Lawrence Chamber of Commerce officials Tuesday welcomed 80 commercial real estate brokers from the Kansas City metro area as part of an effort to create more awareness of economic development opportunities in Lawrence.

Chamber officials want to make sure the Kansas City contingent realize Mount Oread isnâÂÂt LawrenceâÂÂs only attraction.

Alicia Janesko, marketing manager for the chamberâÂÂs economic development department, said the chamber wanted to make sure the group also knew about East Hills Business Park, the cityâÂÂs largest industrial park.

âÂÂThe most important thing weâÂÂre trying to do is educate people,â Janesko said. âÂÂSome people may think we are just the community where KU is located, but we have a lot more to offer than just KU. This is a great opportunity for us to market those things.âÂÂ

The group took a bus tour of East Hills and stopped at the parkâÂÂs newest project, a $3.2 million building that Douglas County Development Inc. is constructing in hopes of attracting a new manufacturing or industrial company.

Janesko said the 67,000-square-foot building was nearly complete, but Douglas County Development and the chamber were still looking for a tenant.

âÂÂWeâÂÂve received a great deal of interest,â Janesko said. âÂÂWeâÂÂve had approximately four local businesses look at it and weâÂÂve had six to eight outside businesses tour it.âÂÂ

Chamber officials also introduced the brokers to a new database the chamber is offering to make it easier for people to find a list of available buildings and sites in Lawrence.

The database, located on the chamberâÂÂs Web site, should help in recruiting new companies to town, Janesko said. It can be found at www. lawrencechamber.com.

TuesdayâÂÂs event was co-sponsored by the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce. This is the sixth year the Lenexa chamber has brought together area real estate brokers, but the first time theyâÂÂve toured a community outside Kansas City.

âÂÂWe both felt like it was important that we do something like this because weâÂÂre growing closer together all the time,â Janesko said.

In addition to the East Hills tour, the group had a meal at Liberty Hall and attended the Kansas University vs. Washburn University menâÂÂs basketball game.