info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

The Challenges of a Micropolitan City

info2023-10-18T11:48:58-05:00October 18th, 2023|

Pittsburg is different in many ways, and one of its most interesting characteristics is that it is a micropolitan area. The micropolitan area designation was formally created by the US government in 2003 and relates to a small urban area with a population of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000 that is removed from a larger metropolitan area. There are around 540 micropolitan areas in the US with around 27 million people. In Kansas, the overall population in micropolitan areas has declined, although Pittsburg is avoiding that trend as it continues to grow. Large suburbs, whose economy is often tied [...]

A “Truancy & Chronic Absenteeism” plan is showing progress in this Kansas school district

info2023-10-18T11:49:45-05:00October 18th, 2023|

The pandemic exposed an issue at many schools across the country: chronic absenteeism, including in the Parsons School District. However, district leaders have implemented a system that has helped. The Parsons School District has created a new "Chronic Absenteeism Task Force," made up of faculty and staff from each school in the district. They've come up with initiatives and incentives for students. "Most of the research says, you know, try the non-punitive approach, support multi-tiered system of support. And so that's where we started trying things last spring. And then we saw our numbers start to decrease," said Jeff Pegues, Parsons [...]

Salina community invests in childcare issues

info2023-10-18T11:52:25-05:00October 18th, 2023|

The Salina Area United Way has spearheaded an effort bringing in more than $2.8 million in funds so far to address child care issues and shortages in Saline County. A collaborative community effort, led by the United Way, has sought various federal and state grant funding, as well as partnerships with local businesses and organizations to build a reserve of funds to support the local child care industry. But they’re just getting started. Each year, it will take $460,000 to fully fund wage supplements for existing child care workers in local facilities. That figure doesn’t include any staff that might later [...]

Battery-storage facility plans unveiled for Halstead

info2023-10-18T11:37:41-05:00October 18th, 2023|

The City of Halstead will enter into a lease-purchase agreement with a Boston company with plans to build a lithium-ion battery storage facility at Halstead’s industrial park. The facility could be online as early as 2027, according to the press release by Concurrent LLC, the Harvey County EDC, and the City of Halstead that was issued Oct. 16. The facility would consist, in part, of lithium-Ion batteries connected into Evergy’s transmission system, according to the release. The electric grid would be able to draw on the stored energy in the batteries when demand is high and store energy when demand is [...]

Governor Kelly Cuts Ribbon on $450M, 100+ Job Hill’s Pet Nutrition Tonganoxie Plant

info2023-10-18T11:36:54-05:00October 18th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly joined business leaders from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Colgate-Palmolive, Leavenworth County, City of Tonganoxie, and other industry and elected officials for the grand opening of a new, fully designed smart facility in Tonganoxie. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a division of Colgate-Palmolive and a global leader in science-led nutrition, estimates it will invest more than $450 million to construct the new facility and bring more than 100 new jobs to Leavenworth County. Company officials say the new plant marks a “step change” in strategic automation and technological advancements in the pet food industry. It will significantly increase the company’s wet production [...]

New Lawrence bus station aims to facilitate community connections

info2023-10-18T11:36:16-05:00October 18th, 2023|

Lawrence Transit’s Central Station is nearing completion. The new facility will serve as the central hub for bus transfers, a departure from the longtime downtown transfer point. What city staff members say will be a new era of public transport in Lawrence comes after nearly a decade of studies, planning and funding. Members of the Public Transit Advisory Committee got a tour of the facility Monday afternoon. The station, located just west of Bob Billings Parkway and Iowa Street near the KU campus, promises to be more than just a transportation hub, according to city staff members. It is designed to [...]

Computer network woes force Kansas courts to rely on old-school methods of operation

info2023-10-18T11:35:51-05:00October 18th, 2023|

A computer network incident in Kansas interrupting electronic filings and payments in the state’s appellate courts and the district courts in all but populous Johnson County has been extended indefinitely, officials said Monday. The Kansas Supreme Court issued an updated administrative order indicating clerks in 104 counties were unable to receive online filings. The cause, which hasn’t been precisely explained, hasn’t forbidden clerk offices from operating. However, all filings must be executed with paper, delivered by hand or through the mail, or with a fax machine. The order signed by Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert would allow individuals to [...]

The latest on Riverfront Stadium? Developers won’t build by it without new TIF district

info2023-10-18T11:35:27-05:00October 18th, 2023|

When Wichita announced plans to demolish Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and build a new Triple-A ballpark, city leaders promoted the $80-million-plus public investment as a catalyst for private development surrounding the stadium. The city sold land to developers for $1 an acre, moved McLean Boulevard, agreed to a subsidy package and tapped the state’s COVID-19 emergency funds to help boost private development on the west bank of the Arkansas River. Now, to spur private development, the city is poised to give to developers a key revenue stream that originally was supposed to help pay down stadium debt. If the City Council doesn’t approve [...]

Governor Kelly Announces Rural Champions Receive $300K for Community Projects

info2023-10-18T09:44:47-05:00October 18th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $300,000 has been awarded to the 12 Rural by Choice Champions (Rural Champions) announced last year in collaboration with the Office of Rural Prosperity and the Patterson Family Foundation to address local challenges in their respective communities. The funding will allow these communities to move into the implementation phase of their projects. “Throughout my time in office, my administration has worked relentlessly to advance economic development, build affordable housing, and expand child care availability to ensure prosperity reaches every corner of the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This funding allows Rural Champions to drive success [...]

Rural Harvey County sees uptick in Airbnbs

info2023-10-18T09:42:25-05:00October 18th, 2023|

A recent Newton City Council meeting inspired the city to assess its regulations on Airbnbs. While the city is still deciding its rules, the county has also been dealing with its regulations around them. Karen Rothe is the Harvey County Planning, Zoning and Environmental director. She is in charge of ensuring all Airbnbs that are in rural Harvey County have the proper permits. Rothe said she saw a large increase in the number of Airbnbs in Harvey County, and most of them didn’t have permits. Rothe said she checks the Airbnb site yearly. She checked it this year after being notified [...]

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