Nearly 82% of Kansas cities lost people over the last decade. That’s according to a new report out of KU’s Institute for Policy and Social Research. The losses get even worse when looking at towns that started with fewer than 10,000 people. But one town in Central Kansas has found a successful formula when it comes to attracting newcomers. “We offer free land to new business development and investment in our community,” said Murray McGee, Economic Development Director for the City of Moundridge.
As jobs came, people followed. Unemployment fell to just 3.3% and the city said companies have many job openings, ranging from sales clerks to engineers.
McGee said getting people to Moundridge still isn’t the last step in the city’s population growth plan.
“They want a community that gives new residents opportunities to really become part of the community,” he said. “And we try to do that.”
City leaders hold regular Newcomer Meetings to make sure everything’s going smoothly and new folks have the help they need to settle in. Moundridge has the biggest population jump in Central Kansas, between April 2010 and July 2017, for towns with fewer than 10,000 people.
(Read more: KAKE – News)