info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Major Newton employer to close

info2022-12-06T01:46:21-06:00December 6th, 2022|

The MasterBrand Cabinets plant (Norcraft) in Newton is shutting down. That’s according to a notice sent to board members of the Harvey County Economic Development Council as well as job placement professionals. Tucky Allen, business services director/rapid response coordinator for Kansas WorkforceONE, is currently working to find employment for the 480 employees of the plant at 831 S Columbus Ave, Newton. “What our plan is, MasterBrand has agreed and would like as many employers as possible to potentially hire affected workers,” Allen said. “They’ve agreed to let them [employers] come on site and do interviews. It will be called a job fair for [...]

KC’s first 1 million-square-foot-plus distribution center is available for sublease after outdoor-gear giant packs up Gardner operations

info2022-12-06T06:54:29-06:00December 6th, 2022|

The Coleman Co. Inc. is preparing to pull up its stakes from a 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center in Gardner. At the opening of the $35 million industrial facility at 17150 W. Mercury St., the then-Wichita-based outdoor-gear giant's CEO Sam Solomon said the 25-acre building was a "key component of our global business strategy." Built in 2009 on a 50.5-acre site adjacent to Interstate 35, the distribution center won a Capstone Award in the industrial category in 2010. When the distribution center officially opened in 2010, the company had approximately 160 local full-time employees. It's unknown how many employees it has now. Source: Kansas [...]

This city was recognized by American Planning Association as ‘Great Place in Kansas’

info2022-12-06T01:40:06-06:00December 6th, 2022|

Downtown Overland Park has been recognized as a Great Place in Kansas by the Kansas Chapter of the American Planning Association. These awards recognize excellent standards in planning and highlight neighborhoods, streets and public spaces. “Today, Downtown Overland Park is a destination. Just mention Downtown Overland Park in metropolitan Kansas City and you are likely to encounter people who are familiar with its increasing appeal, vibrancy and artistic presence,” said Mayor Curt Skoog said in a prepared statement. Source: Joco 913 News

Wichita and Sedgwick County are applying for FEMA grant to help Calfskin flooding issues

info2022-12-06T06:55:27-06:00December 6th, 2022|

It’s been a dry year in Kansas with very little rainfall, which has kept Bob Powell from needing to deal with a problem his home just south of calfskin creek has had for decades. He is referring to the Halloween flood of 1998. which caused him thousands of dollars of damage. Powell says the situation has improved over the last decade but as of now, his home still sits on a floodplain. “It's hard to sell the house because of you have to buy flood insurance and people just don't want to be bothered.” Over time the city of Wichita and [...]

Kansas community colleges reaching a crossroads

info2022-12-06T07:13:51-06:00December 6th, 2022|

A cost model created in the early 2000s calls for the Legislature to pay roughly one-third of the cost of instruction and related services for community colleges. The remaining two-thirds is to come about equally from student tuition payments and local property taxes. But the state hasn’t paid its share for years. In the 2020 fiscal year, state appropriations amounted to less than 20% of revenues for the community college system. That leaves locally elected boards with the difficult choice of either raising tuition, increasing local mill levies or both. ... Each college is governed by an independent board of trustees. [...]

Johnson County to consider funds for new homeless shelter

info2022-12-06T07:14:11-06:00December 6th, 2022|

The Johnson County Commission is poised to consider plans to create a new year-round shelter for people experiencing homelessness. According to a county news release, the commission at its Dec. 8 meeting will consider an agreement that would put $4 million in federal funding towards a new shelter. The shelter would be a non-congregate hotel-style shelter — meaning guests would each have their own private spaces — and it would be open all year, a service currently unavailable in Kansas’ most affluent county. Source: Prairie Village Post

Mayor Garner calls for community-wide effort to address key issues in Wyandotte County

info2022-12-06T01:23:26-06:00December 6th, 2022|

Mayor Tyrone Garner, in his annual message about the Unified Government, called for a community-wide effort to address key issues in Wyandotte County. Garner delivered the annual message at the Thursday, Dec. 1, UG Commission meeting. Often in the past, similar speeches have been delivered at a “State of the UG” address at the Reardon Convention Center. According to the mayor, an annual message is required by the UG charter. Source: Wyandotte Daily

Indianapolis developer plans $49M affordable housing in east Wichita

info2022-12-06T01:21:22-06:00December 6th, 2022|

The Annex Group, an Indianapolis-based multifamily developer, plans to build a 240-unit affordable housing complex in east Wichita, and will seek tax-exempt bonds from the city to help fund the project. Called Union at Purple Heart Trail, the complex will have two, four-story buildings near the southeast corner of Douglas Avenue and 127th Street, near the interchange for the Kansas Turnpike, K-96 and Kellogg. Source: Wichita Business Journal

Kansas coalition of cities flex muscle at Capitol to influence tax, water, housing reform

info2022-12-06T01:16:38-06:00December 6th, 2022|

The Kansas League of Municipalities is a proponent of eliminating the state’s 6.5% sales tax on food purchases, but an unexpected wrinkle complicates that policy position. The 2022 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly approved a law dropping the statewide sales tax on groceries to 4% on Jan. 1. It would fall to 2% on Jan. 1, 2024 and vaporize one year later. The Republican-dominated 2023 Legislature, which convenes Jan. 9 in Topeka, will have an opportunity to address Kelly’s plea to immediately strike the state’s share of the food sales tax. High inflation has bolstered political support for the move. Source: [...]

Multi-million dollar hotel project potentially coming to Hutchinson in 2024

info2022-12-06T01:15:19-06:00December 6th, 2022|

A new $18 Million Hotel and Conference Center could be coming to Hutchinson. City leaders say it would make up for a lack of hotel rooms when Hutch hosts big events. "That would be good. I think they'd like that. If they were coming from out of state. I have some family in Ohio. I think they'd like to stay there,” said Caleb Penrose, of Buhler Kansas. “For the last few years, we've been a little short on beds for hotels. We have some good hotels, but with the events we have and some of the businesses in town, we find [...]

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