The City of Pana has secured grants for water main and line replacements, a new outdoor venue coined the ‘People’s Plaza,’ and for improvements to their downtown. Small towns took a big hit in their ability to support local retail businesses and restaurants when COVID hit, now Pana officials are looking to bring them back to the historic area. Downtown improvements are at the very top of their list, says Economic Development Director Kirby Casner.

Casner believes it’s all about networking and planning to attract new investment and development, to the town’s available spaces.

Casner shares that Pana’s acquisition of the Roseland Theater and the ‘People’s Plaza’ just across from it, are necessary steps in this process. While the hope was to have the new outdoor space completed by this time, residents can plan to see this open by Summer 2026.

Equally important to their plans are the replacements being made to several existing water lines and mains. Casner states over 9 blocks of lines and the 6th Street water main, are first to get fixed.

Following the second successful Pana Popcorn Festival, Casner tells that events like these are “the exact example” of what they hope to accomplish.

Find out more about the City of Pana by visiting www.cityofpana.org.

Kirby Casner appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.