Main Street is already harnessing AI to build wealth; adoption now key to region’s growth, heartland leaders say
October 22, 2025
Wichita tech leaders Ramsey Jamoul, Unified Esports Association, Robert Feeney, Knowledge as a Service, Inc. (KaaS), and Jason Toevs, UP, at a recent AI meetup hosted by Heartland Forward, the Kansas Department of Commerce, and NXTUS at Homegrown in Wichita; photo courtesy of NXTUS
WICHITA, Kan. — Artificial intelligence is likely to be one of the most transformative technologies of the digital era, said Taylor Eubanks, noting that AI’s thoughtful deployment can be a tool for growth, not displacement.
“By engaging directly with entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofit leaders and local innovators, we can better support responsible AI adoption that advances entrepreneurship-led economic development — building local wealth, strengthening economic stability, creating jobs and expanding opportunity for every Kansan to build and own their future,” continued Eubanks, director of the Small Business Office at the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Regional leaders gathered recently in Wichita for a salon-style dinner — curated by Heartland Forward, the state commerce department, and NXTUS— to explore how AI can empower small businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofits across Kansas to harness AI responsibly and effectively.