greater topeka partnership

What greater topeka partnership does

Greater Topeka Partnership is a private, non-profit economic development organization and chamber of commerce headquartered at 719 S Kansas Ave., Suite 100, Topeka, Kansas, formed in 2016 by consolidating four legacy entities: GO Topeka (economic development and business recruitment/retention), Visit Topeka (destination marketing and tourism), Downtown Topeka Inc. (downtown revitalization), and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce (business advocacy and member services). It serves local and regional businesses, government partners (City of Topeka, Shawnee County, State of Kansas), individual talent/prospective relocates via the Choose Topeka program, young professionals through Forge Young Talent, small business owners via the Small Business Council and KS SBDC partnership, and visitors/convention planners through Visit Topeka. The Partnership operates the Momentum 2027 strategic initiative and signature programs including Leadership Greater Topeka (40+ years), the Kansas Inclusion Summit, the Business Expo, the Topeka Riverfront Vision Plan, and the Hire Local campaign with Washburn University.

The Partnership's "technology" is operational rather than proprietary: it runs on Salesforce CRM for member/stakeholder management, Simpleview CRM for Visit Topeka tourism operations, the third-party Handshake platform for the Hire Local talent pipeline (15M+ students, 1M+ employers), and a WordPress-based public website with cookie-based analytics. It does not develop or sell proprietary technology products. AI usage is limited to AI-assisted podcast content production for the Partnership News Podcast (launched November 2025, sponsored by Giant Communications). Core certifications include 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (one of ~120 of 7,000 chambers) and IEDC AEDO accreditation for GO Topeka (one of 64 nationally, the only one in Kansas); it was also a finalist for the 2025 ACCE Chamber of the Year award.

The revenue model combines subscription-style membership dues (multi-tier, annually billed through a private portal at pay.topekapartnership.com; pricing not publicly disclosed) with event-driven fee and sponsorship revenue (Business Expo, Annual Meeting, LGT Graduation & Gala, InterCity Visit, Kansas Inclusion Summit), supplemented by public-private funding tied to economic development and tourism programs. GTM is sales-led (direct staff engagement with member businesses and sponsors) augmented by community-led demand generation through Leadership Greater Topeka, Forge Young Talent, and the Small Business Council. The Partnership holds no funding rounds, has no private equity or venture capital involvement, and is governed by a Board of Directors under Kansas non-profit law.

Name

greater topeka partnership

Legal name

Greater Topeka Partnership

Website

https://topekapartnership.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Greater Topeka Partnership is a non-profit chamber of commerce and economic development organization for Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas, integrating GO Topeka, Visit Topeka, Downtown Topeka Inc., and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce to serve member businesses, government partners, talent, young professionals, and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK), Meeting & Conference Planning & Coordination (HSACADAA)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Chamber of commerce
• Talent attraction programs
• Destination marketing
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Greater Topeka Partnership generates revenue through membership dues from local businesses and organizations. Membership levels are offered at different pricing tiers with varying benefits, including networking events, ribbon cuttings, sponsorship opportunities, and access to the member directory. Businesses join to gain access to the Chamber network, advocacy, and economic development resources.
2. Event Sponsorship and Fees: The Partnership organizes signature events including the Business Expo, Kansas Inclusion Summit, Annual Meeting, Leadership Greater Topeka Graduation and Gala, and the InterCity Visit program. Revenue is generated through event registration fees, sponsorships, and ticket sales for these programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Greater Topeka Partnership is a unified, private non-profit economic development and chamber of commerce organization serving Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas. It operates four core divisions—GO Topeka (economic development and business recruitment/retention), Visit Topeka (destination marketing and tourism), Downtown Topeka, Inc. (downtown revitalization), and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce (advocacy and member services)—delivering membership, events, leadership programs, talent attraction, and strategic initiatives under one coordinated umbrella.

Product overview

Greater Topeka Partnership is a collaborative economic development organization operating as a unified structure with multiple branded programs and sub-organizations. The core entity encompasses four main divisions: GO Topeka (economic development and business recruitment/retention), Visit Topeka (tourism and visitor services), Downtown Topeka, Inc. (downtown revitalization), and the Topeka Chamber of Commerce (business advocacy and member services). Key programs include Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT) - a multi-decade leadership development program, Forge Young Talent - young professionals group celebrating 25 years, Momentum 2027 - strategic community initiative including the Topeka Riverfront Vision Plan, and the Choose Topeka talent attraction initiative. Additional offerings include the Partnership News Podcast (AI-powered), Kansas Inclusion Summit, Business Expo, Small Business Council, Topeka Youth Commission, and TASC (sports commission). The organization has launched initiatives including the Topeka Flag License Plate program and Forge on Boards. Visit Topeka operates a tourism marketing platform providing visitor guides, event calendars, and travel planning tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GO Topeka: Economic development organization focused on business recruitment, retention, and expansion in Topeka and Shawnee County
• Visit Topeka
• Downtown Topeka, Inc.
• Forge Young Talent
• Choose Topeka
• Momentum 2027
• Leadership Greater Topeka
• Stay785
• Kansas Courage Military Family Appreciation Weekend

Products and services

• Greater Topeka Partnership Membership Tiered paid membership program for Topeka and Shawnee County businesses, providing access to the member directory, networking events, ribbon cutting ceremonies, legislative advocacy, and sponsorship opportunities.
• GO Topeka Economic Development Services Economic development division providing business recruitment, retention, expansion, site and building database access, incentive navigation, and workforce development support for companies considering or operating in Topeka and Shawnee County.
• Visit Topeka Destination Marketing Tourism and convention promotion services including free visitor guides, event calendars, group travel itineraries, convention and sports tournament sales, and attraction listings for visitors to Topeka and Shawnee County.
• Downtown Topeka, Inc. Downtown revitalization organization focused on placemaking, business district development, district maintenance, and supporting the downtown Topeka commercial corridor.
• Topeka Chamber of Commerce Chamber division providing business advocacy, Legislative Priorities, Military Relations Council, Chamber PAC, elected official engagement, and METL programs for member businesses.
• Leadership Greater Topeka Multi-month community leadership development program offering adaptive leadership training, hands-on projects, and networking for emerging and current community leaders in the Topeka area.
• Forge Young Talent Young professionals organization for ages 21-40 in Topeka/Shawnee County offering professional development, networking, community engagement programs, and the Forge on Boards initiative connecting young professionals to nonprofit and business boards.
• Choose Topeka Talent attraction initiative offering relocation incentives, community orientation, and workforce recruitment support for individuals and families considering moving to Topeka and Shawnee County.
• Business Expo Annual business exposition providing networking opportunities, lead generation, and visibility for local businesses serving the Topeka and Shawnee County market.
• Kansas Inclusion Summit Annual summit event focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Kansas business community, offering educational sessions and networking for DEI practitioners and business leaders.
• Partnership News Podcast Audio podcast covering economic development, downtown revitalization, tourism, and business growth topics across the Topeka and Shawnee County region, distributed via regular podcast platforms.
• Small Business Council Advisory council supporting small business development, mentorship, access to funding, regulatory guidance, and advocacy for small business owners in Topeka and Shawnee County.
• Executive Immersion Services Executive-level professional development and immersion services providing leadership training and strategic exposure for member businesses and senior professionals.
• Momentum 2027 Community-wide strategic initiative serving as the roadmap for economic and community development in Topeka and Shawnee County, including the 21st Century Riverfront initiative and other priority projects.
• Forge YP Awards Award program recognizing young professionals and community partners making Topeka better for young people, with categories including Community Impact, Service, Legacy, and Community Partner of the Year.
• Hire Local Campaign Strategic workforce retention campaign connecting local Shawnee County employers with Washburn University students and graduates through the Handshake platform to retain Topeka-area talent.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shawnee County population grew by 2,608 residents (+1.5%) since the launch of the Choose Topeka talent attraction program in 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Winner PartnersminorOthers · 24 April 2025Winner Partners, a nationally recognized executive search and recruitment firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, was engaged to lead the national CEO search for the Greater Topeka Partnership. The firm specializes in serving nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and privately owned organizations.
• Washburn UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2024The Partnership and Washburn University, in consultation with Forge Young Talent, launched the Hire Local campaign to encourage employers to hire Washburn graduates. The initiative uses the Handshake platform, which connects 15M+ students with 1M+ employers across the U.S. Washburn provides the student population; GTP provides employer engagement.
• Forge Young TalentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2024Forge Young Talent, Topeka's premier young professional group, collaborates with the Partnership on talent retention initiatives including the Hire Local campaign and the Forge on Boards initiative. Forge operates as an affiliated program under the Partnership, contributing young professional engagement and community leadership development.
• Bolton & MenkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 8 October 2024Bolton & Menk served as the consulting partner for the Topeka Riverfront Vision Plan, working with the Riverfront Advisory Council to develop a strategic vision for riverfront connectivity and development. The firm has helped amass over 12,200 public interactions through the planning process.
• City of Topeka, Shawnee County, State of KansascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2024The Topeka Riverfront Vision Plan was developed with support from the City of Topeka, Shawnee County, and State of Kansas. These government entities provide funding, regulatory coordination, and political support for the riverfront development and broader Momentum 2027 strategy.
• Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2024KDOT's Polk-Quincy Viaduct Project is cited as a complementary infrastructure project supporting the broader downtown/NOTO transformation vision being coordinated through the Topeka Riverfront Vision Plan and Momentum 2027 strategy.
• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2023The Greater Topeka Partnership became a member of the USHCC, becoming the first non-Hispanic chamber in the Midwest to apply for membership. This partnership provides resources, networking, and access to USHCC's network of over 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses, supporting the GTP's diversity and inclusive economic growth goals.
• SmartAsset.comminorOthersSmartAsset.com published a ranking placing Topeka as #12 of 50 state capitals in its 'Best State Capitals to Live In' study, providing third-party credibility for the Partnership's quality of life messaging in talent attraction efforts.
• Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)minorOthersACCE named the Greater Topeka Partnership a finalist for the 2025 Chamber of the Year award. ACCE is a professional society supporting chambers of commerce worldwide, with over 1,600 member organizations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greater Des Moines Partnership: Unified regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization serving the Des Moines metro. Operates a structurally similar model combining business recruitment, tourism promotion, and chamber services under one umbrella, making it the closest direct comparable to Greater Topeka Partnership in scale and approach.
• Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber of commerce serving the Wichita metro area in Kansas. Provides business advocacy, economic development, and member services comparable to the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce division, with overlapping in-state geographic context.
• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: Major metropolitan chamber of commerce serving the Kansas City region. Operates with a similar scope of member services, advocacy, and economic development programming, though at a significantly larger scale than the Greater Topeka Partnership.
• Lawrence Chamber of Commerce: Regional Kansas chamber of commerce serving Lawrence and Douglas County. Comparable as a Kansas-based chamber providing membership, advocacy, and economic development services, though serving a smaller and university-anchored economy.
• Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC): Regional economic development organization focused on business recruitment and retention in the Kansas City metro. Directly comparable to GO Topeka in mission and operating model, though serving a larger and more economically dynamic region.
• Visit KC: Destination marketing organization promoting tourism and conventions in Kansas City. Operates in the same tourism promotion and convention sales space as Visit Topeka, though at much larger scale and budget.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Houston Partnership: Large, established chamber and economic development organization serving the Houston region. Provides a benchmark for the integrated chamber-EDO-tourism model that Greater Topeka Partnership aspires to at a much larger scale, with similar revenue mix from membership and events.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: Combined chamber of commerce and economic development organization serving the Cleveland region. Comparable unified structure and operating model, though serving a legacy industrial metro with different demographic challenges.
• Greater Omaha Chamber: Established chamber of commerce serving the Omaha metro. Provides a comparable Midwest state-region chamber model with similar membership, advocacy, and economic development programs, though at larger scale than Greater Topeka Partnership.

Regional players

• Tulsa's Partners in Education and Workforce: Regional partnership organization serving Tulsa, Oklahoma, focused on business and community development. Operates with a comparable integrated model to Greater Topeka Partnership, though in a different state capital region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TopekaChamber
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqUwPl_BBrUTcHrrPjf57Ug
• Facebookfacebook.com/GTPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greater-topeka-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/gtpartnership

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about greater topeka partnership