About SEK INC.

Southeast Kansas, Inc. is a regional alliance of business and community leaders united by one common goal: to strengthen the economic climate of Southeast Kansas. Our diverse membership spans the manufacturing, retail, and service sectors, as well as city and county governments across 12 counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.

What brings 12 counties of leaders to the same table?
A shared commitment to driving regional growth, creating opportunity, and building a stronger Southeast Kansas.

Since the 1950s, we’ve been collaborating to solve local and regional challenges, while working to retain and expand value-added jobs across the area.

At SEK, Inc., we serve as a resource to help grow your network, your business, and the Southeast Kansas communities we all call home. Our mission is carried out through five strategic focus areas:
Legislative Voice • Transportation • Workforce Development • Economic Retention & Expansion • Career & Technical Education

Our Mission

“SEK, Inc. is moving to an employer / manufacturing centered position. Our mission is to improve the labor participation rate in SEK and by so doing, increase the available labor pool for our companies."

We seek to increase the whole region’s employer presence in workforce development. We’re currently working with Greenbush and others to help give the education community better access to our resources. Other areas of emphasis include legislative issues, plant tours, cross company collaboration, regulatory compliance and networking.

Objectives

Legislative Voice

We represent the region on common legislative issues. We are your voice in Topeka. Together as one voice, our opinions are strong. Together we accomplish more! Every year our twelve county region mobilizes to have their voice heard as one. SEK Inc on the hill provides Southeast Kansas manufactures & employers the ability interact one on one with statewide and local politicians. This opportunity allows members to have their concerns and issues heard firsthand.

Transportation

We must fight for the transportation improvements needed in our region. In general, transport projects that improve overall accessibility (i.e., they improve businesses ability to provide goods and services, and people's ability to access education, employment and services) and reduce transportation costs (including travel time, vehicle operating costs, road and parking facility costs, accident and pollution damages) tend to increase economic productivity and development. Together we can ensure that consistent funding for highway improvement continue forward for our region.

Workforce Development

Our region has the power to grow your business. Customized training and retraining programs are at our disposal with 6 community colleges and Pittsburg State University. SEK, Inc. fosters the coordination of training options. Workforce development is defined as collaboration between industry, government and education to prepare and enhance workers’ skills to meet current and future market demands enabling Southeast Kansas businesses to be competitive in local, national and international commerce. A well-trained workforce not only accomplishes more, but brings more overall value to our communities!

Economic Retention & Expansion

While our individual communities are eager to sell their hometowns, there is a coordinated effort to promote the region collectively by proactively connecting with existing businesses to understand and respond to local business needs. Working together brings more opportunities to ensure businesses grow, stay, and become more committed to the community. By planting seeds of success locally and regionally, over time, a quality and targeted SEK Inc partnership improves the business operating climate, ensures competition remains healthy, provides quality jobs and employment opportunities, and assists in stabilizing the economy.

Career Technical Education (CTE)

Career Technical Education (CTE) provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. In total, about 12 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE across the nation. CTE prepares these learners for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies, and makes academic content accessible to students by providing it in a hands-on context. In fact, the high school graduation rate for CTE concentrators is about 90 percent – 15 percentage points higher than the national average.SEK Inc has recognized the vital role that CTE programs have to offer. By helping bridge the gap with communication, while highlighting the many local opportunities available through out South East Kansas. Helping connect candidates & students to these programs allows for a better trained & prepared work force.

Our Mission

“SEK, Inc. is moving to an employer / manufacturing centered position. Our mission is to improve the labor participation rate in SEK and by so doing, increase the available labor pool for our companies."

We seek to increase the whole region’s employer presence in workforce development. We’re currently working with Greenbush and others to help give the education community better access to our resources. Other areas of emphasis include legislative issues, plant tours, cross company collaboration, regulatory compliance and networking.

Hear From Our Clients

George Owens

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George Owens

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nisi nunc, tincidunt non nibh non, ullamcorper facilisis lectus. Sed accumsan metus viverra turpis faucibus, id elementum

George Owens

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque nisi nunc, tincidunt non nibh non, ullamcorper facilisis lectus. Sed accumsan metus viverra turpis faucibus, id elementum