News – Page 1427 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wichita launches district one loan program

info2021-05-21T07:05:50-05:00May 20th, 2021|

The City of Wichita announced its new PROPEL loan fund program Thursday for Wichita City Council District 1 business owners. The program is designated to help minority and women-owned businesses with access to a low-interest and short-term loan. Business owners in District 1 will have to meet eligibility requirements determined by the city and and must apply for the program. Owners can receive up to $15,000 in loan funds at an interest rate of about 3%. The loan must also be repaid within 36 months. "PROPEL stand for providing resources and opportunities for proprietors, entrepreneurs and lenders..." Source: KAKE - News

Internet discount program already accrues 1 million users; how Kansans can get $50 off too

info2021-05-21T07:06:14-05:00May 20th, 2021|

A program that helps families save $50 on their monthly internet bill has already enrolled one million people. Over 900 broadband providers have agreed to take part in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. The benefit is available to eligible new, prior, and existing customers of participating providers. Customers can sign up by contacting a participating provider, enroll online by clicking here, or sign up via mail. To learn more or learn where to access a mail-in application, call 833-511-0311. Source: KSNT News

Treasury Says It Has Already Distributed $105B in State, Local Aid

info2021-05-21T07:06:48-05:00May 20th, 2021|

The Treasury Department said Thursday it had distributed $105.3 billion of a $350 billion pool of American Rescue Plan funding that is available for state, local, tribal and territorial governments. Treasury released guidelines about 11 days ago for how the federal aid can be used, officially kicking off the program. “Almost a third of the funding has gone out the door, and I’m hopeful communities will be able to rehire teachers and help businesses re-open much sooner than otherwise," said Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen in a statement. Over 1,500 recipients have received the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Treasury said. The funds are intended to [...]

California couple recreates small Kansas town (Oakley) in their backyard miniature railroad

info2021-05-20T13:45:58-05:00May 20th, 2021|

About two years ago ... the Spencers weeded out some elements of their [backyard miniature] railroad, repainted the pint-sized buildings, and created 41 dioramas that replicated small town life in their former home of Oakley, Kan. Jim grew up in Oakley, where the population hovered at about 2,500 residents. Hints of the town’s character in the 1950s are scattered throughout their Oakley Western Railroad. Just like many of Oakley’s businesses that were owned and/or operated by the men who returned home after World War II, many of the couple’s buildings bear the names of the proprietors. There’s the Kauffman Hotel, which [...]

Traders are now worried that the Fed isn’t being proactive enough

info2021-05-20T07:34:34-05:00May 20th, 2021|

The Federal Reserve may be trying to project a coherent vision on what it expects its policy on future rate hikes will be, but the market cannot seem to agree on what version of the Fed it wants to believe. Does it want the Fed to be hawkish or dovish? Does it want the Fed to taper and begin raising rates sooner than expected, or put it off because inflation is "transitory" as the Fed seems to imply? There is evidence the market is becoming more comfortable with the Fed getting a bit more hawkish. A couple months ago, traders were concerned [...]

Wichita approves land bank to help distressed and abandoned properties

info2021-05-20T07:23:35-05:00May 20th, 2021|

This week the Wichita City Council approved the creation of land bank in Wichita. Land banks are used so the city can acquire distressed and abandoned properties and get them into the hands of nonprofits to fix them up and get housing to lower income residents. The Wichita Habitat for Humanity says this could make a huge impact in communities. "A lot of this really becomes a hazard to the neighbors,” said Ann Fox the executive director of Habitat for Humanity. Overgrown, boarded up and abandoned homes in Wichita might get a makeover sooner rather than later thanks to the Wichita [...]

Builder seeks fee waiver as costs soar

info2021-05-20T06:56:54-05:00May 19th, 2021|

Local contractor Brandon Jellings wants more incentives from the City of Arkansas City to build a housing project that has struggled to get off the ground. He met with city commissioners during a Friday work session and asked that the city waive several required permits and reduce utility connection fees. Jellings Construction is building 54 duplex-style housing units in the Compass Point Addition in northwest Ark City. The original developer planned single-family homes. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

First Impressions feedback: Inman is practically perfect in every way

info2021-05-20T06:59:27-05:00May 19th, 2021|

On May 10, prior to the Inman City Council meeting at the community building, Jan Steen, with the K-State Community Vitality program, presented the observations of a team from Harper, who visited Inman in July and August 2020. Their goal was to identify, “How does a first-time visitor view my town?” The Community Vitality initiative is part of the Kansas Pride Program, sponsored by K-State Research and Extension. The observers visited as a team and then came back as individuals or with their families. ... As it turns out for Inman, the Harper team found that there is much to commend [...]

Kansas Main Street director helps local effort

info2021-05-20T07:00:10-05:00May 19th, 2021|

Scott Sewell, director of the Kansas Main Street program, spent last Thursday in Marysville, visiting with Marysville Chamber & Main Street’s board and exploring the city’s downtown. Kansas Main Street was re-established last fall in the Kansas Department of Commerce as a program to promote revitalization and preservation of downtown districts. A small office of three, Sewell’s team offers training and technical assistance to Kansas downtowns based on four points: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality. While in Marysville, Sewell was impressed with the enthusiasm of those he met with the Marysville Chamber & Main Street organization. Source: The Marysville Advocate

Manhattan wants landlords to provide flood hazard notice

info2021-05-20T07:00:45-05:00May 19th, 2021|

Landlords likely will be required to notify tenants if they’re living in a flood prone area. Manhattan city commissioners discussed requiring a flood hazard notice Tuesday. The change is a part of the Manhattan Development Code. City officials have updated this code, formerly known as the Unified Development Ordinance, with new zoning regulations into one document. The main goal is to put all the zoning and design information into one document and make it easier for the public to understand. “I think this is one of the big improvements we wanted,” Mayor Wynn Butler said of the flood notification requirement. “We [...]