Diagnosing the state?s economic challenges is one thing, David Toland said Thursday.
Simply put, Iola, Allen County and Kansas as a whole do not have enough workers to support its businesses, the state?s commerce secretary said.
Addressing those challenges is something else entirely.
Toland, who has led the Department of Commerce since Gov. Laura Kelly?s inauguration in January, spoke on a number of topics in front of a small class of history students at Allen Community College.
?One of the things I hear wherever I go in the state ? and I?ve probably done 30 different industrial tours by now ? is that employers say we need more people,? Toland said. ?That?s what?s holding them back.
?If you take nothing else from today,? he told the class, ?I hope you remember this: If you want to remain in Kansas, there?s opportunity for you.?
Therein lies the rub.
When Toland asked the 20 or so college students how many desired to remain in Allen County, or even in Kansas, less than half indicated they did.
Toland could relate.
Straight out of college, his desire was to work elsewhere, despite family ties to Iola.
He and wife Beth eventually landed in Washington, D.C., where David worked as a city planner.
While his time was in Washington was enjoyable and his work stimulating, Toland noted yard maintenance required little more than hand clippers.
Wanting to start a family, the Tolands decided to move someplace less congested and decided on Iola. Beth, a native of Pittsburg, is an early childhood specialist at ACC.
Toland noted communities such as Iola have struggled to get young professionals to look their way.
?What, if anything, might make you interested in staying in Kansas?? he asked the students. ?What could Kansas do to make it more attractive to you?
?We need more good, smart, hard-working people of all ages to help our economy grow,? he continued. ?It?s a labor shortage that is holding back our economy more than anything else.
