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City split on giving tax breaks for downtown retail, residential project

2024-10-21T09:54:29-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Manhattan city commissioners are split on allowing a developer to use more than $2 million in tax breaks and assistance to turn the downtown Commerce Bank building into retail and residential space. Officials from Hutton Development on Tuesday requested a 10-year property tax abatement, a sales tax exemption on construction materials and for the city to pay for half the cost of improvements to Poyntz Avenue as they seek to buy the building at 727 Poyntz Ave., tear it down and construct a new one with retail space on the ground floor and residential space above. Commissioners John Matta and Jayme [...]

Kansas TIF district audit reveals delayed returns, higher crime rates

2024-10-21T09:52:57-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Some of Kansas’ largest cities are struggling to gain full returns on tax increment financing districts meant to help bolster development activity and property values, a recent state audit found. TIF districts, as they are called, are intended to fund real estate projects that otherwise wouldn’t exist. The idea is that the development will increase property values in the designated district, resulting in higher property tax collections that are used to pay off the bonds that financed the project. State auditors surveyed six TIF districts from Kansas’ largest cities and found that half did not recover their costs in a timely [...]

Tensions flare as commissioners consider unified approach to economic development

2024-10-21T09:51:32-05:00October 21st, 2024|

In a marathon session Wednesday, the Emporia City Commission grappled with the complex task of reimagining the city’s economic development strategy. The meeting centered on implementing recommendations from a recent VisionFirst Advisors report, particularly the creation of an umbrella organization to oversee various economic development entities. The plan, presented by VisionFirst President and CEO Gray Swoope in September, recommends consolidating several key organizations under a single umbrella structure. This would include the Regional Development Association, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Main Street, and Visit Emporia. Source: Emporia Gazette

Ortiz delivers State of City address

2024-10-21T09:48:10-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Manny Ortiz, Garden City Mayor, and Matt Allen, City Manager of Garden City, answered that question during the annual State of the City address at the Oct. 16 Chamber Breakfast hosted by the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce at the Clarion Inn. Ortiz said the focus on key priorities have shaped Garden City’s growth in 2024. The priorities include developing strong relationships with community and beyond, updating and maintaining public infrastructure and facilities, encouraging private development and creating new public spaces to improve the quality of life. “These goals have driven every position, every project and every initiative we’ve taken [...]

Grant funding parking, music, and beautification for Sedgwick

2024-10-21T09:46:33-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Sedgwick’s downtown will be getting an upgrade, thanks to a major state grant it recently received. The Kansas Department of Transportation announced this week that it awarded Sedgwick a $215,384.80 Transportation Alternative Grant. The award was part of $31.5 million in grants given out statewide, aimed at helping to make Kansas communities safer, more walkable, and bike-friendly. The program requires a 20 percent local match for the project cost. Sedgwick’s grant, for starters, would improve the block on Commercial Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets. Source: Harvey County Now

Harvey, Reno, Sedgwick counties declared a drought emergency

2024-10-21T09:45:13-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Harvey County was declared as a drought emergency with Sedgwick and Reno counties under a recent proclamation made by Governor Laura Kelly. “Drought conditions have persisted across the state through the summer season, and Kansans are continuing to see the effects,” Kelly said. “With conditions expected to remain dry throughout the fall, Kansans should consider their water usage and take extra care to prevent wildfires.” Parts of Harvey County, have been susceptible to wildfires in the past, especially the Sand Hills area near Burrton. In November of 2020, 5,000 acres burned near Burrton. In March 2022, 820 acres burned as part [...]

Stump design chosen as North Newton flag winner

2024-10-21T09:43:29-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Blayne Stump of North Newton is the winner of the North Newton city flag contest with his sunflower design. The five finalists and winner were announced during the regular Monday night meeting of the North Newton City Council. Representatives from Conrade Insurance were there to hand Stump a $500 check. “Pretty crazy,” Stump said about winning. “I didn’t expect to win. I was excited to make a submission. I spent a lot of time making different designs.” The other four finalists were Byron Ediger, Elise McGinnis, Glen Ediger and Oscar Gonzalez. “I had a lot of fun designing this,” Stump said. [...]

Opposition to sales tax hike noted at public hearing

2024-10-21T09:41:45-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Local business owners expressed their opposition to increasing the county’s current sales tax rate during a special Jackson County Commission meeting last week. At the revenue neutral rate hearing for the county budget in August, some taxpayers asked about the possibility of increasing the sales tax in the county to offset a mill rate increase. About 50 people attended a special evening meeting on Sept. 30 to share their input on increasing the current sales tax in the county. The meeting lasted an hour and 45 minutes. Jackson County currently has a 1.4 percent sales tax rate, which includes a special [...]

Olathe OKs $350M in incentives for latest phase of Coca-Cola bottling plant

2024-10-21T09:39:58-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Olathe has signed off on $350 million in incentives for the next phase of the Heartland Coca-Cola bottling plant campus on the city’s southern edge. Earlier this week, the Olathe City Council unanimously voted to issue the industrial revenue bonds, which are also tied to a 10-year, 55% property tax abatement, to the development near 167th Street and Hedge Lane. Source: Johnson County Post

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