News – Page 32 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

With eye on future projects, Merriam hashes out new incentives policy

info2024-11-13T09:36:07-06:00November 13th, 2024|

The city of Merriam is looking to possible expand the types of public incentive it can offer developers. On Monday, the Merriam City Council discussed a new policy that would allow the city to consider applications for community improvement districts, or CIDs. This comes roughly a year after Kansas City-based real estate company R.H. Johnson Company requested a CID to refurbish Merriam Town Center, a shopping center near Antioch Road and Johnson Drive currently anchored by a Cinemark theaters and a Home Depot. Still, City Administrator Chris Engel told the city council on Monday that the policy is not being considered [...]

Report: Broadband can transform a rural community

info2024-11-13T09:33:27-06:00November 13th, 2024|

One of the biggest rural gaming events in the country, the GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo, is supporting young people to explore technology and all it offers in Bemidji, Minnesota. “We had started to see nationally some very large events that were selling out quickly, all about eSports,” Gary Johnson, CEO of Paul Bunyan Communications, told the Daily Yonder in a Zoom interview. “And we thought, what a better way to deliver a new, exciting opportunity for our region and leverage the network that we have built and our members have invested in.” The eSports event was highlighted in a report [...]

Lawrence City Commission approves land development code update, despite public outcry

info2024-11-13T09:31:50-06:00November 13th, 2024|

Lawrence city commissioners heard from more than 50 community members Tuesday, most asking them to hit pause on the updated land development code. Ultimately, they voted to approve the update. The land development code regulates development in the city, including zoning regulations, residential occupancy limits and more. The document has wide-ranging implications for the growth and direction of the city. In the summer of 2022, the city started reviewing the code to make it simpler and aligned with goals like sustainability and housing. The commission created the Land Development Code Update Steering Committee to work on the process. Source: The Lawrence [...]

City to continue work on policies for housing incentive districts

info2024-11-13T09:29:52-06:00November 13th, 2024|

Manhattan city commissioners at Tuesday’s work session will revisit policies on Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts, or RHIDs. These districts are part of a state program meant to help developers build housing by assisting in the financing of infrastructure improvements. Specifically on Tuesday, commissioners will discuss RHID policies it recently adopted related to infill, which is housing projects that use existing infrastructure, and greenfield, which is housing on land that hasn’t yet been developed. Source: themercury.com

How Topeka is dealing with affordable housing with need outpacing supply

info2024-11-11T10:38:03-06:00November 11th, 2024|

A lack of affordable housing options in the capital city has been blamed for a growing number of unhoused Topekans. The Topeka Housing Authority is providing solutions by monopolizing on something the city has plenty of — vacant properties. Source: CJonline

Municipal Bond Trends for November 8, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-11-10T20:13:08-06:00November 10th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Overland Park setting up pilot to address late trash pickup

info2024-11-08T10:07:16-06:00November 8th, 2024|

Overland Park is pursuing a pilot program to ensure that residents whose trash pickup is delinquent have another option as a backup. The pilot proposal follows county-wide trash pickup delays that have left some residents in recent years going weeks without trash removal in their neighborhoods. Source: Johnson County Post

Is the grass greener? Many from county make long commute to Moundridge factory

info2024-11-08T10:01:29-06:00November 8th, 2024|

Although the 350,000-square-foot manufacturing campus for Grasshopper Mowers lies in McPherson County, outside Moundridge, 10% of its 280 employees hail from Marion County, with many workers making the 40-minute commute each day. Michael Simmon, who works in marketing communications at Grasshopper (and who commutes 40 minutes himself from Sedgwick County), said Marion residents appreciated the pay, the work environment, and job stability. Source: Marion County RECORD

Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by a quarter point

info2024-11-08T09:45:12-06:00November 8th, 2024|

The Federal Open Market Committee lowered its benchmark overnight borrowing rate by a quarter percentage point, or 25 basis points, to a target range of 4.50%-4.75%. The vote was unanimous. Fed officials have justified the easing mode for policy as they view supporting employment becoming at least as much of a priority as arresting inflation. Source: CNBC - Bonds

Municipal Bond Trends for November 7, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-11-08T09:44:39-06:00November 8th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.