GO Topeka: Chairman Patrick W. Michaelis

 

Summary of City of Topeka Contract No. 30468 – Grant Agreement (April 10, 2000)

This 15-page document is the original major operating grant agreement between the City of Topeka and the newly incorporated Growth Organization of Topeka/Shawnee County, Inc. (GO Topeka, the predecessor to today’s Go Topeka). Signed on April 10, 2000 (effective January 1, 2000), it provided the organization with its first significant public funding shortly after its February 2000 incorporation.

Key Details

  • Grant Amount: $200,000 from the City’s economic development fund.
  • Term: January 1, 2000 – December 31, 2000.
  • Purpose: To fund comprehensive economic development services in support of the City/County “Vision” (Resolution 99-64) — specifically the goal of adding 14,000 new residents and 14,000 new jobs in Topeka/Shawnee County by the end of 2005. Services included: staffing, research, marketing, business recruitment & retention, site development, funding pursuits, workforce training/expansion, entrepreneurial assistance, and related activities.

Main Terms & Oversight

  • The City retains the funds in a special project account and reimburses GO Topeka on a quarterly schedule (5 reimbursement requests per year) upon submission of status reports and financial statements.
  • All spending must follow the attached Exhibit B budget (total GO Topeka 2000 operating budget = $393,000; the City’s $200k was the single largest source).
  • Strong City controls:
    • The Director of the Topeka/Shawnee County Metropolitan Planning Department serves as official “Coordinator” and receives all board agendas and minutes.
    • Detailed record-keeping, audit rights, and indemnification of the City.
    • Standard clauses: non-discrimination, no conflicts of interest, no subcontracting without approval, no personal benefit to City Council members.
  • The City can terminate the grant at any time for non-performance and demand return of unspent funds. It can also reduce the grant amount if economic development fund revenues (property tax, sales tax, etc.) fall short.

Attachments Included in the Document

  • Attachment A: Detailed “Performance Services and Measures” table with quarterly progress reports (Q1 2000 activities already shown, including business retention visits, pledge drive for private funding, president search, prospect activity, marketing, workforce meetings, etc.).
  • Exhibit B: Full 2000 budget breakdown (personnel, rent, travel, marketing, professional services, etc.).

Signatories

  • City of Topeka: Mayor Joan Wagnon (attested by City Clerk Iris E. Walker).
  • GO Topeka: Chairman Patrick W. Michaelis (attested by S. Lucky DeFries, the same attorney who prepared the original Articles of Incorporation).

This agreement marks the formal launch of public funding for what became the region’s primary economic development organization and set the template for future City/County support (later evolving into the JEDO sales-tax-funded model). It directly ties to the 2000 Board of Directors list we reviewed earlier (Kris Robbins, Mark Wittenburg, etc.).

Would you like a comparison to later JEDO/Go Topeka funding agreements, or should I pull any specific section (budget, performance metrics, etc.) for more detail?


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