Transition Plus

Transition Plus is our exciting new 501c3 project in Summerfield!  Targeted to create rural renewal, with stable housing, agricultural small business education, and a place for healing and learning for our transitioning military, we are now at the fundraising stage of our endeavor.

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Our Mission: 

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The purpose of Transition Plus Association and its chapters is to encourage RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT by creating education centers for transitioning veterans reintegrating into rural America to build SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and COMMUNITY ECONOMIC GROWTH which are essential for National Security.

We provide assistance with housing, healthcare, employment, agricultural and small business education, plus the needed time to discover a new career path, purpose for life, and healing from visible and invisible wounds, all in a quiet area ready for rural renewal.

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Our Assets:

1.  The City of Summerfield is allowing us to use the former school building rent free as we provide the maintenance.  We are developing a community kitchen and will use the classrooms to house part of the Tower Farm that is being established.  The produce will grow under special lights.  The rooms will allow for storage and packaging and getting it ready for distribution. The gym will be for the community's use and the veteran's use. The football field will house a full-size Commercial Greenhouse with state-of-the-art aeroponic Towers for farming all kinds of produce.  

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2. The former Veteran Home, Good Shepherd, is available for the project for affordable housing. It has 25 beds and will provide inexpensive, stable housing for the veterans who come to learn produce farming in a high-tech way, along with other agricultural options like beekeeping, goat herding, and chicken or egg production.

3. We have a fantastic board working on a solid business plan and small business opportunities for transitioning veterans.

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   Our President:

• Gary Smith, Transition Plus Association President and Executive Director has extensive experience as a defense contractor and entrepreneur.He was project manager for a $43 M radar program for the US Army with installation and support of radars located across the US, Europe and in the South Pacific.  He has also served as CEO, Chief Technical Officer, and VP in the defense electronics industry and successfully complied with all applicable Department of Defense fiscal controls on several projects. He has a passion to come along side transitioning veterans and give them the career path support they need to succeed in a whole different world. Too many veterans don't transition well and so struggle for years, or even end their life.  We aim to change that!

• Linn Sunderland - Former college professor and ag devotee with strong roots to Summerfield and on its Alumni Board will oversee the building of the Commercial Greenhouse and the Tower Farm indoors as well.

• Ellen Barber, MCP4G Director.  She has helped raise $300k of tax credit pledges toward the project and helps with the direction of the project.

• Roy Messick - Highly experienced CPA, serves as the treasurer.

• Jerry Zayas - West Point graduate and Veteran of 30+ years, a retired Colonel. Resides in Blue Rapids, and will be the next mayor.  

• Jim McNeal - Roots in Summerfield and a veteran chaplain with a mental health specialty. Will be available to our resident veterans.

4. It is in close proximity to Fort Riley, Offutt AFB, and Fort Leavenworth from which military personnel and families are seeking affordable housing, jobs, and a secure location to find purpose, mission and support to heal from visible and invisible wounds. This USO group is partnering with us to send us veterans who desire to go into some sort of agriculture that they can afford.  The Tower Farm system, once learned, can be taken anywhere in the world.  This location will facilitate the project since our target audience is veterans who desire a quiet, rural location with the opportunity to consider their future career options as well as be exposed to modern produce production.

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5.  We have developed many partnerships that will enhance the veteran's lives and experiences.  One such partnership is with KU Med to deliver Telemed medical help and advice. We are developing online and hand's on educational opportunities with local colleges as well.

6. Summerfield has a history of support for veterans offering a secure, quiet, community in a calm, rural setting – Good Shepherd Village was previously licensed by the state of Kansas and the VA for various programs. The location is also ideal since the town's residents have had veterans live in the community before, and are very accepting of them.  Even after the Veteran's Good Shepherd Village closed years ago, several have settled in the area because they did not want to leave.

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7. We have strong local support from Marshall County and the city of Summerfield.  We have organizations that have pledged donations eligible for the tax credits to help the project go forward.  This tower farm will be sustainable as new military come in and help grow and harvest and market the product.  We see this Tower Farm as a very long-term project that helps sustain the Transition Plus Association nonprofit vision of training veterans and transforming rural communities.

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If you have questions or would like to help, please contact Ellen Barber in the space below!