News – Page 1023 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Panasonic’s De Soto plant will put a charge into KC-area economy

info2022-07-25T06:38:07-05:00July 25th, 2022|

Kansas and the Kansas City region are riding high after winning the megaproject known for months only as Project Ocean. Plans by Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd. to build a $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant in De Soto bring the promise of 4,000 jobs. More than that, they position the region as a new player amid a sea change in how the world powers vehicles and other products of everyday life. “We will be the production epicenter for batteries that will power the increasing demand for EVs and a more sustainable world,” Gov. Laura Kelly said at a July 13 news conference. [...]

Nevada official: Tesla/Panasonic gigafactory offers excitement, lessons for KC area

info2022-07-25T06:37:10-05:00July 25th, 2022|

“People don’t realize what an investment like this, and a name like Panasonic … means.” Forms of this statement have come from scores of government, development and business officials since the announcement that Panasonic Corp. plans to build a $4 billion battery plant in De Soto. But the above quote means even more because it comes from someone who has seen firsthand what such a project can do for — and to — a region. Mike Kazmierski, CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, has watched the buildup of Tesla Gigafactory Nevada. Tesla and Panasonic share the plant for [...]

Communities designate ‘cool off areas’

info2022-07-25T06:31:41-05:00July 24th, 2022|

With temperatures forecasted to remain above 100 degrees for the next week, several communities in Crawford County have designated "cooling off areas" open to the public should residents have issues with their air conditioning or just need to stop in during errands. Source: Morning Sun

‘Miracle Mile’: Flurry of openings energizes Iola’s State Street business corridor

info2022-07-25T06:33:09-05:00July 24th, 2022|

The timing may be a coincidence, with several Iola businesses opening (or reopening) within weeks of each other. But that activity also brings a palpable sense of enthusiasm, notes Jonathan Goering of Thrive Allen County. Goering serves as Thrive’s economic development director for Iola, Allen County and Humboldt, and has watched — and occasionally assisted — as several businesses have opened this summer. The fun started when the owners of Yates Center’s Vaqueros Mexican Restaurant decided to open a second location, Vaqueros II, in the building formerly occupied by the Greenery and Inn Club. That was followed in late May with [...]

Sedgwick County Zoo opens new train ride attraction

info2022-07-25T06:33:25-05:00July 24th, 2022|

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday for a new attraction at the Sedgwick County Zoo. The Martha C. Buford Safari Express will take Zoo visitors on a 1.3 mile trip, offering never-before seen views from behind the scenes. The Zoo’s president and chief executive officer, Scott Newland, said there are two C.P. Huntington Electric Trains that will provide the trip. He said riders will hear recordings from animal care staff on the conservation efforts going on at the Zoo. Sedgwick County Commission Chairman David Dennis, who is a board member for the Zoo, said the train has been on the wish [...]

Edgerton approves ticketing minors on sidewalks

info2022-07-25T06:34:17-05:00July 24th, 2022|

City council approved enforcing prohibition of motorized wheeled devices on city streets, highways and sidewalks through citations at their Thursday, July 14 council meeting. Edgerton’s current city code bans operation of a motorized device with wheels defined by a propelled motor or battery used to transport a person and is not required to be registered with the Kansas Department of Revenue Motor Vehicles Department. These are usually electric mini bikes, electric go carts and more operated by minors. The updated code changes from the Sheriff’s office escorting a child home to giving the minor a citation for a traffic infraction through [...]

De Soto approves TIF, setting the table for Panasonic’s incoming megaproject

info2022-07-25T06:34:36-05:00July 24th, 2022|

The De Soto City Council unanimously approved two tax increment financing project plans totaling 605 acres in the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, clearing a path to provide local incentives to Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd. The first, 309-acre plan area will house a $4 billion, 4,000-job electric-vehicle battery plant, which the Japanese electronics conglomerate this month announced it would build in Kansas, after months of state competition with Oklahoma. The second, 296-acre plan area sits just south and could support a potential $4 billion second phase, should Panasonic opt to expand. Both areas are southeast of 103rd Street and Dual Drive, within a [...]

JoCo weighs $15M for infrastructure improvements to support De Soto plant

info2022-07-25T06:34:51-05:00July 24th, 2022|

Next week the Johnson County Board of Commissioners will consider providing $15 million to support infrastructure improvements in De Soto. Earlier this month Panasonic announced it will create a $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant on the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. The new plant is expected to create 4,000 new jobs paying an average of $30 an hour. Once construction is complete, the plant is expected to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before work begins on the new battery plant, the board will consider allocating county funds to support the development through road improvements and the [...]

Sedgwick County Health Department recommending people wear masks indoors

info2022-07-25T06:35:04-05:00July 24th, 2022|

Due to the high community level rating, the Sedgwick County Health Department is now recommending that people wear masks indoors even if they are vaccinated. The department says that last week the community level in Sedgwick County rose from low to medium and then from medium to high. The amount of confirmed new positive cases has been slowly rising since early march. The department says that there are 844 new cases for the week ending on July 20. For comparison, there were 517 new cases in the same week in June. COVID-19 hospitalization has risen as well. Approximately 200 beds in [...]

Bird e-scooters to arrive in Olathe this week

info2022-07-25T06:36:09-05:00July 24th, 2022|

Starting Monday, electric scooters from Bird Inc. will be rolled out across Olathe. It’s part of an agreement with the city government and the shared microtransit provider expected to bring up to 200 scooters to Olathe. The initial disbursement will be about 50 scooters placed around the city. Source: Parsons Sun