Economic resurgence is often framed through the lens of major metropolitan hubs, where capital, talent, and infrastructure appear naturally concentrated. Mitch Robinson, Executive Director of the Salina Community Economic Development Organization, believes that narrative overlooks one of the most important shifts happening across the United States today: smaller communities building sustainable growth through strategic collaboration, workforce investment, and long-range planning.
Robinson points to Salina, Kansas, as evidence that transformative economic momentum is not reserved for coastal markets or population centers with international recognition. According to him, communities willing to identify overlooked assets, invest in infrastructure, and create opportunities for future generations are increasingly attracting global attention. Robinson says, "People are realizing that economic opportunity can exist outside the traditional major markets. One successful investment can completely change the trajectory of a community."
Salina's transformation did not happen overnight. Robinson explains that the city spent years experiencing steady but unremarkable growth, while many Midwestern communities faced population decline and outward migration. He notes how young professionals frequently leave in search of career opportunities elsewhere, weakening local investment cycles and limiting long-term development.
"You lose workforce, you lose energy, and eventually you lose confidence in the community's future," Robinson adds. "Reversing that trend takes commitment from people willing to invest back into their own city."
Pivotal to Salina's growth strategy, from Robinson's perspective, has been the redevelopment of a former US Air Force base that was transferred to the city in the 1960s. Robinson notes that the closure initially created significant uncertainty for the local economy, with many residents leaving the area. Over time, however, he explains that the property evolved into a large industrial and aviation-focused campus that now serves as one of the region's most significant economic drivers.
Its 12,300-foot runway, among the longest publicly accessible runways in the country, created opportunities few similarly sized cities could offer. Robinson believes local leadership recognized early that aviation, logistics, and advanced manufacturing could anchor long-term economic expansion if the community remained patient and intentional in its approach.
Robinson explains, "We kept looking for partners who wanted to build alongside the community rather than simply operate inside it. Long-term success depends on alignment between the company, the workforce, and the city itself."
This perspective, he notes, has helped attract major industrial investments and significant facility expansions that have created a plethora of jobs across advanced manufacturing and production sectors. Robinson credits the workforce, educational partnerships, and regional cooperation for helping sustain that momentum.
"A company can invest anywhere," he says. "Communities that succeed are the ones that prove they can support growth for decades, not just during one project cycle."
Education has become another major pillar of growing Salina's economic development strategy. Robinson highlights the city's aviation programs, which train pilots, aircraft maintenance professionals, and specialists in unmanned aerial systems technology. He believes the connection between education and industry has become essential for smaller markets competing nationally for talent and investment. He explains, "We're creating pathways where students can build careers without feeling like they have to leave their home state. That changes the future of a community."
Robinson also points to emerging immersive technology initiatives that are bringing new forms of innovation into the region. According to Robinson, educational institutions and private-sector partners are developing programs that focus on hands-on learning environments and advanced digital technologies, creating an ecosystem designed to prepare students for the evolving demands of the workforce.
Economic growth, Robinson argues, creates ripple effects extending far beyond employment numbers. Once new industries and workers enter a market, Robinson believes that demand can increase for housing, restaurants, entertainment, healthcare, and public amenities. Salina has already seen substantial downtown redevelopment, rising occupancy rates, and continued investment in housing projects intended to accommodate both existing residents and incoming professionals.
Robinson shares, "People relocating from larger cities expect quality-of-life amenities. Housing, parks, restaurants, entertainment, healthcare, all of those things become part of the conversation once a community starts attracting outside talent."
Housing development has become especially important as workforce demand continues to grow. Robinson notes that local leaders secured major state support to accelerate apartment construction and encourage new residential development, helping position the city for sustained population growth.
Collaboration, he adds, remains the defining factor behind Salina's progress. Public institutions, nonprofit organizations, local leaders, and private-sector stakeholders have collaborated on shared objectives rather than competing priorities. "We're successful because people here are pulling in the same direction," Robinson says. "Economic development only works when communities decide they're willing to build together."
Robinson believes Salina's experience offers a broader lesson for the United States at a time when many rural and mid-sized communities are searching for renewed economic identity. He sees the city as proof that growth is achievable when communities commit to long-term planning, strategic risk-taking, and workforce development rooted in local strengths.
"This model can work across the country," Robinson says. "Communities willing to invest in themselves can absolutely change their future."
