BIRMINGHAM, AL (May 14, 2026) – Retail Strategies, a national retail recruitment and economic development consulting firm, has been selected by Osage County, Kansas to serve as its retail recruitment partner. The engagement will focus on attracting new retail and dining options to communities throughout the county, addressing significant retail leakage and expanding the local consumer economy.
“Osage County has tremendous untapped retail potential,” said Colleen Mendoza, Economic Development, Osage County. “We know that attracting the right businesses takes dedicated expertise and established retailer relationships. Partnering with Retail Strategies gives our communities access to both, and we’re excited to see what this partnership brings to our residents.”
Osage County is a largely rural, agriculture-driven county with an estimated population of 16,000 residents spread across multiple communities. The county holds strong regional fundamentals — situated within proximity to Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita, and home to two federally managed lakes that collectively draw more than one million visitors annually. That visitor traffic, combined with an estimated 60 percent of the county’s workforce commuting outside the county daily for employment, signals a substantial retail leakage opportunity for businesses willing to invest in the market.
Retail Strategies will work closely with Osage County Economic Development to identify and recruit retailers suited to the county’s communities and trade area dynamics. The focus will be on the entire county when making outreach to retailers, brokers, and developers, matching the right real estate to each opportunity.
“Osage County is exactly the kind of market that retailers can overlook and exactly the kind of market where the opportunity is real,” said John Tiedt, Director of Community Partnerships for Retail Strategies. “Between the trade area draw from two major federal lakes, the workforce leakage dynamic, and the county’s positioning between three major metros, this market is primed for new retail. We’re thrilled to serve as the retail economic development partner for Osage County and to act as a true extension of Colleen’s team.”
About Retail Strategies
Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide the real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism and quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team with unmatched real estate and community development expertise. Our activities pay a return in sales taxes, added jobs, and businesses that enhance and add to the unique qualities of your community.
