A funny thing happened as 1,800 people jammed onto the sprawling lawn outside Meadowbrook Apartments for the annual Lawrence Chamber of Commerce mixer, affectionately known as the “Taste of Lawrence.”

A lot of folks ended up talking about what they’re doing away from town.

“Every single project I’m doing right now is outside of Lawrence,” said Phil Struble, president of Lawrence-based Landplan Engineering, which handles site plans, design projects and landscape engineering for developments. “We at Landplan Engineering are excited about of area land opportunities that include Junction City, east Kansas City, Leavenworth and the Spring Hill-Gardner areas.

“That’s where all our work is now.”

But the slowdown in developments should subside soon, he said, once projects such as replacement of Kasold Drive, the addition of a major sewer pump station and construction of a new sewage treatment plant move closer to reality.

Sandra Walker, of Lawrence, takes a drink during the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce's annual Taste of Lawrence mixer Wednesday on the lawn at Meadowbrook Apartments at Bob Billings Parkway and Crestline Drive.

“We expect the Lawrence market to rebound once we solve a handful of infrastructure issues, which the city is aggressively pursuing,” he said.

Sidney Garrett, president and owner of Brown Cargo Van in Lawrence, said her company wasn’t looking beyond Lawrence’s city limits for work.

She’s searching for workers.

“My biggest problem is we’re really looking for a lot of good employees at our place,” said Garrett, whose 50 employees make cargo boxes and other components that attach to the backs of trucks. “That’s our biggest challenge right now. We’re looking all over – in Topeka, in Baldwin, Tonganoxie, everywhere.

“We’re looking for people who want to work and will show up for work.”

For the record, Garrett says she needs five to seven more employees, such as mechanics, welders and others.

“It’s hard,” she said.

Jack Hope, president and owner of Jack Hope Design Build, said that he was plenty busy handling residential remodeling jobs in Lawrence – and beyond. Of his dozen jobs under way, two are in Topeka and two are in Kansas City – one a custom-cabinet installation in a downtown loft, and another a large kitchen remodel off Ward Parkway.

“That’s new to us, and we’ll get more,” Hope said.

The annual event gives chamber members, educators and their guests a chance to gather, chat and enjoy foods from 23 vendors. Educators receive either free or discount tickets, while others pay to raise money for chamber operations and programs.