Business & Development Digest

Welcome to the latest edition of the Business & Development Digest, a quarterly publication from Merriam Tourism & Economic Development! As we kick off the first quarter, we're thrilled to share events from area resource partners and invite you to complete our upcoming business survey to shape future initiatives in the Merriam business community. Read on to learn about our featured Business Spotlight, Shara Chiropractic Center, explore available commercial properties, participate in the Made in Kansas program, join the next Statewide Virtual Job Fair, or find a Kansas student to help with special projects through the Kansas Micro-Internships program!

As a partner to our growing and thriving business community, we hope this e-news provides helpful resources tailored to support your success as a valued Merriam business! Please reach out if we can be of additional service!

2024 Business Survey

The City of Merriam needs your help! As a city, one of our biggest goals is to make sure our businesses feel like their city government is both open and accessible. Included in that commitment is making sure that we remain focused on the services and priorities that are most important to you.

Every three years, we send a survey to our Merriam businesses to assess your satisfaction with city services, staff, and programs.

Very soon, every registered Merriam business will receive the 2024 business survey in the mail! We hope you will complete the survey to help us guide and grow the business efforts in our community.

We will send a separate email with the survey link once it is released in the event you wish to complete the survey online!

Merriam Welcomes Five Below

Merriam Town Center's newest retailer, Five Below, opened Friday, February 9th. Occupying the former Party City space, this new storefront offers trend-right, high-quality products loved by tweens, teens, and beyond. Most items are priced between $1 and $5, with some extreme-value items priced beyond $5.

Eric Gonsher, Vice President | Principal of Brokerage and Development for The R.H. Johnson Company commented, "We are thrilled to welcome Five Below to Merriam Town Center. This new-to-market and best-in-class retailer will offer consumers in Merriam and the surrounding communities an exceptional value across many product categories with its innovative and trendy merchandise."

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below today has more than 1,300 stores in 42 states.

Business Spotlight: Shara Chiropractic Center

Located in the Antioch Terrace building at 6220 Antioch Road, Shara Chiropractic Center has officially been in Merriam since 2008, but its roots date back over five decades earlier! In 1962, Dr. Thomas B. Wright, father to Dr. Kim Shara, established his practice specializing in Sacro Occipital Technic ®, Cranial Technique, and Nutrition. 20 years later in 1982, Dr. Mike and Kim Shara joined the practice, then called Johnson County Chiropractic Center, working with Dr. Wright until his passing in 2007. Today, the Sharas own the Antioch Terrace Building and lease space to two other chiropractors, Drs. Lonnie Rudd and Jenn Boggess. Each offers chiropractic care for all ages, whole food-based nutrition, functional healthcare, and cranial.

Their daughter Ashley manages the office which makes the practice a true family business. The Sharas have been blessed with wonderful patients throughout the years, many of whom drive from other states to receive specialized treatment and care. Growing up in Merriam, Dr. Kim has seen the city grow and mature, in a very good way. She has many fond memories and stories of the building, the practice, and the community. When asked What makes Merriam a good choice for a business, Dr. Kim touted "Merriam's location and easy access to their practice," noting "the community is very affordable and safe."

Learn more >>> Shara Chiropractic Center

Are you interested in being our next featured business in an upcoming e-newsletter? Complete the Local Business Spotlight Interest Form.

News, Events, & Resources

Kansas is home to many industries that produce high-quality goods and services for the nation and the world. Some of the products that are proudly made in Kansas are aerospace components, chip manufacturing, EV battery production, wheat and other agricultural products, petroleum and natural gas, chemical fertilizers, machinery and equipment, metal fabrication, automobiles and parts, plastics and rubber products, printing and publishing, and stone and clay products. These products reflect the hard work and innovation of the people of Kansas.

Made in Kansas is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce to help promote Kansas manufacturers to customers across Kansas and around the globe. The Made in Kansas program is designed to showcase Kansas-made products and provide those companies with a verified stamp of assurance for use in promotional activities. Participation is free.

Learn more!

Congratulations to the following companies for their impressive number of years as a business within the Merriam community:

60 years - Concrete Materials

50 years - La Conquistador Apartments, Georgetown Apartments, Kings Cove Apartments, and Antioch Gardens Apartments

40 years - Public Storage, Inc.

30 years - Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, and Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission

25 years - Floorworks, Inc., Electronic Technology, Inc., Auto Glass and Tint Shop of KC, Scott the Electrician, Deletable Gourmet Desserts, KT The Studio Gallery, Enterprise Leasing Company, LLC, Denton Enterprises, Inc., Podiatry Associates, PA, RW Engineering, Inc., Peterson Properties, Inc., BK Computer Consultants, Inc., Verizon Wireless, LLC, CA Enterprises, PetSmart, Inc.

10 years - Whelan Security Co., Metalcraft, Inc., Novogradac & Company, LLP, Shawnee Mission KIA, All Star Auto, LLC, McDonald's, IKEA, Edward D. Jones & Co., LP, City Electric Supply, Jinling Ding, Massage Therapist, Quality Inventory Services, Inc., Antioch Dentistry, ZD Beauty Spa, Shuli Zhang Massage Therapist, The Lookout Apartments

Business Appreciation Happy Hour!

The 2024 Business Appreciation event is set! Mark your calendar and join us on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. for a happy hour filled with networking, city news and updates, a presentation on the new business survey results, and a few praises for long-time Merriam businesses!

Snacks and adult beverages are provided with your RSVP. You must be a licensed Merriam business to attend (2 people per Merriam business).

RSVP here!

Occupational Licenses Due

An Occupational License is required for all businesses located or doing business in Merriam. Apply for a new license or renew your current license online at merriam.org, or in person at City Hall (9001 W. 6nd Street).

Community Video Partnership

Video cameras are one of the best methods for catching criminals in the act. The Community Video Partnership Program invites residents and businesses to work with Merriam Police to create a list of active security cameras across the City. This free program is completely voluntary and includes a window cling that you may place on your business windows to help deter criminal activity. Learn more.

Looking for help? Check out Kansas Micro-Internships!

Need an extra set of hands for a special project? Ready to connect with potential candidates? Get support from a Kansas college student—at no cost to your organization. The Kansas Micro-Internship Program allows Kansas employers to connect with a diverse population of undergraduate students from the 32 public colleges and universities in Kansas. Learn more.

Downtown Merriam Grant Application Opens March 4th

Merriam business and property owners can make outdoor improvements, including painting, siding, door/window replacements, awnings, building additions, landscaping, and more with help from the Historic Downtown Merriam Exterior Improvement Grant. There is $50,000 available in the grant fund with a 30% reimbursement, and applications will be accepted starting March 4, 2024. Learn more!

Business Breakfast Series - Cultivating Belonging: An Intentional Approach to Employee Engagement

Explore the transformative power of outcome-based strategies in fostering a sense of belonging within your organization. Register today for JCCC Workforce Development's upcoming Business Breakfast Series on Thursday, March 21st. ($20 registration fee) Register here.

Statewide Job Fair

The next KANSASWORKS Virtual Statewide Job Fair is scheduled for February 21st from

8:00 am-5:00 pm. The free online event will be split up into five workforce areas and eleven sub-categories. When you register, PLEASE select only the areas of the state that your company has jobs available in. Register here.

MCC Corporate Membership

Did you know the Merriam Community Center offers a corporate membership for Merriam businesses, allowing your employees to join at the Merriam resident rate? To be eligible, your company must be a licensed Merriam business and complete an application. Learn more.

Available Sites & Properties

If you're in the market for a new office space, room to grow, or just curious about commercial real-estate offerings across Merriam, we've got you covered. The City of Merriam now offers listings of land, buildings, and spaces across town that are updated weekly. View available properties.

Subscribe to E-Merriam

Stay current with city events, news, and information each week! Every Thursday, the City publishes e-Merriam, an email newsletter detailing the happenings of the past week and highlighting important announcements for the upcoming week. Stay in the know and subscribe today!

Welcome New Businesses!

In 2023, Merriam welcomed 43 new businesses to our city, employing 224 people! Here's a look at those we welcomed during the fourth quarter of 2023. We appreciate your partnership in joining our active and growing business community!