Officially Official: Exciting TopCity Rise Update

Imagine walking into a charming local store you’ve never noticed before and hearing, “We’ve been around for eleven years!” I recently overheard this conversation at Cashmere Popcorn in Downtown Topeka. Honestly, it’s a statement that we have heard many times which is one of the huge reasons TopCity Rise began. It’s stories like these that fuel our passion.

We at TopCity Rise believe every hidden gem deserves a spotlight, every nonprofit striving for change deserves unwavering support, the artists need eyes on their beautiful creations and every person who is a catalyst for change and growth in our community needs encouragement.

It’s not a secret. Many small businesses in our community are struggling. When staple businesses in our community, like The Burger Stand, Brew Bank and Norseman, begin to close their doors this is concerning.

One of the things we often see in small businesses and nonprofits, when they are starting up or struggling to keep their doors open, is they cut back on their marketing budget, hoping that their customers love them enough to keep coming. But we all know, even in friendships sometimes, that we lose track of the last time we connected with that business because let’s face it…some seasons of life are just so busy. That is why your positive reviews, branding and marketing are so important. When our community has reminders like positive reviews, and advertising, it brings back beautiful memories of experiences we had with a friend over a drink at The Tee Box, the sharing of dreams for the future over pineapple curry at Jong’s Thai Kitchen or the beautiful dress you picked up from The Mix that made you feel confident for that meeting that changed your life.

For years we have worked together with our community to help bridge that gap. We have shared stories on new businesses, artists, nonprofits, local gems and amazing people.

From day one, over three years ago, we started with one sponsor and a mission….”We believe in linking arms with our community to safeguard and strengthen our local economy”. Through storytelling and awareness, we highlight small businesses, artists, nonprofits, and inspiring individuals who serve as catalysts for growth. Together, we can inspire our community to rise and support those making a difference and weaving a beautiful unique tapestry.”

Over three years later and countless volunteer hours to the cause, we have a really exciting announcement.

Today, we’re thrilled to share an exciting milestone: TopCity Rise is now an official 501C3 nonprofit!

We want to give a huge shout out to Mary Thomas from Community Resources Council for all the support and work to get this accomplished! We are so grateful for you!

We are so excited to continue to link arms with our community to build a thriving, resilient local economy where every business and nonprofit is supported, celebrated, and empowered and equipped to RISE.

We are Fueled by what Our Community Says

We live for moments like:

• “I can’t believe this business has been here for 7 years and I’m just finding out about it! I’m going tomorrow to check it out!”
• “Our business doubled income in a year because of the marketing strategies you taught us!”
• “We love hearing about these businesses who are so involved in strengthening the community. That’s who we will be spending our money with.”
• “We follow you because we want to hear about the new businesses who need support.”
• “I had no idea this event was a thing! Thank you for sharing about it so we can support the cause!”
• “We follow you guys on Facebook! We love you! You consistently share about businesses and nonprofits we have never heard about.”
• “With Lesleigh’s marketing strategies and coaching she helped me generate over 500k from digital marketing in the last year alone!”
• “Honestly, I just did exactly what you suggested and that is when people started coming in.”

These aren’t just comments—they’re affirmations of a community, coming together, determined to thrive.

It takes community.

It takes collaboration.

It takes commitment.

It takes those who are willing to be a catalyst for change. Those leaders to rise up and pave the way.

The Power of Local Businesses

Small businesses aren’t just shops; they’re the heartbeat of our economy. They create jobs, fuel innovation, and keep dollars circulating within our community. For every $100 spent at a local business, about $68 stays in the local economy, compared to only $43 when spent at a national chain.

Supporting local isn’t just a feel-good act; it’s a strategic investment in our collective future. So, when you shop small you are part of building a legacy for our community.

Nonprofits: Pillars of Community Strength

Nonprofits uplift our community in profound ways—from providing essential services for the homeless to enriching education and healthcare. In the U.S., nonprofits contribute approximately $1 trillion to the economy and account for nearly 10% of all employment. Their impact is undeniable, and when we support them, we’re fostering a stronger, more compassionate community.

The purpose of a nonprofit is to maximize the donation dollars you give to serve their mission and rely on a lot of word-of-mouth advertising and community support. That is why we are passionate about coming along side fellow nonprofits, to share their stories and rally support from those who have a heart for their mission.

Amplifying Stories, Stretching Marketing Dollars

At TopCity Rise, we’re not just advocates; we’re storytellers. We partner with community, small businesses and nonprofits to:

• Share Their Story: We highlight their unique journeys, values, and contributions to our community, ensuring they’re seen and celebrated.
• Maximize Impact: We help them make the most of their marketing dollars through marketing coaching and connecting them with cost-effective strategies to maximize brand awareness that resonate with local audiences.
• Community Spotlight: Through our platforms, we introduce the community to businesses and nonprofits they might not know about, creating new opportunities for support and collaboration.

We are so excited about the future of Topeka!

We don’t just want local to stay alive…we want it to thrive. We would love for you to link arms with us and be a part of building a thriving local economy.

If you are a community member, keep following along, invite your friends to follow us and write those positive reviews! We have some upcoming challenges and incentives, specifically for those of you who are supporting local, that we think you’ll love!

If you are a business owner or CEO and this resonates with your heart for community, consider joining us by becoming an Ad Astra Sponsor. If your business or corporation values community, collaboration, and compassion, consider becoming an Ad Astra Sponsor. This is an opportunity to have every dollar you spend on advertising for your business, duplicated for community impact. If you are ready to align your brand with a mission dedicated to supporting small businesses, nonprofits and building a thriving community for the next generation, let’s chat.

We RISE Together.