The Humanities Kansas SHARP Recovery Grants are intended to reach a diverse network of urban and rural cultural nonprofits located in Kansas whose primary work involves the humanities. Funds are intended to help cultural nonprofit organizations recover from financial hardship resulting from the pandemic. Funds may be used to cover day-to-day expenses such as staff salaries, utilities, rent, and equipment and staffing needs related to transitioning post-pandemic. There are no cash match or cost share requirements.
Award amounts are divided into three categories based on an organization’s annual budget:
• Organizations with an annual budget of $100,000 or less may request up to $5,000.
• Organizations with an annual budget between $100,000 and $400,000 may request up to 5% of their budget ($5,000-$20,000).
• Organizations with an annual budget over $400,000 may request up to $20,000.
Learn more here.

Municipal benchmark yields rose by as much as five basis points Friday, following a stronger-than-expected jobs report, but the asset class outperformed the moves in Treasury bonds. An increase in supply next week may test current low levels. Continued strength in the economy was seen as nonfarm payrolls rose 943,000 and the jobless rate fell to 5.4% last month, the
Labor Department reported. “The dollar is surging following a better-than-expected nonfarm payroll report, which may have paved the way for the Fed to announce tapering if the economy delivers one more robust report in September,” said Ed Moya, senior market analyst for the Americas at OANDA.
Source: Bond Buyer.

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.

On its surface, the notion that Fort Scott, Kansas, could stand up to Netflix and Hulu seems like a David and Goliath battle of the highest order. On one hand, you have an 8,000-person town in the state’s southeast corner, most famous for its U.S. Army garrison in the 19th century and its role in the Civil War during that timeframe. Facing them are a pair of giants in the media world, with the companies combining for almost $30 billion in profits in 2020. But the battle royale between the unlikely foes is set to play out, with Fort Scott filing suit against the streaming giants in Bourbon County District Court last month, the latest chess move amid the larger decline in the number of Americans subscribing to cable. This has left local governments in an awkward spot, as they receive a cut of profits from cable companies — but not firms like Netflix or Hulu. Nationally, this has led to a spate of lawsuits against the companies, as well as their counterparts like Disney+.
Source: Hutch News.