info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

For 3 years, Topeka has been paying people up to $15K to move there. Is it working?

info2022-07-13T08:30:09-05:00July 13th, 2022|

Kenyon and Stacey Gleason were already planning to move to Topeka from South Dakota.... It wasn’t until they were shopping for homes with their Topeka real estate agent that they learned another financial incentive awaited them. Kenyon could apply for Choose Topeka’s relocation program, which gives remote workers who move to Shawnee County $10,000 toward the purchase of a home. A few months later, Kenyon happily cashed the $10,000 check. ... their experience also illuminates the complexities and blind spots of economic development efforts like Choose Topeka. Its approach — attempting to grow the tax base by targeting individuals rather than [...]

Municipal-Bond Issuers Fall Behind on Disclosures

info2022-07-13T08:26:18-05:00July 13th, 2022|

U.S. states, cities and counties are taking longer to file regular financial reports, leaving bondholders in the dark and adding to pressure on prices. S&P Global Ratings last month withdrew its ratings for 30 cities, counties and other municipalities because they haven’t yet filed their 2020 financial statements. The ratings company also placed New Orleans on credit watch in April for late reporting, the largest city analysts can recall incurring that sanction in more than a decade. Source: WSJ.com: Markets To utilize our Continuing Bond Disclosure services, email Beth Warren.

The sixth annual Salina Comic Con is at TPEC this weekend

info2022-07-13T08:07:41-05:00July 13th, 2022|

Coming back for the sixth straight year, the 2022 edition of Salina Comic Con is happening over the weekend in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center (TPEC). Featured guests at this year's con include Justin Nimmo, the original silver ranger from "Power Rangers in Space," C. Andrew Nelson, who has played and voiced Darth Vader several times in the Star Wars franchise of films, TV shows and video games and Alan Fernandes, the only living Tusken Raider from the original 1977 "Star Wars" film, "A New Hope." ... "As a city facility, our mission is to [...]

Lawrence and Douglas County leaders call for more in-depth discussion of homeless shelter, affordable housing

info2022-07-13T08:05:47-05:00July 13th, 2022|

Douglas County leaders want to do more to help people in the local homeless shelter transition into stable housing, and they say they’ll need to work closely with City of Lawrence leaders to achieve that. Leaders from the city and the county held a joint work session on affordable housing on Tuesday, giving county commissioners a chance to learn more about housing issues in Lawrence from city leaders. But the work session only lasted about 45 minutes, and County Commissioner Shannon Reid said the governments needed to have a more extensive conversation in the future, particularly about the Lawrence Community Shelter. [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for July 12, 2022

info2022-07-13T08:04:27-05:00July 13th, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Fed’s Barkin is open to raising rates by 50 or 75 basis points in July

info2022-07-12T22:47:13-05:00July 12th, 2022|

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin kept his options open on how big the central bank should go when it raises interest rates later this month, following an increase of 75 basis points in June. “I am one of the guys who like the option value of deciding the week of the meeting as opposed to two weeks before the meeting,” he told reporters Tuesday after a speech in Charlotte, North Carolina. “But I thought Jay’s guidance the last time was very sound. We’ll get a little bit more information before the meeting and importantly we’ll get CPI. I’ll [...]

Effort launched to coordinate federal infrastructure funds for Kansas

info2022-07-13T08:00:36-05:00July 12th, 2022|

At the end of June, Governor Laura Kelly announced the creation of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub, which will coordinate Kansas state agencies and local entities as they administer and apply for funding available through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The Hub will identify statewide and regional infrastructure priorities, strategize as to how to maximize investment opportunities, and promote best practices in securing and distributing funding. Kansas is set to receive close to $3.8 billion in direct funds for transportation, water, energy, and broadband projects. Kansas could potentially receive more by applying for competitive grants. “Infrastructure creates opportunities, powers businesses, keeps [...]

Merriam approves redevelopment of former Kmart site

info2022-07-12T22:32:08-05:00July 12th, 2022|

The City of Merriam has approved the redevelopment of a former Kmart building. The former Kmart site, located at 8703 Shawnee Mission Parkway, just east of Interstate 35, has sat vacant since the store closed in 2013. Plans for the $136 million mixed-use project include four restaurants, two apartment complexes, retail space and a parking garage. The developer was asking for $30 million in incentives to help subsidize the project. The existing Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Krispy Kreme in the northwest corner of the property will remain, as will the La Petite Academy in the southeast corner of the [...]

Lenexa considers redesigned Indian Trails Aquatic Center

info2022-07-13T08:01:37-05:00July 12th, 2022|

A new design for the Indian Trails Aquatic Center in Lenexa that prominently features a lazy river, slides and diving boards has begun to take shape as the city considers how to increase attendance and cost recovery at its four swimming pools. What’s going on? City councilmembers recently took a look at a conceptual plan offered by architectural firm Confluence. The plan is the product of more than four years of study and public input that also included a survey of 430 school children. According to the answers from students at five elementary schools, the top most requested feature was a lazy river, followed by [...]

Dodge City eliminates enrollment fees for all students K-12

info2022-07-12T22:19:50-05:00July 12th, 2022|

Some Kansas families will not have to pay enrollment fees this school year. On Monday, the Dodge City Board of Education voted in favor of eliminating them for all students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, effective immediately. This includes fees for textbooks and learning materials. The superintendent says the decision came after a discussion about the large number of families who qualify for free or reduced meals, adding that this could help ease the financial burden for many. "I'm certain that it will be appreciated far and wide by a large majority of our community, and it has to benefit families, [...]

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