Jim Allen
2007 Chairman of the Board of Directors

I would like to bring the Shawnee Chamber members up to date on the Branding Task Force. This committee is being chaired by Tim Harmon of Harmon Construction. On Tim’s committee there is a broad background of individuals. They come from the local school districts, business owners, and other very involved backgrounds.

With the support of the Chamber and the City of Shawnee, we are hoping to have a brand that drives decisions to visit our city, buy its products or services, to do business or even relocate here. Branding can provide a tool to define itself, attract positive attention and stimulate economic growth.

A strong brand can create a common vision for the future of the community and its potential. It provides a consistent representation of the community. It also enhances the city’s local regional and/or global awareness and position.

All the above goals are what we are striving for with the committee. There are many steps as we go through this process. The end product is going to be something that we are all proud of. Good luck as the Branding Task Force moves forward.

from Shawnee Chamber of Kansas October 2007
http://www.shawneekschamber.com/chair_1007.htm

Click here to download a .pdf vesion

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OLATHE
Tim Harmon, founder and president of Harmon Construction Inc., is developing a $4.9 million industrial/office park in southwest Olathe.

Located on 159th Street between Ridgeview Road and U.S. Highway 169, the Mahaffie Business Center will include six buildings totaling 51,500 square feet of space. Work on the 5-acre development began in April, and the first two buildings are expected to be ready for occupancy in late summer.

ìThis part of Olathe has experienced tremendous growth in recent years,î Harmon said. ìWith more and more residents moving into this area, it makes perfect sense for businesses to follow suite. Our development will provide ample space in an extremely convenient location.î

The buildings in Mahaffie Business Center will be available for sale or lease. For more information, contact Philip Crafton of Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate at 816-931-3101.

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OLATHE—In February, Harmon Construction Inc. and the architectural design firm Gould-Evans were selected to design and build a visitor’s center at the historic Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farmstead in Olathe.

The City of Olathe, owner of the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, has allocated about $2.1 million for the design/build phase of the project. The proposed 10,000-square-foot “Heritage Center” will be built on about 8 acres at the northwest corner of Kansas City Road and Ridgeview Road. Conceptual plans call for the building to include a 125-seat assembly space, ticketing office and orientation area for the historic site, and storage and display space for the Olathe Historical Society.
 
In keeping with the historical significance of the site, the City of Olathe hopes to incorporate post-and-beam framing into the design and construction of the Heritage Center. This type of framing, often performed by Amish and Mennonite craftsmen, was commonly used in barns and other structures erected in the mid-19th century.
 
According to the City of Olathe’s website, the Mahaffie home is the only stagecoach stop preserved as a public historic site on the Santa Fe Trail. Built in 1865 by James and Lucinda Mahaffie, the site is listed on both the National and Kansas Registers of Historic Places.

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