United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting State Director for Rural Development Kansas Dan Fischer today announced that USDA is investing $16,155,000 toward nine community projects across the state. “Public infrastructure like water systems, parks and emergency response help communities thrive,” Fischer said. “USDA Rural Development puts rural people at the forefront of investment and opportunity. With these improvements Kansas towns will be able to better serve their residents and their communities will be safer and healthier.”

Background:

The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage. The program serves people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.

The Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program provides funding for essential community facilities and services. More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.

Project details of today’s nine announcement are:

• A $4,641,000 loan will help provide improvements to Jefferson County Rural Water District No. 13. These improvements include rehabilitating the treatment plant filters, installing 16 miles of pipe, installing backup generators, adding a new well and creating a new emergency connection to a neighboring water district. These improvements will meet the water demands of customers on peak days and will accommodate anticipated increase in future customers.
• A $350,000 loan will help make improvements to the water distribution system for the City of Linwood. The improvements include replacing nearly 6,500 feet of waterline, replacing 11 fire hydrants and 28 gate valves. Once the project is completed, it will provide safe and reliable water through a new and improved water distribution supply system.
• An $820,000 loan and $423,000 grant will be used to provide additional funding to complete improvements on the City of Highland‘s water system. The project is to construct a new ion exchange treatment plant and a non-discharging lagoon. In Sept. 2021, Rural Development obligated a $1,262,000 loan and $534,000 in grant funding for this project. Other funding includes a Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant of $600,000 and Kansas Department of Health and Environment debt forgiveness of $600,000. The project will correct issues with the current water system and the community will have safe and reliable water for years to come.
• A $968,000 loan and $1,549,000 grant will be used toward improvements on the city of Burr Oak‘s water distribution system. The project will make upgrades to the water storage tank as well as painting the interior and exterior. The proposed improvements will replace approximately 30,000 feet of waterline, install 114 new meters, along with valves and hydrants. Additional funding for this project includes a $330,000 Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant and a $75,000 Dane G. Hanson Foundation Grant. This project will provide safe and reliable water to the community for years to come.
• A $6,416,000 loan and $627,000 grant will be used to construct discharging lagoons with wetlands for the City of Linn Valley. This project includes construction of a discharging lagoon, sized for 20-year population growth. Construction of a second discharging lagoon for 40-year population growth. Once the project is complete it will provide environmental benefits and future growth potential for the community.
• A $233,000 loan will supplement previous funding to the city of Nortonville to help complete their water system improvements. The project will construct two new wells and replace cast iron waterline. Previous funding for this project consists of a Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loan of $771,000 and a Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant of $501,300. With these additional funds, the city will be able to complete the project as designed and provide the citizens with safe drinking water.
• A $42,700 grant will be used toward the purchase of a shipping container to convert into public restrooms for a city park in Jetmore. The current restroom is in poor repair and is not accessible for individuals with disabilities. The new container will be engineered to include two bathrooms that will be ADA compliant. The outside will be beautified, making it consistent with the surrounding environment. Once complete, this facility will provide safe and reliable services in the park.
• A $27,500 grant will help purchase and install eight new storm sirens for the city of Wellington. The sirens will replace six storm sirens within the city limits, and sirens at Wellington Lake and Wellington Airport. All these sirens can be activated by Sumner County 911, Wellington Law Enforcement and Wellington Fire/Emergency Medical Services. Once the new sirens are installed, residents and visitors will have a more reliable emergency warning system.
• A $58,600 grant will be used to supplement previous funding to improve a small outdoor community gathering space within the City of Kingman. Currently there is no disability parking or access at the site, and it lacks adequate lighting and needs a fence installed for safety.

To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, contact a USDA Rural Development state office.

Worsening economic data may force central banks to blink and take a less aggressive rate-rise stance, money markets are betting, having steadily dialled back expectations of where U.S. and British interest rates might peak. The equivalent of a half-point rate hike from the Federal Reserve has been priced out over the last three weeks, putting the peak in rates at 3% next June. That implies cumulative U.S. rate hikes of 210 basis points this cycle, versus 255 bps at the start of May, according to Fed Fund futures that reflect expectations of future interest rate moves.
Source: Reuters

As educators prepare for a new open enrollment policy scheduled to go into effect after two more school years, parents who are looking for homes may be able to consider more affordable houses outside their preferred district. Open enrollment is a school choice policy that allows parents to enroll their children as students in a school outside the district they live in. While supporters of the policy pushed it as a way to increase academic opportunity, they also say it could help homebuyers find more affordable housing.
Source: CJonline

As people drive down Iron Avenue in Salina, they may notice a new sign and name at a familiar and popular destination in the downtown area, Theatre Salina. Earlier this year, what was once Salina Community Theatre made the change in its name after a couple of years of discussion about what the theater means to people inside and outside the community of Salina. “We are much more regional than we’ve ever been,” said Michael Spicer, executive director for Theatre Salina. According to Spicer, about 40% of the ticket sales for the various theatrical productions at Theatre Salina come from people outside of Saline County.
Source: Salina Journal

Veterans’ banners that honor those who fought in wars and conflicts from 1861 until today hang from poles on Main Street in Pretty Prairie…. The Pretty Prairie Community Association organized the veteran banners program for the community, selling the banners for $100 for a one-sided banner and $150 for a two-sided one, for three years. Then renewal costs are $75. The banners hang on Main Street for the entire month of May and November for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Pretty Prairie city clerk Jenifer Albright said the Community Association began the program last year with 12 banners, and this year they expanded it to 24.
Source: Hutch News

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.