is making a signifi-cant investment in El Dorado. The $162 million crude expan-sion project, now underway, will modernize a good portion of the refinery. The project will improve the overall economics of the plant by allowing it to process the heavy Canadian crude oil, as well as increasing the output of the refinery.

Currently nearly 400 contract and sub-contract workers have arrived in El Dorado. A turn-around (general cleaning and maintenance of units) is sched-uled for mid-January, during which an additional three to four hundred workers will arrive.

The construction project is scheduled to be at full throttle in late 2008 when as many as 1000 workers are expected.

The additional workers are expected to impact the El Dorado economy positively through the purchase of lodging, food and personal items. The El Dorado Convention and Visitors Bureau staff is now working on ways to facilitate the visitors’ needs, including serving as the conduit between the workers and local business to communicate these needs.

Frontier Refining construction project solidifies company’s future in El Dorado

News from El Dorado, Kansas September 2007

Volume 1, Issue 2

USD 490 improving scores

2

El Dorado YMCA 2

District 142 2

Walters Pumpkin Patch hosts WSU Shockers

3

Allen Memorial Hospital expansion

3

El Dorado presents at annual LKM conference

3

Flint Hills exhibit at History Center

4

Inside this issue:

Special points of interest:

Walgreen’s Drug store is under con-struction and slated to open by early 2008.

The City of El Dorado has issued RFP’s, and a consultant has been chosen to update the city’s Land Use Com-prehensive Plan. More information to come!

BG Products readies a new shipping facility in the Industrial Park

Bridge on El Dorado’s newly opened bike path

Page 2: El Dorado Today Vol 1, Issue 2: September 2007

State assessment scores for USD 490 showed marked improve-ment in 2007, making teachers and administrators in El Dorado very happy.

The district and all schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in reading, showing an overall gain of ten percent in the number of proficient students. All but one school made AYP in math performance, again showing ten percent gain overall. The district will likely receive some building standards of excellence, and possibly a Challenge Award for

overcoming insurmountable odds in one or two situations.

Last spring the school district made a concentrated effort to assist students in improving individual scores. In addition, the community responded by mounting a support campaign. Initiated by the Chamber of Commerce, individuals made personal visits to the schools to distribute notes of encourage-ment and hang locker signs, others wrote personal notes to individual students, and an email campaign let students know that

the community supported their efforts.

The support effort continues this year. The USD 490 district has instituted all day kindergarten, is providing additional help for struggling students through the middle school Connections classes, after-school tutoring, I Can Read tutors for 2nd graders, individual educational plans for each student, and additional staff development in reading and math. The Chamber and El Dorado Inc. will again conduct a support campaign leading up to this year’s testing.

operated by Brooke Greene. Brooke’s brand of funk fashion flair has been very successful locally and in attracting a market from the Wichita area.

Toward the back of the building behind the arched oak door is Beyond Napa Wine and Spirits store. Entrepreneur Tolli Rasmussen offers a lovely selection of domestic and imported wines, and is knowl-

District 142 at 142 North Main is a unique collection of retail stores, sure to put El Dorado on your shopping destination map. Developer Tad Fugate and partners have renovated the historic building into six retail and ten office spaces, and are in the process of filling them with innovative, original tenants.

Currently residing in District 142 is the Pink Saloon, owned and

edgeable in recommending the right compliment to a particular menu.

Downstairs space is currently under renovation for Scooters Coffee House, Salon Knotty and Satchel Creek Meats. All hope to be open for the Christmas season. Upstairs office spaces, which feature a shared waiting room, two of which have an outdoor veranda, are available.

School district, community collaborate to improve test scores

District 142 brings life to historic building

the value of its services to their employees.

A branch of the Wichita YMCA, the El Dorado Y offers a full line of programming, similar to that offered at the other branches. For the ten percent of the membership who are 65 years of age and above, the Silver Sneakers and water aero-bics classes, as well as the walking track, are very popular. The youth

gymnastics program has taken off and has had notable success at area contests. The City of El Dorado and the YMCA collaborate to provide a full schedule of youth soccer, basketball and baseball for hundreds of kids. For six weeks each year, all second graders in the El Dorado school system are transported to the Y for swimming lessons in the SPLASH! program.

El Dorado YMCA a community hub In July the El Dorado YMCA celebrated its fourth year of opera-tion. In a community of 12,000 the El Dorado facility has a member-ship of 7,650 people and growing, a sign that the community has embraced the institution in a big way. Over half of the member-ships are corporate memberships, another indication that local business supports the Y and sees

Page 2 E l Dorado Today Volume 1, Issue 2

Pink Saloon anchors innovative

District 142 in downtown El Dorado

Swimming lessons are popular at the El Dorado YMCA.

Efforts pay off to improve state assessment scores

Page 3: El Dorado Today Vol 1, Issue 2: September 2007

Wu Shock graces corn maze at Walters Pumpkin Patch

El Dorado chosen to present at LKM annual conference

$5million expansion in store for Allen Memorial Hospital

Find your way through the Wu Shock Corn Maze at Walters’

Successful spec building program part of economic development efforts in El Dorado

September marks the end of summer, a return to school, and the opening of Walters’ Pumpkin Patch, ten miles north of El Dorado on Highway 77.

The pumpkin patch features an amazing array of fun activities, including pick-your-own pumpkin patch, corn maze, camp/picnic areas, Mountain Boo underground slide, swing-ing bridge, hay rides, pedal cars, Haunted Cannery (Halloween season only), and complete line of pumpkin products. Visitors can choose from pumpkin pits, pumpkin juice, pumpkin salsa, Iced and

Spiced Pumpkin Bread, and even pumpkin chili. Gift items, hand made from Pumpkin Patch produce, include gourd jack –o-lanterns, snowmen, goblin eggs, penguins, and Christmas items.

This year’s design for the Corn Maze is in the image of the Wichita State University Wu Shock. On October 6th from 1 to 4 p.m. the Patch will host a party for the opening of the maze. Special guests include Wu Shock himself, Gregg Mar-shall, WSU Men’s Basketball Coach, and Jane Albright, WSU Women’s Basketball Coach.

The Haunted Cannery opens October 5th and will run each weekend in October. The adventure starts with a hay ride to the old cannery where you hear the cannery machinery running. What could they be canning at this late hour? There are enough haunting sights and sounds for even the seasoned ghost buster.

Punkin Chunkin is back! An eight inch pumpkin is launched for a half mile from a cannon on the hour.

For more information visit www.walterspumpkinpatch.com.

Other areas receiving a facelift are intensive care, medical and surgical patient rooms, support areas, physical therapy and information technology services.

Health Facilities Group of Wichita will be in charge of the project design.

This project comes 2 years after the completion of the hospital’s 7 year, $28 million construction project which

began with a new medical office building, and continued with a dialysis center, emergency room renovation, cancer treat-ment center, new surgical suite, and family birthing center.

The new facilities provide service to the people of Butler County and surrounding areas, making the hospital a first class re-gional medical center, with 25 practicing physicians in a variety of specialties.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado will embark on a $5 million renovation beginning later this year. Through the reno-vation the hospital hopes to heighten its ongoing focus on personal patient care.

Inpatient rooms on the second the third floor of the hospital will be the focus of the remodel. The project will render the new rooms larger, more private and more technologically advanced.

During this workshop, three very different cities with different philosophies and approaches to economic development will present their unique solutions in the panel discussion.

For over 20 years, El Dorado Inc. has served the community’s economic development needs

The City of El Dorado was invited to participate in the workshop session of the League of Kansas Municipalities Annual Conference on October 6 through 9 in Overland Park. Linda Jolly, Executive Director of El Dorado Inc., will make a presentation on Best Practices in Economic Development.

through a unique public-private partnership with the City of El Dorado. The partnership has provided a basis for funding and volunteerism.

Funding has been used to establish a spec building program in the El Dorado Industrial Park, to attract new industry to town, and aid existing businesses to expand.

Page 3 E l Dorado Today Volume 1, Issue 2

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado

Page 4: El Dorado Today Vol 1, Issue 2: September 2007

“Gay colors and the magic softness of their outline send forth a constant message of repose and quiet and abiding peace.”

Rolla Clymer On the Kansas Flint Hills

Noted El Dorado newspaper editor

El Dorado Inc. is a public/private partnership with the City of El Dorado whose mission is to further the economic development of the El Dorado area and its environs. The primary objectives of El Dorado Inc. shall be to benefit the community as measured by increased employment, payroll, business volume, housing starts and similar factors.

For El Dorado Inc. membership information, contact Linda Jolly at 321-3150 or [email protected]

El Dorado Inc. 201 E. Central P.O. Box 509 El Dorado, KS 67042

We’re on the web! Visit us at www.eldoradochamber.com

Phone: 316-321-3150 Fax: 316-321-5419 E-mail: [email protected]

El Dorado, Kansas—Where we enjoy the fine art of living well!

News from El Dorado, Kansas

in El Dorado from October 1 through October 10 at the Butler County History Center, 383 E. Central in El Dorado. The exhibit will help to launch the opening of the History Center’s new permanent exhibit entitled “Glory of the Hills”.

Because El Dorado is located on the western edge of the Kansas Flint Hills Region, it is fitting that the museum should dedicate a permanent exhibit to the area. The new display will cover various historic aspects of the Flint Hills and how this part of the region was settled, including the role of farming and ranching. A large part of the exhibit will focus on the plant and animal life of the region, and how ecosystems work together to make the Flint Hills the continent's largest

National Geographic's April 2007 issue examines the beau-tiful Flint Hills of Kansas through the lens of respected photojournalist and Kansas native, Jim Richardson. The 22-page feature section, titled "The Flint Hills: A Kansas Treasure" captures a glimpse of the majesty of this unique Kansas prairie-land. To complement the magazine spread and further celebrate the Flint Hills, The National Geographic Society and the Kansas Division of Travel and Tourism are sponsoring a trav-eling exhibit of 32 large-scale versions of the photographs featured in the magazine. (Information taken from http://kansasflinthills.travel/)

A part of this exhibit will appear

remaining tract of tall grass prairie.

The History Center, 383 E. Central in El Dorado, is open Tuesday through Friday from 9a.m. to 5p..m.; Saturday 12-5 p..m. Closed Sunday and Monday.

National Geographic photos help launch Butler History Center’s permanent Flint Hills exhibit

The history and natural science of the beautiful Flint Hills will be the focus of the History Center’s new exhibit.