Rural Grocery Succession Planning

Webinar 8: Grocery-Municipal Partnerships
Recorded October 20, 2022

Grocery stores are critical infrastructure in rural communities. So when a grocery ownership transition takes place, city and county leaders are often heavily invested in helping retain the business. But how? Municipalities have access to resources that can support a smooth transition and encourage the development of grocery stores. In this webinar, we will hear an overview of various economic development tools, as well as a case study of how the City of Humboldt stepped in to support their new local grocery store.

PowerPoint Slides (pdf)

Featured presenters:

• Sarah Steele, J.D., Gilmore & Bell, P.C.
  

  Sarah Steele is a shareholder in Gilmore & Bell, P.C. She joined the Firm in 1999 and practices in the Wichita office. Ms. Steele received her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas in 1983, and her J.D. (cum laude) from Arizona State University in 1986. Ms. Steele entered law practice in 1986 as an associate with the Kansas City, Missouri law firm of Blackwell Sanders Matheny Weary & Lombardi. In 1990, Ms. Steele joined the law department of Koch Industries, Inc. in Wichita, Kansas where she served as General Counsel to Koch Oil Company and Legal Counsel to the Chemical Technology Group. Ms. Steele’s practice emphasizes financings for state and local government capital and economic development needs, including serving as bond counsel on a variety of general obligation, industrial revenue bonds and lease-purchase financings. Ms. Steele is a member of the Kansas, Missouri and Wichita Bar Associations and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

• Cole Herder, City Administrator, Humboldt, Kansas
  

  Cole Herder is the City Administrator of his hometown, Humboldt, Kansas, where he has served for eight years. Prior to public administration, Cole worked in manufacturing for 29 years, as Quality Manager and other management level positions. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Wichita State University and is a Certified Public Manager. Cole is active in the Humboldt community through his church, Lions Club, Allen County Entrepreneurial Community and Allen County Economic Development Advisory Committee. Cole is married with three grown children and three granddaughters. He enjoys spending time with family, gardening, beekeeping, raising peacocks and making marbles.