4,000 cyclists expected in Emporia this weekend, representing every state, 48 countries

More than 4,000 bicyclists will flood into Emporia this weekend for one of the largest bike races in the U.S. The UNBOUND Gravel race in Emporia will feature riders from 50 states and 48 countries, ranging in age from 10 to 89 years old, according to Jordan Titus of the UNBOUND Gravel Group. The race, which predominately runs over gravel and dirt roads, will take off in front of the historic Granada Theatre and return to the same spot. The loop distances include 25, 50, 100, 200 and 350 miles. The event will feature weekend events including All Things Gravel, which will stretch over two blocks in downtown Emporia. More than 300 vendor booths, including an outdoor beer garden, will be set up.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2022-06-03T08:14:16-05:00June 3, 2022|News|

What did Johnson County look like 15 years ago? Google Street View now shows you

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the introduction of Google Maps’ Street View feature, the Internet search giant has launched a new function that allows users to “go back” to 2007 to see what things once looked like. How does it work? Go onto Google Maps and place the little yellow person — which can be found in the bottom-right corner of your screen — on the map where you’d like to see a street-level view. Once you’re in Street View, at the top left-hand corner of the screen, you should see a clock icon. Click on the clock and should open a pop-up where you can move a slider through different years back to 2007, showing that view over time.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-06-03T08:12:08-05:00June 3, 2022|News|

Last year was busiest for new home-building in Overland Park since 2004

Overland Park saw a resurgence of single-family home building last year, with permits for single-family homes greatly outnumbering multi-family homes for the first time since 2017, according to data presented to a council committee Wednesday by the planning staff. The details: Community Development Committee members heard a generally upbeat annual report that described 2021 as a year of recovery from the pandemic challenges of 2020. Last year was a digression from an ongoing trend toward multi-family building that has been booming for at least the past five years. The year 2018, in particular, stood out as a huge year for apartment building, where 1,731 units of multi-family housing were built to 370 for single-family homes.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2022-06-03T08:10:21-05:00June 3, 2022|News|

Rural Water District approved for ARPA funding

With significant funding already in place for projects, Rural Water District No. 4 was recently approved for $350,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding by the Neosho County Commission for water main upgrades. Covering roughly a third of the county, RWD No. 4 also expands into Labette County. Representing the district at the May 10 and May 19 county commission meetings, Troy Smith and Ron Giefer made their case to commissioners. Commissioners were informed that much of the pipe was outdated, having been placed there in the 1960s and ‘70s.
Source: The Chanute Tribune

Ranson Financial2022-06-03T09:28:27-05:00June 3, 2022|News|

Opportunity mindset keeps Wichita’s small businesses, attractions going

Participants in a panel discussion during the Wichita Business Journal’s ICT Summit agreed: Wichita’s unique small businesses and attractions are critical to building up the quality of life necessary to attract and retain talent. “Attracting and retaining, especially young talent, is really about vibrancy of the city, right? It’s the nightlife and the arts and culture, what makes the city really pop,” said, a partner in The Wave and The Cotillion, two local music venues. “I think we’re doing a good job, but I think we’ve got work to do.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-06-03T09:28:46-05:00June 3, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 2, 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.

Ranson Financial2022-06-03T05:48:38-05:00June 2, 2022|News|

Survey seeks input about Lawrence residents’ transportation priorities, experiences for new transportation plan

Local planners are looking for input from residents as they work to update the area’s long-range transportation plan, which will address all modes of transportation in the Lawrence area. Transportation 2050 will be “a blueprint for the future transportation system” of Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin City, Lecompton and unincorporated areas of Douglas County, according to the project website. The plan will set regional goals and improvement recommendations to meet the region’s future transportation needs through 2050 for automobile, public transit, bicycle, pedestrian and other forms of transportation. Financial resources to implement the plan will also be identified.
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2022-06-02T08:43:40-05:00June 2, 2022|News|

Douglas County leaders authorize 3-year extension for industrial development incentive program

Douglas County leaders authorized extending an industrial development incentive program for another three years at Wednesday’s County Commission meeting. With Commissioner Shannon Reid absent, fellow commissioners Shannon Portillo and Patrick Kelly voted to extend the Catalyst Incentive Program until April 1, 2025. The program was first adopted by the City of Lawrence in April 2017 and has since provided an assistance package offering expedited approval for new projects meeting certain criteria at Lawrence VenturePark and East Hills Business Park. Later, the program extended eligibility to any new building project of 25,000 square feet or larger on industrially zoned property within city limits.
Source: LJWorld

Ranson Financial2022-06-02T08:43:31-05:00June 2, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 1, 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.

Ranson Financial2022-06-02T08:31:35-05:00June 2, 2022|News|

Investors revisit muni bonds amid higher yields and strong credit

It’s been a tough year for municipal bonds, with investors cashing out amid rising interest rates. However, higher yields and strong credit may be sparking a shift, experts say. While investors piled a record-breaking $96.8 billion of net money into U.S. muni mutual and exchange-traded funds in 2021, weekly inflows have been negative for most of 2022, according to Refinitiv Lipper data. Last week’s numbers were still negative, but outflows slowed significantly, signaling more interest, according to Tom Kozlik, head of municipal research and analytics at HilltopSecurities.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2022-06-02T08:07:42-05:00June 2, 2022|News|