College Connections 2024
We are excited to welcome new college students to our amazing community and connect them with local businesses. The McPherson Chamber of Commerce and McPherson Main Street have partnered with McPherson College to bring 300+ students to downtown McPherson on Saturday, August 17 between 1-3:00 p.m.
Each year the format looks a little different depending on scheduling, but the primary focus is to introduce the college students to the variety of incredible businesses in the heart of our community and encourage them to shop locally first. Since they will not be in groups this year, we have encouraged the students to take selfies with their FAVORITE FINDS downtown and then post to social media with the #mcphersonwelcomesyou and tag your business too. We know they will discover many reasons to appreciate our downtown!
It will be a busy weekend in McPherson with the Main Street Back-To-School Event. With that in mind we talked through a dozen ideas and decided to keep our ask to you “low maintenance.” We would like to place #mcphersonwelcomesyou signs in your store front window. We are also putting together a selfie prize basket that any college student would love to have and would welcome an item or gift card to include. Please let us know if you would like to include something in the prize basket, or if you have questions.
Another opportunity to welcome students to our community and show off your business or service is to participate in the Back-to-School Extravaganza at McPherson College on Tuesday, August 20th from 5-7 pm. A table and chair will be provided for each business signed up. Businesses do not run any commerce, but are encouraged to decorate their table, have something interactive, and spend time visiting with students (future customers, employees, entrepreneurs, and neighbors). Register for the Extravaganza here or contact Ashley by email.
We didn’t forget Central Christian College. Their students will be arriving on campus at a later date, and we are still working out the details.
Stronger Together,
Debbie Hawkinson, McPherson Chamber of Commerce 620-241-3303
Johni Doughman, McPherson Main Street 620-241-7430
