Hillsboro Ventures Inc. strives to sustain success, ensure growth
Staff reporter
A group of determined, insightful Hillsboro business owners successfully developed an open field more than 30 years ago, and now some of the same and some new leaders want to sustain their efforts.
Hillsboro Development Corporation was formed in the early 1970s when local businessmen wanted to create an industrial park.
They purchased 80 acres on the east end of Hillsboro with a plan to build businesses.
Putting their money where their mouth was, some of the movers and shakers put some of their own money into the project.
The for-profit organization has been "moving and shaking" Hillsboro ever since.
Now those same movers and shakers, and some new players in the development game, have a vision that could sustain HDC and create a new means to create and support businesses.
A goal of the board of directors of HDC is to seek ways to increase economic growth and development.
With that, HDC has formed Hillsboro Ventures Inc., a not-for-profit corporation.
"HDC will still be THE driving force behind HVI," Darrell Driggers, HDC chairman, said. "The aim of HVI will be wealth building."
Driggers defined wealth building as bringing back those youth who left the community.
"We can build on the foundation set by HDC," Clint Seibel, director of HDC and HVI, said. "We're thankful to have a base already set."
Staying ahead of the pack, Driggers said visionaries saw a need for HDC and the creation of an industrial park before other groups in other communities even thought of such a notion.
The idea of a HDC subsidiary began with the idea of a bricks and mortar business incubator.
HDC partnered with Kansas State University's agriculture innovation center.
"HDC looked at putting together a spec plant," Driggers said.
The corporation considered dividing a building into three equal sections for three separate businesses to use.
Too many unknowns and not knowing what prospective businesses might want, the group decided to follow the advice of KSU and go with more of a visionary plan.
"We were told by Dr. Vincent Amanor-Boadu to not limit ourselves to brick and mortar," Seibel said. Amanor-Boadu is the director of the university's ag innovation center.
Instead of a speculative building, HVI will provide resources needed to succeed.
HVI's strategy
In the past, many small communities often went "elephant hunting," seeking a large industry to move in as a way of solving their economic problems.
Seibel explained that HVI's strategy is to focus on "economic gardening" which is the cultivation of the entrepreneurial spirit within Hillsboro and the surrounding area, and help by addressing the various needs of new business ventures.
"One of the goals is to assist fledgling businesses ride the difficult period at the start-up phase," Seibel said. At the same time, HVI will be actively seeking and assisting established businesses and industries wishing to relocate to the community.
"The success of the industrial park is not from large businesses coming to town but from home-grown businesses," Driggers explained.
Being a non-profit corporation, HVI can apply for grants that could assist with their endeavors.
"We're not going to be looking for some government grant to solve our needs," Seibel said.
Partnerships will continue, the same ones established with HDC. HVI will be financially supported by HDC, the City of Hillsboro, and contributions from local businesses.
"The commitment is already there," Seibel said.
A permanent office is being set up in the Hillsboro City Office complex at 116 East Grand.
Formerly, the HDC director shared office space with Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce on Main Street.
Results
Patience is necessary because results will not occur overnight.
"Economic success if not quick
"We'll reevaluate after a period of time," Seibel said, to fine tune the process. "Innovation centers are the way to go."
Driggers will continue to serve as HDC chairman and will be a member of the HVI board.
Other board members are Mike Kleiber, president; Mike Padgett, vice president; Carl Long, secretary; Brad Bartel, treasurer; and Phil Wyssenbach as a member.
Seibel was hired as both the director of HDC and HVI.
No changes are anticipated regarding HDC, Driggers said, and will remain the prominent organization.
By partnering together, leads and resources can be shared which lend to the continued success HDC has experienced and ensure future success with sustained wealth.
"We're the first city to try this," Driggers said.
This program is not intended to compete with any of the county's programs but merely offer another way to support local businesses.
"We will seek out businesses that might need assistance but we also want businesses to seek us out," Seibel said. "We want to assist all kinds of businesses, and particularly help those businesses to move from their garages to the (industrial) park."
