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They like us in Topeka, Kan. According to an article in the Topeka Capital-Journal, 40 residents of that city visited Des Moines Sept. 4-5 on a trip sponsored by the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, and apparently were impressed by what they found here.

Richard Wienckowski, chief financial officer of Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc., told the paper: “What impressed me was the level of cooperation between government and the private sector. They were all singing from the same hymn book.”

This, of course, is what the Greater Des Moines Partnership has been promoting all along.

Wienckowski also lauded Iowa’s handling of gambling money. He liked hearing that the Legislature spends some of that money on education and community infrastructure, saying, “they were smart enough to take some of the money and rebuild Iowa.”

Actually, the Topeka chamber has been visiting lots of small cities, including state capitals, like Topeka. Groups have already checked out Little Rock; Springfield, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Omaha; Oklahoma City; and Sioux Falls, S.D.

But a chamber official did tell the Capital-Journal that trip organizers were impressed by Des Moines’ high rankings in recent surveys.

The bloggers who commented on the article were less enthusiastic about Topeka.

One wrote: “Des Moines was a much more vibrant town financially 15 years ago than Topeka is today. The financial base the city could operate with was much healthier. As a result, working toward their vision was a little easier (in regard to finances and the burden upon the local taxpayers.).”

Another wrote: “There are a few really cool things brewing in Topeka and Shawnee County, but those things are happening in spite of the chamber, the commissions and Go-Topeka, not because of them. But I am sure that the city and county will do what they do best once they catch wind of it. Beat it with a stick until it moves to Lawrence.”